The East West Highway–Old Georgetown Road Line, designated Route M70, is a daily bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Silver Spring station of the Red Line of the Washington Metro and Westfield Montgomery Transit Center. This route replaced the former Bethesda–Silver Spring Line consisting of routes J1 and J2. The M70 follows roughly the same routing as the previous J2 route, except that westbound buses do not serve the bus loop at Medical Center Station and instead stop across the street along Rockville Pike.

Background Route M70 operates between Silver Spring station and Montgomery Mall connecting passengers along the East-West Highway and Old Georgetown Road corridor. The route operates daily with frequencies of every 10 minutes during weekday peak hours, every 12 minutes off-peak and weekend daytime, and frequencies of every 30 minutes at all other times. The route operates out of the Montgomery division.

Stops

Bus stopDirectionConnectionsMontgomery County, MarylandSilver SpringBus Bay 102Westbound stop,Eastbound terminal Metrobus: C87, D40, D4X, D60, D6X, M20, M52, M54, P30 Ride On: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 28, Flash BRT (Blue, Orange) MTA Maryland Bus: 915, 929 Shuttle-UM: 111 Peter Pan Bus Washington Metro: MARC: Brunswick Line MTA: Purple Line (Planned)East-West Highway / Colesville RoadWestbound Ride On: 1, 2, 11, 28 East-West Highway / East Falkland LaneEastbound Ride On: 1, 2, 11, 28East-West Highway / Summit Hills ApartmentsBidirectional Ride On: 1, 2, 11East-West Highway / #1705Westbound Ride On: 1, 2, 11East-West Highway / Rosemary Hills DriveBidirectional Ride On: 1, 2, 11East-West Highway / Washington AvenueEastbound Ride On: 1, 2, 11 East-West Highway / Sundale DriveWestbound Ride On: 1, 2, 11East-West Highway / Grubb RoadBidirectional Ride On: 1, 11 East-West Highway / Ellingson DriveBidirectional Ride On: 11East-West Highway / Meadowbrook LaneBidirectional Ride On: 1, 11 East-West Highway / Beach DriveEastbound Ride On: 1, 11 East-West Highway / Jones Mill RoadWestbound Ride On: 1, 11 East-West Highway / Rocton AvenueWestbound Ride On: 1, 11East-West Highway / Brookville RoadEastbound Ride On: 1, 11East-West Highway / Cypress PlaceBidirectional Ride On: 1, 11East-West Highway / Connecticut AvenueBidirectional Metrobus: M22 Ride On: 1, 11 East-West Highway / Maple AvenueBidirectional Metrobus: M22Montgomery Avenue / East-West HighwayEastbound Metrobus: M22East-West Highway / Chelton RoadWestbound Metrobus: M22Montgomery Avenue / Waverly StreetEastbound Metrobus: M22East-West Highway / Waverly StreetWestbound Metrobus: M22Montgomery Lane / East LaneEastbound Metrobus: D96, M22 Fairfax Connector: 798Bethesda Bus Bay CBidirectional Metrobus: D96, M22 Ride On: 29, 30, 32, 34, 36, 47, 70 Bethesda Circulator Capital Crescent Trail Washington Metro: MTA: Purple Line (Planned)Wisconsin Avenue / Commerce LaneEastboundOld Georgetown Road / Woodmont AvenueWestboundWoodmont Avenue / Cheltenham DriveWestboundWisconsin Avenue / Cheltenham DriveBidirectionalWisconsin Avenue / Highland AvenueWestboundWisconsin Avenue / Battery LaneEastboundWisconsin Avenue / Chelsea LaneBidirectional Rockville Pike / South DriveMedical CenterEastbound Ride On: 30, 33, 34, 46, 70, 101 Fairfax Connector: 798 (Southbound only) NIH Bethesda Shuttles Navy Medical Center Shuttle Washington Metro: Rockville Pike / Wood RoadMedical CenterWestbound Ride On: 30, 33, 34, 46, 70, 101 Fairfax Connector: 798 (Southbound only) NIH Bethesda Shuttles Navy Medical Center Shuttle Washington Metro: Rockville Pike / North DriveEastbound Ride On: 30, 34, 46, 70West Cedar Lane / Cedarcrest DriveBidirectional Ride On: 70West Cedar Lane / West DriveEastbound Ride On: 70 West Cedar Lane / Locust AvenueWestbound Ride On: 70West Cedar Lane / Old Georgetown RoadBidirectional Ride On: 70Old Georgetown Road / Alta Vista RoadBidirectionalOld Georgetown Road / Beech AvenueBidirectional Ride On: 30 Old Georgetown Road / Wyngate DriveEastbound Ride On: 30Old Georgetown Road / Ryland Drive Bidirectional Ride On: 30Old Georgetown Road / I-495BidirectionalOld Georgetown Road / Kingswood RoadBidirectionalOld Georgetown Road / Manor Oak WayWestboundOld Georgetown Road / Cheshire DriveBidirectional Ride On: 6Old Georgetown Road / Bells Mill RoadEastbound Ride On: 6Democracy Boulevard / Old Georgetown RoadWestbound Ride On: 6Democracy Boulevard / Davis LibraryBidirectionalDemocracy Boulevard / Mayfield DriveEastboundDemocracy Boulevard / Fernwood RoadBidirectionalFernwood Road / Rock Springs CourtWestboundFernwood Road / Thomas Spring WayEastbound Ride On: 96Fernwood Road / Rock Spring DriveWestbound Ride On: 6, 26, 47, 96 MTA Maryland Bus: 505, 515Fernwood Road / Rockledge DriveEastbound Ride On: 6, 26, 47, 96 MTA Maryland Bus: 505, 515Montgomery Mall Bus Bay FEastbound stop,Westbound terminal Ride On: 6, 26, 42, 47, 96

