The State of the D.C. Region's Bus Network

The Bus Transformation Project recently released its findings on the state of bus transit in the Washington, D.C. region.

1 minute read

December 10, 2018, 2:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Metro Bus

Ritu Manoj Jethani / Shutterstock

"Earlier this year, participants in the Bus Transformation Project, a regional consensus-building exercise led by [Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority], came together to study the region's bus network," according to an article by Travis Maiers.

Now, Maiers reports, a report on the region's bus system has been released in connection with the Bus Transformation Project. "This analysis looked at four main points: customer expectations and demands; regional coordination and current funding formulas; the role technology plays; and financial stability moving forward." The report stops short of making specific policy recommendations, but provides the information for future decision making processes.

Among the key findings of the report: bus users tend to be racially diverse and transit dependent, three-quarters of the region's low-income households have access to good bus service, and access to jobs on bus transit less complete in the suburbs.

Monday, December 10, 2018 in Greater Greater Washington

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view image of strip mall in suburban Duncanville, Texas.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall

A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

6 hours ago - Parking Reform Network

Blue tarps covering tents set up by unhoused people along chain link fence on concrete sidewalk.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work

Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

July 6 - Next City

Aerial tram moving along cable in hilly area in Medellin, Colombia.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle

Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.

July 6 - InTransition Magazine