Benning Road–H Street Line

The Benning Road–H Street Line, designated Route X2, is a daily bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Minnesota Avenue station, which is served by the Orange Line of the Washington Metro and Lafayette Square, located within President's Park. The line operates every 10–15 minutes daily and 20–30 minutes during late nights. Trips are roughly 45 minutes long.

This article is about the bus route. For the streetcar line, see H Street/Benning Road Line.
X2
Benning Road–H Street Line
Route X2 at Franklin Square
Overview
SystemMetrobus
OperatorWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
GarageBladensburg
LiveryLocal
StatusIn Service
Began service1920
Route
LocaleNorthwest, Northeast
Communities servedNorthwest, Northeast
Landmarks servedMinnesota Avenue station, Benning Road, Hechinger Mall, H Street, Government Publishing Office, Gallery Place station, Metro Center station, McPherson Square station, White House, Lafayette Square, Franklin Square
StartMinnesota Avenue station
ViaH Street, Benning Road
EndLafayette Square
Service
LevelDaily
Frequency10-15 minutes (Daily)
20-30 minutes (Late Night service)
Operates24 Hour service
TransfersSmarTrip only
TimetableBenning Road-H Street Line
← X1  {{{system_nav}}}  X8 →

Background
Route X2 at Lafayette Square

Route X2 operates daily between Minnesota Avenue station and Lafayette Square at all times running every 10–15 minutes during the day and 20–30 minutes during the late nights, providing service along H Street and Benning Road. There are select trips that operate during school hours from Phelps Architecture, Construction and Engineering High School and Friendship Collegiate Academy Public Charter School. One trip operates to Lafayette Square while four trips operate to Minnesota Avenue.

Route X2 is one of the most heavily used bus routes with an average of 12,000 riders as of June 2016, behind the 16th Street Lines and 14th Street Lines.[1][2] Ridership on the X2 has also been increasing due to development along the H Street and Benning Road corridor.[3]

Route X2 currently operates out of Bladensburg division. It is one of the few bus routes to utilize articulated buses.

History

Route X2 operates under portions of former streetcar lines route 10 which operated under the Washington Railway & Electric Company. The line was created in 1871 which were powered by Horse Trolleys. The line was later run by electric cars by 1895 ad was electrified in 1899. The WR&E was later acquired by Capital Traction Company to form the Capital Transit Company in 1936. The line was later converted into bus on May 1, 1949 which was renamed into route X2.[4]

Afterwards the DC Transit company took over operating buses along H Street and Benning Road. Then WMATA took over DC Transit on December 4, 1973 and incorporated the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, X8, and X9.[5]

Route X1 operated between Minnesota Avenue station and Potomac Park via Washington Union Station and Louisiana Avenue. Route X2 operated between Minnesota Avenue and Union station. Route X3 operated between Minnesota Avenue and McLean Gardens. Route X4 was a new route introduced on November 24, 1978 operating between Minnesota Avenue and Lafayette Square. Route X5 was designated as "Owl Trips" operating between Seat Pleasant, Maryland and Lafayette Square. Route X6 would operate between Lafayette Square and Mayfair.[6] All these routes mostly operate along Benning Road and H Street.

Since 2016, the H Street/Benning Road Line of the DC Streetcar has operated along a portion of the X2's route. The streetcar increased total transit ridership on the corridor by 15%, without significantly affecting the X2's much higher ridership.[7]

Service changes

Through the years, route X2 went to major service changes on its route. Routes X4, X5, and X7 discontinued during the years, X6 became the "National Arboretum Line" running between the United States National Arboretum and Washington Union Station in the 1990s, and X1 and X3 remains as the Benning Road Line where route X2 was split into the Benning Road-H Street Line.

