Hospital Center Line
The Hospital Center Line, designated Route D8, is a daily bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Washington Union Station and MedStar Washington Hospital Center. The line operates every 10-15 minutes during peak hours and 20-30 minutes all other times. Route D8 trips are roughly 45 minutes.
| D8 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital Center Line | |||
 | |||
 Route D8 at Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood station | |||
| Overview | |||
| System | Metrobus | ||
| Operator | Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority | ||
| Garage | Bladensburg | ||
| Livery | Local | ||
| Status | In Service | ||
| Began service | March 27, 1976 | ||
| Route | |||
| Locale | Northwest, Northeast | ||
| Communities served | Stronghold, Edgewood, Eckington, Brentwood, Ivy City, Trinidad, Capitol Hill | ||
| Landmarks served | Veterans Affairs Medical Center, MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Children's National Hospital, Trinity Washington University, Edgewood, Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood station, Brentwood Rd. N.E., Main Post Office, Trinidad, Government Publishing Office, Washington Union Station | ||
| Start | MedStar Washington Hospital Center | ||
| Via | Franklin Street NE, Brentwood Road NE, Mount Olivet Road NE, K Street NE | ||
| End | Washington Union Station | ||
| Length | 30-45 minutes | ||
| Service | |||
| Level | Daily | ||
| Frequency | 12-24 minutes (Weekdays except late nights) 24-30 minutes (Late nights and Weekends) | ||
| Operates | 5:10 AM - 12:30 AM (Monday-Thursday) 5:10 AM - 2:00 AM (Friday) 6:00 AM - 12:30 AM (Saturday) 6:15 AM - 12:30 AM (Sunday) | ||
| Timetable | Hospital Center Line | ||
| |||
Background
Route D8 operates daily between Washington Union Station and MedStar Washington Hospital Center connecting the hospital centers and Metrorail stations. The line also connects small neighborhoods to Metrorail stations. Route D8 currently operates out of Bladensburg division.
History
Route D8 originally operated between Friendship Heights and Distaff Hall (Army Distaff Foundation Inc) until the 1970s.
Route D8 was created as a new route on June 4, 1977 to operate between Washington Hospital Center and Sibley Hospital alongside route D6, via the Hospital Complex, Trinity University, Glenwood Cemetery, the Edgewood Terrace Apartments, the Rhode Island Avenue Shopping Center, the Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood station, Washington Union Station, Judiciary Square, Metro Center, and Dupont Circle stations.[1]
1977 Changes
When Dupont Circle station opened on January 15, 1977, both routes D6 and D8 did begin serving Dupont Circle in the middle of their routes. No changes were made in their route.[1]
1995 Changes
In March 1995, the line was split into two routes in order to simplify the line.
Route D6 was split to operate between Sibley Hospital & the Stadium–Armory station, via Washington Union Station, instead of operating to Washington Hospital Center in order to replace the segment of the former routes 40, 42, and 44 between Union Station and Stadium–Armory station when both 40 and 44 were discontinued and 42 was shortened to operate between Mount Pleasant and Metro Center station.[2]
Route D8 was also split to only operate between Washington Hospital Center Washington Union Station. The segment of D8's routing west of Union Station was replaced by routes D1, D3, and D6. At the same time, the D8 replaced the segment of D6's former routing between Union Station and Washington Hospital Center, via Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood station.[2]
As a result, as route D6 became a part of the Sibley Hospital–Stadium Armory Line, which operated alongside routes D1 and D3 while route D8 became a part of the Hospital Center Line.[2]
2014 Proposed Changes
In 2014, WMATA proposed to shorten the D8 to Rhode Island Avenue station and to have a new Route D7 to operate between Rhode Island Avenue and the hospital campus in order to Improve reliability of service by operating shorter routes, Reduce the number of buses operating on the congested hospital roadways, and Create a better balance of capacity and demand throughout the line.[3]
References
- "Metrobus to Change Routes for Dupont Circle/New Hospital". Washington Post. June 4, 1977. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- Harris, Hamil (February 2, 1995). "Proposed Cuts in Bus Routes". Washington Post. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
- "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROPOSED BUS SERVICE CHANGES" (PDF). Retrieved 17 February 2020.