History

Before WMATA implemented the Better Bus Redesign network, Route M70 was previously known as Routes J1 and J2. The J2 originally operated as a streetcar line with the J4 between Silver Spring and Beltway Plaza Mall. The J2 and J4 were converted to Metrobus routes on February 4, 1973, when WMATA bought out DC Transit and other companies to form Metrobus.

On February 19, 1978, routes J2 and J4 were shortened to Silver Spring station and replaced by routes F4 and F6. Route F4 would operate between Silver Spring and New Carrollton, and route F6 would operate between Silver Spring and Greenbelt, Maryland. Route J2 would operate between Silver Spring and Montgomery Mall while route J4 would operate between Silver Spring and Friendship Heights station.

In addition, routes J1 and J6 would be added to the line. The J1 would operate between Silver Spring station and the National Institutes of Health via Jones Bridge and Jones Mill Roads. The J6 would operate between Silver Spring station and Friendship Heights station via Leland Street and Connecticut Avenue.

On January 22, 1984, route J6 would be discontinued and would be replaced by Ride On routes 1 and 11. On January 27, 1985, route J4 would be discontinued and replaced by a combination of several Ride On and Metrobus routes. On the same day the J4 was eliminated, route J3 would enter service. The J3 would offer supplemental peak direction service between Montgomery Mall and Silver Spring station.

On December 29, 1996, route J1 was extended from Medical Center station to Montgomery Mall to replace route J7. The line would also serve Rock Creek Park.

Due to security concerns following the September 11 Attacks, routes 14B, J1, J2, and J3 were forced to detour near the NIH and Medical Center. Detours goes as the following:

J2, J3 and 14B - westbound Before 6:30 a.m. and after 9:30 a.m. Buses will follow the current routing to Rockville Pike and South Drive, turn left on South Drive, and continue to Medical Center station. Leaving the station, buses will turn right on South Drive, left on W. Cedar Lane, and right on Old Georgetown Road where the current routing will be resumed.

Between 6:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Buses will follow the current routing to Rockville Pike and South Drive, turn left on South Drive, left on Rockville Pike, left on Tuckerman Lane, and left on Old Georgetown Road where the current route will be resumed.