1981 service changes

In January 1981, route X2 was extended to Capitol Heights station and X5 was shorten to Capitol Heights station. A new route X7 was created to operate on the old route X2 routing from 1978.[8]

1991 service changes

On December 28, 1991, route X2 was shortened back to Minnesota Avenue station but was extended to Lafayette Square in order to replace routes X4, X5, X6, and X7. Service to Capitol Heights station from Minnesota Avenue was replaced by route U8. Route X2 was also split from the Benning Road Line and formed to the "Benning Road-H Street Line".[9] Short trips are also operated between Minnesota Avenue station and Gallery Place station only during the weekdays.[10]

2017 service changes

On June 25, 2017, route X2 was given a full 24/7 service due to earlier Metro closing during WMATA's FY2018 budget. At first, buses had a schedule gap of every 100 minutes between 2:30 and 4:10 am but now operates every 30 minutes.[11][12]

2017 proposed changes

In 2017 during WMATA's FY2019 budget, WMATA proposed to eliminate route X2 short trips to Gallery Place station and operate the full route to Lafayette Square. However, the frequency of buses will be reduced from every 8 minutes to every 10–12 minutes. This was due to the full length route and to adjust the time between midday X2 buses and proposed midday service to route X9. It was also due to create a better balance of capacity and demand throughout the Benning Road and H Street corridor with the implementation of midday route X9, expanded limited-stop MetroExtra hours of service in Northeast, responds to requests by the District Department of Transportation, and provide the ability to add service to route X9 which would provide a weekday midday transfer-free ride throughout the entire corridor between downtown DC and Capitol Heights station.[13][14]

2018 service change

On June 24, 2018, all route X2 trips operate between Minnesota Avenue station and Lafayette Square with short trips to Gallery Place station being discontinued. However the frequency of buses were increased from 8 minutes to 10–12 minutes.[15][16]

Incidents

Route X2 is notoriously infamous for having a high crime rate on its buses. The route suffers from many crimes and fare evasions on its buses.[17][18] Fare evasion is also a major concern for WMATA on route X2 losing $700,000 from riders which is third in most fare evasions behind the W4 and 92.[19] In 2015, X2 riders called out to WMATA to improve the crime rate on the buses as the crime rate was increasing on the buses.[20] The Metro Board began all its best to slow the crime on the route with examples are installing surveillance video monitors, employing undercover police officers, and adding new driver shields on newer bus orders.[21][22][23] Also in 2017, WMATA drivers, supervisors and Local 689 union members protested at WMATA for unsafe conditions on the job and for better protection on the X2.[24] Route X2 has the highest crime rate on any Metrobus route comparing it to routes in Southeast but has the crime rate decreased after added protection in 2017. Incidents and accidents are listed below.

  • On June 23, 2013, an X2 bus driver and two female passengers got into an altercation where one of the female passengers reportedly threw a piece of paper at the driver and the driver hit the female passenger with "something sharp in his hands." According to the victim, the X2 driver looked at Anderson inappropriately at the start of their ride and told the victim upon exiting, “Don’t let your male tendencies think you’re a man”; and subsequently stood up and attacked the victim with hate and violence, repeatedly punching her outside of the bus and fracturing a couple of her fingers.[25][26] The victim would later file a lawsuit against WMATA in 2015.[27]
  • On January 19, 2015, two men were shot inside an X2 bus after getting into an argument with another passenger between New Jersey Avenue and H Street NW. Bus camera footage shows the shooter exited the rear door of the bus and shot into the vehicle.[28][29][30] The suspect was later arrested on January 21, 2015.[31]
  • On March 30, 2015, a person threw a brick at an X2 bus windshield at 19th Street and Benning Road NE injuring two people on board.[32] Later on April 29, 2015, three juveniles exited the bus and one of the members threw a rock at an X2 bus rear door, shattering one of the glass panels also at 19th Street and Benning Road NE, but no injuries were reported. The three juveniles were later arrested by DC Police.[33]
  • On April 29, 2015, a man was arrested from an X2 bus after pulling out a knife to a woman after an argument they got into.[34]
  • On May 15, 2015, police arrested a man after he a assaulted another passenger on board an X2 bus.[35]
  • On November 12, 2015, an X2 bus and a DC Streetcar collided along H and 7th Streets NE. No injuries were reported.[36]
  • On June 2, 2017, another collision occurred between an X2 bus and the DC Streetcar injuring 10 people.[37]
  • On August 20, 2017, an X2 bus spun out of control and hit multiple cars and nearly hitting a building in Gallery Place. Seven people were injured.[38][39]
  • On August 26, 2017, a woman was arrested after she threw a cup of urine at an X2 bus driver over the tone of the driver.[40][41] After the incident, X2 drivers demand better protection on their buses due to its high crime rate and the lack of police presence on its buses.[42][43][44] Drivers called out WMATA over the lack of protection for the X2 buses where passengers can easily get to the driver and cause disruptions to other passengers causing delays.[45][46][47]
  • On October 4, 2017, a passenger was arrested after he pulled out a knife and threatened to kill the driver of an X2 bus over a disputed fare. The driver was unharmed.[48][49]
  • On August 16, 2018, a white women got into a physical altercation with passengers after a video surfaced of the women saying the n-word on an X2 bus along 2nd and H streets. The lady was beaten up after she left the bus by passengers on the bus. Two suspects were questioned by Metro Transit Police but were not arrested. The women was sent to the hospital[50][51]
  • On December 10, 2018, a teenager was caught hanging from the back of an X2 bus along Benning Road. No injuries were reported.[52][53][54]
  • On January 22, 2021, an X2 bus and a car collided along the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and Benning Road. The driver of the car died while seven people were taken to the hospital.[55][56][57]

