The Riggs Road Line, designated as the Riggs Road–Adelphi Line on Route P15, and Riggs Road–White Oak Line on Route P16, are bus routes operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Fort Totten station of the Red, Green and Yellow Lines of the Washington Metro & Adelphi (P15) or White Oak Medical Center (P16). Routes P15 & P16 operate every 20 minutes during peak hours and route P16 operates every 20 minutes at other times on weekdays, and 30-60 minutes on the weekends. P15 trips are roughly 32 minutes long and P16 trips are roughly 55 minutes long.
Background
Routes P15 and P16 provide service along Riggs Road between Fort Totten station and Adelphi (P15) or White Oak Adventist Medical Center (P16). Route P15 operates in the weekday peak-hour direction only while route P16 operates daily. The line operates every 10-20 minutes during weekday peak hours, 20-30 minutes at all other times on weekdays, and 30-60 minutes on the weekends.
Routes P15 and P16 operate from Bladensburg division but had some trips operated by Northern division during peak hours until 2018. The line formerly utilized articulated buses due to its high ridership volume.
P15 stops
Bus stopDirectionConnectionsNortheast Washington, D.C.Fort Totten stationBus Bay DNorthbound station,Southbound terminal Metrobus: C71, C77, C81, D30, D44, M60, M6X, P16, P32, P35 Washington Metro: Fort Totten stationBus Bay KNorthbound Metrobus: C71, C77, C81, D30, D44, M60, M6X, P16, P32, P35 Washington Metro: First Place NE / Riggs Road NENorthbound Metrobus: C71, C77, C81, D44, M60, P16First Place NE / Ingraham Street NESouthbound Metrobus: C71, C77, C81, D44, M60, P16Riggs Road NE / South Dakota Avenue NEBidirectional Metrobus: C71, P16Riggs Road NE / Chillum Place NEBidirectional Metrobus: C71, M6X, P16Riggs Road NE / Nicholson Street NEBidirectional Metrobus: C71 (Northbound only), P16Riggs Road NE / 6th Street NESouthbound Metrobus: P16Prince George's County, MarylandRiggs Road / Eastern AvenueBidirectional Metrobus: P16Riggs Road / Chillum RoadBidirectional Metrobus: P16, P42Riggs Road / Sheridan StreetBidirectional Metrobus: P16Riggs Road / Fairoak AvenueBidirectional Metrobus: P16Riggs Road / Ray RoadBidirectional Metrobus: P16Riggs Road / Red Top RoadSouthbound Metrobus: P16, P35Riggs Road / Sargent RoadNorthbound Metrobus: P16, P35Riggs Road / Dayton RoadBidirectional Metrobus: P16, P35Riggs Road / East-West HighwayBidirectional Metrobus: M12, P16, P30, P35East-West Highway / 19th PlaceNorthbound Metrobus: M12, P16, P30, P35East-West Highway / Ager RoadBidirectional Metrobus: M12, P16, P30, P35East-West Highway / 23rd AvenueSouthbound Metrobus: M12, P16, P30, P3523rd Avenue / Sheridan StreetBidirectional Metrobus: M12, P16, P30, P35 TheBus: P4323rd Avenue / Woodberry StreetNorthbound Metrobus: P16 TheBus: P4323rd Avenue / Amherst StreetSouthbound Metrobus: P16 TheBus: P4323rd Avenue / Banning PlaceBidirectional Metrobus: P16 TheBus: P4323rd Avenue / Drexel StreetBidirectional Metrobus: P16 TheBus: P4323rd Avenue / Fordham StreetNorthbound Metrobus: P16 TheBus: P4323rd Avenue / Beechwood StreetSouthbound Metrobus: P16 TheBus: P4323rd Avenue / Chapman RoadNorthbound Metrobus: P16 TheBus: P4323rd Avenue / Hannon StreetSouthbound Metrobus: P16 TheBus: P4323rd Avenue / Lewisdale DriveNorthbound Metrobus: P16, P31 TheBus: P43University Boulevard / 23rd AvenueSouthbound Metrobus: P16, P31 TheBus: P43University Boulevard / Guilford RoadNorthbound Metrobus: P16, P31 TheBus: P43University Boulevard / Riggs RoadBidirectional Metrobus: M12, P16, P31 TheBus: P43 MTA: Purple Line (at Riggs Road station) (Planned)Riggs Road / Jasmine TerraceBidirectional Metrobus: P16Riggs Road / Keokee StreetBidirectional Metrobus: P16Riggs Road / Lebanon StreetBidirectional Metrobus: P16Riggs Road / Merrimac DriveBidirectional Metrobus: P16Riggs Road / Cool Spring RoadNorthbound Metrobus: P16Riggs Road / 20th AvenueSouthbound Metrobus: