Colesville–Ashton Line
| Company type | Public transit service |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Predecessor | Silver Spring-Wheaton Line (streetcar) |
| Founded | 1940s (as bus route) |
| Fate | Discontinued |
| Headquarters | Silver Spring , United States |
Area served | Montgomery County, Maryland |
| Owner | Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |
| Parent | Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |
The Colesville–Ashton Line, identified as Route Z2, functioned as a weekday peak-period bus service managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. It linked Olney (Spartan Rd & Georgia Ave) to the Silver Spring station on the Red Line. During weekday rush hours, buses operated at intervals of 30 to 35 minutes, with each journey lasting roughly 60 to 70 minutes.
Background
Operating exclusively during weekday peak times, Route Z2 connected Silver Spring station and Olney, making stops at key locations such as MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, Ashton, Colesville, and White Oak. The route primarily traveled along Colesville Road and New Hampshire Avenue, facilitating neighborhood access. Its operations were based out of the Montgomery division.
History
Originally part of the Silver Spring-Wheaton Line under the Capital Transit Company, Route Z2 began as a streetcar route connecting Silver Spring and Wheaton. This service transitioned to buses in the 1940s before eventually being discontinued.
The Colesville–Ashton Line traces its origins to route Z1 streetcar service, which switched to bus operation in June 1956, was redesignated as Z2, and initially operated by DC Transit until WMATA assumed control on February 4, 1973.
Alongside routes Z1, Z3, and Z4, Z2 was part of the Colesville Line, linking Silver Spring and Olney with select trips extending to Cloverly. After Silver Spring station opened in February 1978, these routes extended their terminus there.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, routes Z1 and Z4 were rebranded as the Glenmont–Silver Spring Line, whereas Z3 and Z5 covered service between Silver Spring and Burtonsville Park and Ride. Route Z2 continued operating on the Colesville Line with its endpoint extended to Olney.
In September 1993, Ride On took over Saturday operations for route Z2 to help WMATA reduce expenses and focus resources on routes with higher ridership.
Following suggestions made in April 2004, Route Z2 was modified to serve Briggs Chaney Road, Good Hope Road, and Cape May Road instead of New Hampshire Avenue, effectively replacing route Z3. During midday on weekdays and Saturdays, trips ran solely between Silver Spring station and Colesville. At this time, the route adopted the name Colesville–Ashton Line.
On June 24, 2007, the routing of Z2 was adjusted to remain on New Hampshire Avenue between Briggs Chaney and Cape May roads; meanwhile, service along Good Hope and Cape May roads was transferred to Ride On route 39.
Due to insufficient ridership numbers, most off-peak runs for route Z2 were terminated on June 28, 2009; however, weekday peak-hour and Saturday services persisted.
In 2012, WMATA proposed ending all Saturday trips on route Z2 owing to low patronage on certain segments; alternative coverage was provided through routes C8 and Z8. By January 2013, Ride On ceased all weekend operations for route Z2 for similar reasons.
With the inauguration of the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center at Silver Spring station in 2015, route Z2 was rerouted to Bus Bay 113 on level one alongside route Z6.
In 2019, WMATA suggested discontinuing all service on route Z2 due to redundancy with the forthcoming Ride On Flash BRT along U.S. Route 29 (planned for 2020) and other overlapping services; average weekday ridership stood near 25 passengers per trip. Montgomery County officials strongly opposed this proposal, highlighting that approximately 65,000 residents depend on Metrobus services for transportation needs.
More than thirty county leaders—including state senators Craig Zucker, Susan Lee, Cheryl Kagan; delegates Marc Korman, Sara Love, Julie Palakovich Carr; as well as all nine county council members—appealed to WMATA to keep frequent service intact. They underscored that such reductions would disproportionately impact students, seniors, and service workers reliant exclusively on these routes while undermining regional objectives aimed at lowering traffic congestion and emissions.
Responding to public resistance, WMATA withdrew its proposed cuts in April 2020.
All operations were suspended starting March 22, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed with limited frequency on August 23, 2020.
Better Bus Redesign
In 2022, WMATA launched its inaugural extensive Metrobus system revamp known as the Better Bus Redesign initiative.
By April 2023, WMATA unveiled its Draft Visionary Network, which included plans to discontinue Route Z2. The section of Z2 running along Colesville Road was proposed to be substituted by Route MD242 (later renamed M52 and M54), providing a connection between Silver Spring station and Laurel station on the MARC Camden Line. Meanwhile, the segment on New Hampshire Avenue was served by Route MD144 (which was subsequently restructured into Routes M6X and M42). Service covering the area between New Hampshire Avenue & Randolph Road and MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, including Ashton, was eliminated.
These revisions were integrated into WMATA’s 2025 Proposed Network.
On November 21, 2024, WMATA ratified the Better Bus Redesign Network, streamlining operations on the College Park Line.
Starting June 29, 2025, Route Z2 ceased operation and was replaced by multiple Metrobus routes; however, no alternative service was provided for the stretch between New Hampshire Avenue & Randolph Road and MedStar Montgomery Medical Center.