See also

References
  1. Rowlands, DW. "This map shows where the most bus riders live and how close they are to Metro". Greater Greater Washington. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  2. Malouff, Dan. "Ten bus lines around Washington, DC everyone should know how to ride". Greater Greater Washington. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  3. Swalec, Andrea (25 March 2015). "X2 Bus Ridership Has Climbed 14 Percent in 4 Months". Hill Now. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  4. "WASHINGTON DC TRANSIT ROUTES". www.chicagorailfan.com. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  5. "History". Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  6. "Bus Routes Change Sunday to Link with Orange Line". Washington Post. 1978-11-30. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  7. "Is the DC Streetcar Hurting Ridership on Metrobus X2+X9? No". PlanItMetro. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. 12 December 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  8. "New Subway Stops Bring Metrobus Service Changes". Washington Post. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  9. Fehr, Stephen C. (1991-12-22). "AS METRORAIL MOVES TO ANACOSTIA, QUESTIONS REMAIN". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  10. "X2 Benning Road-H Street Line". studylib.net. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  11. "Be ready for Metro changes June 25, 2017 | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  12. Repetski, Stephen. "H Street's X2 bus now runs 24/7". Greater Greater Washington. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  13. "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" (PDF). Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  14. "Planned Transit Improvements for Wards 7 and 8" (PDF). DC Circulator. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  15. "Metrobus Service Changes, June 24 | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  16. "Big Bus Changes: X2, X9, Circulator". Big Bus Changes. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  17. Di Caro, Martin. "Metro Sends Mixed Messages About Crowded X2 Buses". WAMU. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  18. O'Connell, Jonathan. "24 tweets about Metro's X2 bus". Washington Post. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  19. "Metro reportedly losing $40M a year to fare evasion". WJLA. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  20. Ramonas, Andrew (20 March 2015). "WMATA Takes Heat Over Rowdy X2, X8 Bus Lines". Hill Now. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  21. Ramonas, Andrew (11 August 2015). "Metro to Install Surveillance Video Monitors for X2 Bus Riders". Hill Now. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  22. Smith, Max. "Tased, covered in hot coffee, spit at: Metro drivers hope for fewer assaults". WTOP News. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  23. Sadon, Rachel. "Metro Will Test Surveillance Monitors On X2 Buses". DCist. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  24. "Bus drivers protest Metro's response to security concerns, ask for police protection on X2 line". FOX 5 DC. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  25. Mimica, Mila. "Woman Says Her Sexuality Spurred Metrobus Brawl With Driver". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  26. Williams, Clarence (27 June 2013). "Female passenger assaults Metro bus driver during a wild ride". Washington Post. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  27. Giambrone, Andrew. "Woman Files Suit Against Metro, Bus Driver Over Alleged Anti-Gay Attack". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  28. Brown, DeNeen; Zauzmer, Julie (20 January 2015). "Two men shot on Metro bus near Union Station; 45 passengers were on board". Washington Post. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  29. Reeve, Richard (19 January 2015). "2 injured in double shooting on Metro bus". WJLA. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  30. Mimica, Mila. "Two Shot on Metrobus in D.C. After Fight, Injuries Are Minor". