Deanwood–Alabama Avenue Line

The Deanwood–Alabama Avenue Line, designated Route W4, is a daily bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Deanwood station of the Orange Line of the Washington Metro and Anacostia station of the Green Line of the Washington Metro. The line operates every 12-18 minutes during weekday peak hours, 25 minutes during weekday midday, 25-30 minutes during weeknights, and 20-30 minutes during the weekends. Route W4 trips are roughly 60 minutes long.

W4
Deanwood–Alabama Avenue Line
Overview
SystemMetrobus
OperatorWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
GarageSouthern Avenue
Shepherd Parkway
LiveryLocal
StatusIn Service
Began service1933
Route
LocaleNortheast, Southeast
Communities servedDeanwood, Capitol View, Benning Heights, Bradbury Heights, Fairfax Village, Garfield Heights, Congress Heights, Anacostia
Landmarks servedDeanwood station, Benning Road station, Bradbury Heights, Fairfax Village, Alabama Ave. S.E., Garfield, Congress Heights station, Entertainment & Sports Arena, Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling, Anacostia station
StartDeanwood station
ViaDivision Avenue NE, Benning Road SE, Alabama Avenue SE
EndAnacostia station
Length60 minutes
Service
LevelDaily
Frequency12-18 minutes (Weekday peak hours)
25 minutes (Weekday Midday)
25-30 minutes (Weeknights)
20-30 minutes (Weekends)
Operates4:57 AM - 2:22 AM (Weekdays)
6:00 AM - 2:30 AM (Saturday)
6:00 AM - 1:00 AM (Sunday)
TransfersSmarTrip only
TimetableDeanwood–Alabama Avenue Line
← W3  {{{system_nav}}}  W5 →

Background

Route W4 operates daily between Deanwood station and Anacostia station mostly operating between Northeast and Southeast. The line mostly runs along Division Avenue NE, Benning Road SE, Southern Avenue, and Alabama Avenue SE connecting multiple neighborhoods. Additional trips from Ballou High School are operated during school days in both directions. Select trips also end at Malcolm X Avenue & Newcomb Street SE, though passengers can remain on the bus as far as Malcolm X Avenue & South Capitol Street.

Route W4 currently operates out of Southern Avenue and Shepherd Parkway divisions. During the weekday peak-hours, the line utilizes articulated buses due to its high ridership volume from Shepherd Parkway. Route W4 used to operate out of Bladensburg until Shepherd Parkway received articulated buses.

History

The line originally operated on portions of former streetcars lines before becoming taken over buses in the 1950s to 1960s.

Route W4 originally operated under the Capital Traction Company under streetcars lines and later became a bus line on December 23, 1924.[1] The line then was operated under DC Transit and then WMATA when it acquired DC Transit in 1973.[2]

Route W4 originally operated between Capital Plaza Mall in Landover Hills, Maryland and Bolling Air Force Base via Craftsman Circle and Prince George's Plaza Hospital. The line mostly operated along Division Avenue NE, Benning Road SE, Alabama Avenue SE, Kenilworth Avenue, and Baltimore–Washington Parkway. Off peak service would terminate along Kenilworth Avenue.

1978 Changes

On December 3, 1978, route W4 was rerouted to Deanwood station via Minnesota Avenue in the middle of its route shortly after the Orange Line began service. The line would terminate at Deanwood station during the off peak-hours and would serve Capital Plaza during the weekday peak-hours only.[3]

2001 Changes

On January 13, 2001, route W4 was rerouted along Alabama Avenue to serve the new Congress Heights station. Alternative service to 11th Place and Congress Street is available on the W2 and W3.[4]

2003 Changes

Due to security concerns at Bolling Air Force Base, route W4 could not enter the base beginning on March 21, 2003. The route would have to be rerouted South Capitol Street between Firth Sterling Avenue and Malcolm X Avenue. Passengers will be able to alight at stops on South Capitol Street at the Navy′s Firth Sterling Gate, walk through the security checkpoint, and access an internal military shuttle bus which will follow the W9 routing around the base to reach destinations within Bolling Air Force Base and the Navy′s Anacostia Annex.[5]

On June 29, 2003, route W4 was rerouted from Bolling Air Force Base to Anacostia station as a result of the detour.

Proposed Changes

In 2011, WMATA proposed to eliminate route W4's routing between Deanwood station and Capital Plaza Mall. This was because route W4 was suffering from low ridership with large Portion of the Line in Maryland runs on Congested Roadways, impacting on-time performances with extended run times in Maryland that creates scheduling inflexibility in DC, where overwhelming majority of boardings occur. It was also proposed to improve the frequency of buses during all hours of the day.[6]

It was proposed to extend either routes F1, F2, or F13 from Prince George's Hospital to Deanwood station discontinuing service to Cheverly station.[6][7][8]

2013 Changes

On March 24, 2013, W4 service between Deanwood station and Capital Plaza Mall via Craftsman Circle and Prince George's Hospital was discontinued due to low ridership and to improve on time performance. Alternative service was provided by routes A12, routes F1, F2, F8, F13, R11, R12, V7, V8, V14, and V15. There was no alternative service to Craftmans Circle however.[9]

2020 Proposed Changes

In 2019 as part of WMATA's FY2021 budget, it was proposed to reroute the W4 to Fort Drum and D.C. Village in order to discontinue the A4 and W5, Service to Anacostia station would be discontinued with alternative service will be provided on routes A2, A6, A7, A8, A9, and W2. Fort Drum and DC Village residents would lose direct service to Anacostia station if the proposal goes through.[10][11] However WMATA later backed out the proposal on March 31, 2020.[12]

Incidents
  • On October 20, 2011, 22 year old Demetrius Thompson was shot in the face by two men onboard a W4 bus near the intersection of 24th Street and Alabama Avenue SE. Thompson was later transported to a local hospital and later died.[13][14][15]

References
  1. "WASHINGTON DC TRANSIT ROUTES". www.chicagorailfan.com. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  2. "History". Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  3. Feaver, Douglas B. (30 November 1978). "Bus Routes Change Sunday to Link with Orange Line". Washington Post. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  4. "Metrobus service changes effective January 13, 2001 District of Columbia". February 10, 2001. Archived from the original on March 30, 2001. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  5. "Metrobus service advisories". March 21, 2003. Archived from the original on April 12, 2003. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  6. "Service Evaluation Study 2011-Part II W4 Deanwood-Alabama Avenue Line" (PDF). Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  7. "MARYLAND PROPOSED BUS SERVICE CHANGES FISCAL YEAR 2013" (PDF). Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  8. "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROPOSED BUS SERVICE CHANGES FISCAL YEAR 2013" (PDF). Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  9. "Metrobus Service Changes, Effective March 24, 2013". www.wmata.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  10. "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Proposed Metrobus Service Changes" (PDF). Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  11. Muntean, Pete; Fischer, Jordan. "Metro puts 22 bus lines up for 'elimination.' Will your route be cut?". wusa9.com. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  12. Barthel, Margaret. "Metro Backs Away From Significant Bus Service Cuts". WAMU. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  13. "Passenger Fatally Shot in the Face on Metrobus". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  14. Fard, Maggie Fazeli (20 October 2011). "Metrobus passenger fatally shot in face in Southeast". Washington Post.
  15. Carter, Brianne; Eisler, Ben; Holmes, Horace (20 October 2011). "Demetrius Thompson fatally shot in face in Southeast; suspects sought". WJLA. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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