P16Riggs Road / Quebec StreetBidirectional Metrobus: P16Riggs Road / Ruatan StreetBidirectional Metrobus: P16Riggs Road / Saranac StreetBidirectional Metrobus: P16Riggs Road / Apache StreetBidirectional Metrobus: P16Metzerott Road / Greenspire TerraceAdelphiNorthbound (PM Peak)Southbound station (AM Peak) Shuttle-UMMetezrott Road / Presidential TowersBidirectional Shuttle-UMMetezrott Road / New Hampshire AvenueBidirectional Shuttle-UMNew Hampshire Avenue / Northampton DriveBidirectional Metrobus: M60, M6X Ride On: 20, 24 TheBus: P37New Hampshire Avenue / Adelphi RoadBidirectional Metrobus: M60 Ride On: 20, 24 TheBus: P37 Shuttle-UMAdelphi Road / Sierra StreetBidirectional TheBus: P37Adelphi Road / 19th AvenueBidirectional TheBus: P37Adelphi Road / Fox StreetBidirectional TheBus: P37Adelphi Road / Erie StreetBidirectional TheBus: P37Adelphi Road / Edwards WayBidirectional TheBus: P37Edwards Way / Riggs RoadBidirectional Metrobus: P16Riggs Road / Edwards WayAdelphiNorthbound terminal (PM Peak)Southbound station (AM Peak) Metrobus: P16
P16 stops
Bus stopDirectionConnectionsNortheast Washington, D.C.Fort Totten stationBus Bay DNorthbound station,Southbound terminal Metrobus: C71, C77, C81, D30, D44, M60, M6X, P15, P32, P35 Washington Metro: Fort Totten stationBus Bay KNorthbound Metrobus: C71, C77, C81, D30, D44, M60, M6X, P15, P32, P35 Washington Metro: First Place NE / Riggs Road NENorthbound Metrobus: C71, C77, C81, D44, M60, P15First Place NE / Ingraham Street NESouthbound Metrobus: C71, C77, C81, D44, M60, P15Riggs Road NE / South Dakota Avenue NEBidirectional Metrobus: C71, P15Riggs Road NE / Chillum Place NEBidirectional Metrobus: C71, M6X, P15Riggs Road NE / Nicholson Street NEBidirectional Metrobus: C71 (Northbound only), P15Riggs Road NE / 6th Street NESouthbound Metrobus: P15Prince George's County, MarylandRiggs Road / Eastern AvenueBidirectional Metrobus: P15Riggs Road / Chillum RoadBidirectional Metrobus: P15, P42Riggs Road / Sheridan StreetBidirectional Metrobus: P15Riggs Road / Fairoak AvenueBidirectional Metrobus: P15Riggs Road / Ray RoadBidirectional Metrobus: P15Riggs Road / Red Top RoadSouthbound Metrobus: P15, P35Riggs Road / Sargent RoadNorthbound Metrobus: P15, P35Riggs Road / Dayton RoadBidirectional Metrobus: P15, P35Riggs Road / East-West HighwayBidirectional Metrobus: M12, P15, P30, P35East-West Highway / 19th PlaceNorthbound Metrobus: M12, P15, P30, P35East-West Highway / Ager RoadBidirectional Metrobus: M12, P15, P30, P35East-West Highway / 23rd AvenueSouthbound Metrobus: M12, P15, P30, P3523rd Avenue / Sheridan StreetBidirectional Metrobus: M12, P15, P30, P35 TheBus: P4323rd Avenue / Woodberry StreetNorthbound Metrobus: P15 TheBus: P4323rd Avenue / Amherst StreetSouthbound Metrobus: P15 TheBus: P4323rd Avenue / Banning PlaceBidirectional Metrobus: P15 TheBus: P4323rd Avenue / Drexel StreetBidirectional Metrobus: P15 TheBus: P4323rd Avenue / Fordham StreetNorthbound Metrobus: P15 TheBus: P4323rd Avenue / Beechwood StreetSouthbound Metrobus: P15 TheBus: P4323rd Avenue / Chapman RoadNorthbound Metrobus: P15 TheBus: P4323rd Avenue / Hannon StreetSouthbound Metrobus: P15 TheBus: P4323rd Avenue / Lewisdale DriveNorthbound Metrobus: P15, P31 TheBus: P43University Boulevard / 23rd AvenueSouthbound Metrobus: P15, P31 TheBus: P43University Boulevard / Guilford RoadNorthbound Metrobus: P15, P31 TheBus: P43University Boulevard / Riggs RoadBidirectional Metrobus: M12, P15, P31 TheBus: P43 MTA: Purple Line (at Riggs Road station) (Planned)Riggs Road / Jasmine TerraceBidirectional Metrobus: P15Riggs Road / Keokee StreetBidirectional Metrobus: P15Riggs Road / Lebanon StreetBidirectional Metrobus: P15Riggs Road / Merrimac DriveBidirectional Metrobus: P15Riggs Road / Cool Spring RoadNorthbound Metrobus: P15Riggs Road / 20th AvenueSouthbound Metrobus: P15Riggs Road / Quebec StreetBidirectional Metrobus: P15Riggs Road / Ruatan StreetBidirectional Metrobus: P15Riggs Road / Saranac StreetBidirectional Metrobus: P15Riggs Road / Apache StreetBidirectional Metrobus: P15Riggs Road / Edwards WayBidirectional Metrobus: P15 (Southbound only)Riggs Road / Adelphi RoadBidirectional TheBus: P37Riggs Road / Hughes RoadBidirectionalRiggs Road / Buck Lodge RoadBidirectionalRiggs Road / Heatherwood CourtBidirectionalRiggs Road / Buck Lodge TerraceBidirectionalRiggs Road / Cruze PlaceNorthboundRiggs Road / Lackawanna StreetSouthboundRiggs Road / Mistletoe PlaceBidirectionalRiggs Road / Towhee AvenueBidirectionalRiggs Road / Mistletoe PlaceBidirectionalRiggs Road / Wooded WayNorthboundRiggs Road / Forestdale DriveSouthboundRiggs Road / Glenmore DriveBidirectionalPowder Mill Road / Floral DriveNorthboundPowder Mill Road / Pinewood CourtBidirectionalPowder Mill Road / #3210BidirectionalPowder Mill Road / Boxer RoadNorthboundPowder Mill Road / Pleasant Acres DriveSouthboundPowder Mill Road / Cherry Mill DriveSouthboundPowder Mill Road / Cherry Hill RoadBidirectional Metrobus: M42, M44Powder Mill Road / Cherry Hill RoadNorthbound Metrobus: M44Powder Mill Road / High Point High SchoolBidirectional Metrobus: M44Powder Mill Road / Evans TrailNorthbound Metrobus: M44Powder Mill Road / Allview DriveSouthbound Metrobus: M44Beltsville Drive / Giant Garden CenterBidirectionalCalverton Boulevard / Beltsville DriveBidirectionalCalverton Boulevard / #3808NorthboundCalverton Boulevard / Chapel View DriveBidirectionalCalverton Boulevard / Fallston AvenueBidirectionalMontgomery County, MarylandCalverton Boulevard / Galway DriveBidirectional Metrobus: M52Calverton Boulevard / Craiglawn RoadBidirectional Metrobus: M52Calverton Boulevard / Gracefield RoadBidirectional Metrobus: M52Cherry Hill Road / Plum Orchard DriveSouthbound Metrobus: M60Broadbirch Drive / Cherry Hill RoadNorthbound Metrobus: M52, M60Ride On: 27Plum Orchard Drive / Broadbirch DriveNorthbound Metrobus: M42, M44, M52, M60Ride On: 27Plum Orchard Drive / ReStoreSouthbound Metrobus: M42, M44, M60Ride On: 27Plum Orchard Drive / Adventist White Oak Medical CenterNorthbound terminal,Southbound station Metrobus: M42, M44, M60Ride On: 27
History
Before WMATA implemented the Better Bus Redesign network, Route P15 was previously known as Route R1, while Route P16 was previously known as Route R2. The Riggs Road Line was originally operated by routes R8 and R9 beginning in the 1970s running from Downtown DC to Calverton. Around the late 1970s, service to Downtown was discontinued and was replaced by the Red Line.
In 1975, the R2 was created as a new Metrobus Route to operate as part of the Calverton-Kennedy Center Line between the Kennedy Center and Great Oaks Center (Calverton), via F Street NW, New Hampshire Avenue NW, 19th Street NW (southbound), 18th Street NW (northbound), Connecticut Avenue NW, Columbia Road NW, Harvard Street NW (northbound), Mount Pleasant Street NW (northbound), Irving Street NW (eastbound), Park Place NW (southbound), Michigan Avenue NW/NE, Queens Chapel Road, Belcrest Road, the Prince George's Plaza Shopping Center, Toledo Road, Adelphi Road, Campus Drive, Baltimore Avenue, Rhode Island Avenue, Powder Mill Road, and Cherry Hill Road. On February 6, 1978, the R2 was rerouted to serve as part of the Queens Chapel Road Line running with routes R4, R6, and R7. Route R2 operated between the newly opened Brookland–CUA station and Centerpark Office Park in Calverton, via Queens Chapel Road, Belcrest Road, Prince George's Plaza, Baltimore Avenue, Rhode Island Avenue, and Powder Mill Road.
In 1975 the R4 was created as a new Metrobus Route to operate as part of the Crystal City-Calverton Line between Crystal City in Virginia and Great Oaks Center (Calverton), via the 14th Street bridges, Independence Avenue, 1st Street NE, Columbus Circle, Washington Union Station, Massachusetts Avenue NE, North Capitol Street NW, Riggs Road, Powder Mill Road, Beltsville Drive, Calverton Boulevard, and Cherry Hill Road.