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  31. "Suspect Arrested in Metrobus Shooting That Injured 2". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  32. Swalec, Andrea (30 March 2015). "X2 Bus Reportedly Has Brick Thrown Through Windshield; 2 People Injured". Hill Now. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  33. Swalec, Andrea (29 April 2015). "Youth Throws Rock Through X2 Bus Window". Hill Now. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  34. Ramonas, Andrew (30 April 2015). "Man Pulls Knife on Woman on X2 Bus". Hill Now. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  35. Ramonas, Andrew (15 May 2015). "Men Struggle Over Knife Aboard X2 Bus". Hill Now. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  36. Sturdivant, Christina. "X2 Metrobus Hits Streetcar On H Street". DCist. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  37. Hedgpeth, Dana. "10 injured after D.C. streetcar and bus collide". Washington Post. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  38. Powers, Martine. "Metrobus strikes parked vehicles near Capital One Arena in Chinatown". Washington Post. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  39. Nadeem, Reem (20 August 2017). "Bus almost crashes into building near Gallery Place Metro, injuries reported". WTOP. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  40. Kurzius, Rachel. "Woman Who Threw Urine On Bus Driver Explains Why". DCist. Archived from the original on 28 May 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  41. "Metro Transit Police announce arrest of suspect who threw urine on bus operator | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  42. Brannan, Taylor (1 September 2017). "Metro bus drivers request police protection on X2 line". DCW50. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  43. Hedgpeth, Dana. "Metrobus drivers ask for police escorts on X2 line after woman throws urine on operator". Washington Post. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  44. Taylor, Dan. "Metro, Bus Drivers Union Fighting After Urine Attack". Patch Washington DC. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  45. "DC Bus Drivers Demand Police Protection After Urine Attack". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  46. Urtz, Hannah (13 September 2017). "WMATA Under Scrutiny After 2 Bus Operators Assaulted". The Hoya. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
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  48. Sadon, Rachel. "Passenger Threatens X2 Driver With Knife: 'When I See You Again, I'll Kill You'". DCist. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  49. "Suspect who threw Sterno can at X2 bus operator arrested by MTPD overnight, was also wanted for armed robbbery and assault | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  50. Chandler, DL (20 August 2018). "N-Word Spewing White Woman Got Wig Tightened Up On DC's Infamous X2 Bus". The Latest Hip-Hop News, Music and Media | Hip-Hop Wired. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  51. Ramirez, Stephanie. "A white woman yelled the 'N' word on a DC bus. She ended-up in the hospital". wusa9.com. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  52. Vitka, Will (11 December 2018). "VIDEO: Teen clings to back of X2 bus". WTOP. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  53. Taylor, Dan (11 December 2018). "Man Caught On Video Riding X2 Bus From The Outside: Report". Washington DC, DC Patch. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  54. Pomeroy, Courtney (11 December 2018). "That's one way to ride: Video shows person clinging to the BACK of a Metro bus". WJLA. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  55. Pusatory, Matt. "DC 24-year-old man killed in head-on crash with Metrobus, police say". wusa9.com. Retrieved 22 January 2021. line feed character in |title= at position 3 (help)
  56. Barnes, Sophia. "1 Dead, Several Injured After Metrobus, Car Crash in Northeast DC". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  57. "Man dead, several injured after car crashes head-on into Metrobus". WTOP. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
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