D.C. Buses to Begin All-Door Boarding

Writing in The Washington Post, Luz Lazo reports on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro)’s announcement that, starting in the fall, Metro buses will have all-door boarding to streamline the boarding process and reduce delays.

“The initiative — set to debut in 450 buses, or about a third of the fleet, starting this year — is part of a large-scale effort to improve bus riders’ experience in the capital region,” Lazo explains. As part of the project, the agency is adding new fare collection tech to the front and back doors of buses.

According to the article, “Cities with all-door boarding have seen trip times improve substantially, with savings of up to 30 percent.” Lazo also describes other improvements Metro is making, such as allowing riders to request stops between designated bus stops at night and ticketing drivers who drive or park in bus-only lanes.

As Lazo points out, “The Washington region already experienced rear door boarding in 2020, when Metro closed off front entrances and the first few seats of Metrobuses to protect bus operators from exposure to the coronavirus.” During that time, bus trips were free.