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Annapolis Road Line

From Alfawiki
Annapolis Road Line (Route P40)
Company typePublic transit route
IndustryPublic transportation
PredecessorRoute T18
Founded1978-12-03
Headquarters
Washington, D.C.
,
United States
Area served
Prince George's County, Maryland; Washington, D.C.
ProductsBus service
OwnerWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Websitewww.wmata.com

Annapolis Road Line (Route P40)

The Annapolis Road Line, known as Route P40, is a daily bus route managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority that links New Carrollton station on the Orange Line with Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood station on the Red Line. On weekdays, buses operate every 12 minutes between 7 AM and 9 PM, with service intervals extending to 45–60 minutes after 9 PM. The journey duration is roughly 50 minutes.

Background

Operating every day, Route P40 connects New Carrollton station and Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood station, providing transit along Annapolis Road and facilitating travel between Prince Georges County and Northeast. Previously, it included a limited-stop section between the Mount Rainier terminal and Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood, halting at only five stops. Local coverage in this corridor is offered by routes 83 and 86.

The P40 service is based out of the Landover division.

P40 stops

<section begin=p40-table/>

<section end=p40-table/>

History

Prior to WMATA's implementation of the Better Bus Redesign, Route P40 was initially designated as Route T18, which commenced service on December 3, 1978. This route operated between New Carrollton station and Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood station shortly after the opening of New Carrollton station.

Route T18 took over segments previously served by routes T14, T16, and T17 between Annapolis Road in New Carrollton and Rhode Island Avenue Metro Station, passing through Capital Plaza Mall. These other routes were shortened to terminate at New Carrollton as a result.

The route’s path included Ellin Road, Harkins Road, and Annapolis Road, with a loop via 57th and 58th Avenues and Emerson Street to provide service to Bladensburg High School and adjacent apartment complexes. From there, it proceeded along Annapolis Road and Bladensburg Road, then turned onto 38th Avenue before continuing on Rhode Island Avenue to reach Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood station. The return journey retraced this route back to New Carrollton.

Limited Stop Segment

On December 14, 2014, route T18 incorporated a limited-stop section along Rhode Island Avenue between the Mount Rainier terminal and Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood station, operating alongside route T14. This modification aimed to alleviate bus bunching and enhance punctuality for both lines. The designated limited stops were:

  • Rhode Island Ave & 12th St NE
  • Rhode Island Ave & Montana Ave NE (eastbound)/14th St NE (westbound)
  • Rhode Island Ave & 18th St NE
  • Rhode Island Ave & South Dakota Ave NE (eastbound)/24th St NE (westbound)
  • Rhode Island Ave & Newton St NE

Passengers requiring local stops were advised to use routes 83 or 86. This adjustment positioned route T18 as a faster, more direct option, while route T14 concentrated on serving local neighborhoods.

Later changes

During the COVID-19 pandemic, starting March 16, 2020, the T18 operated under its Saturday supplemental schedule before switching to Sunday service on March 18, 2020. Weekend frequencies were decreased to every 30 minutes. Full regular service was restored on August 23, 2020.

On September 5, 2021, service frequency was enhanced to run every 12 minutes daily between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Better Bus Redesign

In 2022, WMATA initiated its Better Bus Redesign project—a comprehensive overhaul of the bus network.

In April 2023, WMATA proposed changing the T18 designation to Route MD146 while keeping the existing routing intact. Subsequent adjustments renamed MD146 as Route P40 without altering the route itself; this update was incorporated into WMATA's Proposed Network for 2025.

On November 21, 2024, WMATA officially approved the Better Bus Redesign Network. Effective June 29, 2025, Route T18 was formally redesignated as P40 with its previous routing preserved.

Incidents

On January 10, 2022, an individual was stabbed aboard a T18 bus traveling on Rhode Island Avenue between 14th Street and Montana Avenue. The assailant fled the scene immediately afterward.

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