MetroExtra was a limited-stop service operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which operates on Metrobus lines that need extra service with faster trips. There were six MetroExtra routes with only two of them having daily service.

History The service began in 2007 with an express service of the Georgia Avenue-7th Street Line, 79. The route would follow its local counterpart but only serve the most important stops.

In 2008, a study was released along the 16th Street corridor to improve the line by both WMATA and the District Department of Transportation. The corridor averages a weekday ridership of 16,000 making it the third most heavily used line in the Metrobus system, Parts of the proposal were to create a new route S3 which would be shortened routes S1, S2, and S4, and create a limited stop route S9. These 2 routes would then become the most popular MetroExtra routes.

On September 29, 2002, route 16Y began service, the first bus route to provide service in Downtown Washington since 1983. However, it didn't become a MetroExtra route until 2012 (along with route 16F). When route 16X discontinued in 2018, route 16Y became the only MetroExtra to operate in Virginia.

In 2015, WMATA proposed a new MetroExtra route, Q9. The route would provide limited stop service supplementing the Veirs Mill Road Line. The route would operate between Rockville station and Wheaton station and be the first Metro Extra route to operate exclusively in Montgomery County, Maryland.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, all MetroExtra routes except Route 79 were suspended beginning on March 18, 2020. Routes 16Y, 37, 39, 59, A9, G9, J4, K9, X9 were suspended beginning on March 16, 2020, and Route S9 was suspended beginning on March 18, 2020. Weekend service for Route 79 was also suspended beginning on March 21, 2020. Normal service resumed on Routes 59, 79, S9, and X9 beginning on August 23, 2020. Routes 16Y and K9 would also return to service on September 5, 2021. However Routes 37, 39, A9, G9, and J4 were never brought back into service.

The MetroExtra branding was discontinued following the implementation of WMATA's Better Bus Redesign Network on June 29, 2025 with all MetroExtra routes being renamed into Express (59, 79, K9, S9, X9), turned into local routes (16Y), or were eliminated.

Fleet

When MetroExtra service began, services were operated by a dedicated fleet of buses, painted in a blue color scheme with MetroExtra logos.

ImageBuilder andmodelModel yearLengthNumbers(Total)Fuel type NotesNew Flyer IndustriesC40LF 2002 2464(1 bus) CNGRepainted in 2010. Retired in 2015 DaimlerChryslerCommercial BusesOrion VII (07.501)(semi-low floor) 2005-2006 2528, 2563, 2603, 2616, 2626-2629, 2636, 2640-2641, 2643-2644, 2646-2647, 2650-2651, 2655, 2663, 2665, 2668, 2670-2671, 2677-2685(32 buses)2528, 2563, 2603, 2616, 2626-2629, 2636, 2640-2641, 2643-2644, 2646-2647, 2650-2651, 2655, 2663, 2665, 2668, 2670-2671 repainted into MetroExtra scheme between 2010-2012. 2677-2685 repainted into MetroExtra scheme in 2014. Retired between 2019-2020New Flyer IndustriesDE40LFR 2006 6040(1 bus) Diesel-electric hybrid Repainted in 2012 following an accident Retired in 2021 New FlyerDE40LFA 2009 6413–6461(49 buses)Most units retired between 2022-2025 2010 6462–6472(11 buses)Repainted into MetroExtra colors in 2018 New FlyerXcelsior XDE40 2011 7086–7100(15 buses)7086-7090 repainted into MetroExtra colors in 2014; Repainted back into local scheme in 2020. 7091-7100 delivered in MetroExtra colors; Repainted into local scheme in 2020. Final buses delivered in MetroExtra colors

Routes MetroExtra routes follow the same numbering as local Metrobus routes. Although, they typically end with a 9.

MetroExtra routes in Washington, D.C. have either a two digit number (59, 79) or a letter followed by a 9 (S9, X9) MetroExtra routes in Montgomery County, MD have a letter followed by a 9 (K9, S9, Q9) MetroExtra routes exist in Prince George's County, MD but are mainly in Montgomery County or Washington, D.C. so no route follows the rule of having a letter followed by two numbers (F12, J12, P12, etc.) MetroExtra routes in Northern Virginia have one or two numbers followed by a letter. Although there is only one MetroExtra route in Virginia and the only MetroExtra route to not have a 9. (16Y)

RouteTerminals Streets traveled Service notes Divisions Local counterpart5914th Street LineTakoma station ↔Federal Triangle station 14th Street Bladensburg59 79Georgia Avenue-7th Street LineSilver Spring station ↔Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter Georgia Avenue 7th Street Daily service Montgomery7016YColumbia Pike LineBarcroft ↔McPherson Square station Columbia Pike Arlington Boulevard K Street Four Mile Run16A, 16C, 16E16M3YK9New Hampshire Avenue-Maryland LineFort Totten station ↔FDA New Hampshire Avenue MontgomeryK6S916th Street LineSilver Spring station ↔McPherson Square station 16th Street Daily serviceS2D31X9Benning Road-H Street LineCapitol Heights station ↔Gallery Place-Chinatown Minnesota Avenue Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue Benning Road H Street Midday trips terminate at Minnesota Avenue station Andrews Federal CenterX2V2, V4

Former routes These routes have existed in the past but were discontinued. However, most local service along these routes remained. RouteTerminals Streets traveled Service notes Divisions Local counterpart16F, 16XColumbia Pike LineCulmore ↔Federal Triangle station Columbia Pike Four Mile Run16B, 16S37Wisconsin Avenue LineFriendship Heights station ↔Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter Wisconsin Avenue Massachusetts Avenue Montgomery31, 3339 Pennsylvania Avenue LineNaylor Road station ↔Potomac Park Pennsylvania Avenue Andrews Federal Center32, 36F14A9Anacostia-Livingston LineLivingston ↔McPherson Square station Martin Luther King Jr Avenue Shepherd ParkwayA6, A7, A8G9Rhode Island Avenue LineMount Rainier Terminal ↔ Rhode Island Avenue BladensburgG883, 86J4Bethesda-Silver Spring LineBethesda station ↔College Park-U of Md University Boulevard East-West Highway MontgomeryJ1, J2W9Anacostia-Fort Drum LineL'Enfant Plaza station ↔Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building South Capitol Street Shepherd ParkwayA4

References