J2, J3 and 14B - eastbound Buses to follow the current routing to Old Georgetown Road and W. Cedar Lane. Buses will turn left on W. Cedar Lane, right on Rockville Pike, right on South Drive, and continue to Medical Center station. Leaving the station, buses will continue on South Drive to Rockville Pike, turn right on Woodmont, and right on Edgemore where the regular routing will be resumed.

J1 - westbound Buses will follow the current routing to Jones Bridge Road and S. University Boulevard. Buses will continue on Jones Bridge Road, turn right on Rockville Pike, and left on South Drive to the station. From the station, buses will continue on South Drive, turn left on Rockville Pike, and left on Tuckerman Lane where the current routing will be resumed.

J1 - eastbound Buses will continue on the regular route to Old Georgetown Road and W. Cedar Lane. Buses will turn left on Cedar Lane, right on Rockville Pike, and right on South Drive to Medical Center station. Buses will leave the station via South Drive, turn right on Rockville Pike, and left on Jones Bridge Road where the regular route will be resumed.

In 2010, during WMATA's FY2011 budget, it was proposed to eliminate route J1 section between Medical Center station and Montgomery Mall as it overlaps route J2 and J3 service. But route J1 will operate in both directions during weekday peak hours.

On December 19, 2010, route J1 was shortened to Medical Center station with service to Montgomery Mall being replaced by routes J2 and J3. Route J1 would operate in both directions during the weekday peak hours between Silver Spring and Medical Center only via Jones Hill Road and Jones Bridge Road.

When the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center at Silver Spring station opened on September 20, 2015, routes J1, J2, and J3 were rerouted from their terminus along Wayne Avenue to the new transit center. The J1, J2, and J3 were given Bus Bay 102 on the first level when it opened.

In 2016, during WMATA's FY2018 budget year, WMATA proposed to eliminate route J1 to reduce costs. There will be no alternative service along Jones Mill Road and Jones Bridge Road, and reduced service at Medical Center station and along East-West Highway between Jones Mill Road and Silver Spring station. Performance measures for the line goes as follows: Performance Measures Routes J5 WMATA Guideline Pass/Fail Weekday Daily Riders 6,112 >432 Pass Cost Recovery 31.3% >16.6% Pass Subsidy/Rider $2.57 <$4.81 Pass Riders per Rev Trip 31.0 >10.7 Pass Riders per Rev Mile 3.3 >1.3 Pass According to WMATA, the portion of Route J1 exclusive to Jones Mill Road and Jones Bridge Road has 3.54 boardings per revenue trip based on Automatic Passenger Counter data during the August 2016 Schedule Period (August 21-December 18), which does not meet the WMATA standard 10.7 riders per trip. Alternative service would be provided by routes J2 and J3 at Medical Center station and along East-West Highway, route L8 at Jones Bridge Road and Connecticut Avenue, and Ride On route 33 on Jones Bridge Road between Connecticut Ave and Medical Center station. However the proposal did not go through.

In 2017, WMATA proposed to re-extend route J1 back to Montgomery Mall to replace route J3 via its old routing before the 2010 route shortening. But route J1 would revert to operating in the weekday peak hour direction only. According to WMATA, it states the following reasons: Respond to customer demand. Current travel patterns on the J1 indicate strong demand in the peak direction of travel: westbound during morning rush hours and eastbound during afternoon rush hours. J1 trips in the reverse flow direction (eastbound during morning rush hours and westbound during afternoon rush hours) have low ridership. Extending route J1 to Montgomery Mall will provide connections to a trip generator utilizing resources from the eliminated eastbound morning and westbound afternoon trips. Travel times to Montgomery Mall via the J1 will provide current route J2 and J3 customers to and from Silver Spring with a faster travel option. Eliminating the J3 reduces service redundancy and allows the ability to adjust service levels to meet demand on Route J1. With the elimination of the J3, the J1 along Rockledge Drive would be adjusted in response to customer demand between Medical Center and Rockledge Drive, and service on the J2 would be adjusted in response to customer demand along East-West Highway and Bethesda station.

According to performance measures, it goes as follows: