Jump to content

College Park Line

From Alfawiki
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Company typePublic transit authority
IndustryPublic transportation
Founded1967
Headquarters
Washington, D.C.
,
United States
Area served
Washington metropolitan area
ProductsBus service, Metro rail service
Websitewmata.com

The College Park Line, consisting of Routes 83 and 86, was managed daily by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and connected the Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood station—a stop on the Metro's Red Line—to either Cherry Hill Park Campground in College Park via Route 83 or to Center Park Office Park in Calverton through Route 86. Additionally, Route 83 operated limited early weekend services between Rhode Island Avenue station and Mount Rainier. These routes mainly served the U.S. Route 1 corridor, linking Northeast Washington, D.C., to College Park and neighboring areas within Prince George's County. The average travel time was roughly 50 minutes on Route 83 and approximately 70 minutes on Route 86.

Route

Both Routes 83 and 86 run daily out of the Landover division. They were formerly based at the Bladensburg Division until June 2019, when they were shifted to accommodate other services following the closure of the Northern division due to structural concerns. On weekdays, Route 83 operates every 30 to 60 minutes from 4:35 AM until 11:20 PM, while Route 86 maintains a frequency of every 30 to 60 minutes from 5:00 AM to 10:50 PM. On Saturdays, both routes follow an hourly schedule; Route 83 runs from 5:35 AM through 11:00 PM, and Route 86 from 7:03 AM until 11:28 PM. Sunday service is also hourly, with Route 83 operating between 6:35 AM and 8:20 PM, and Route 86 between 7:03 AM and 7:50 PM.

During early weekend mornings, Route 83 is truncated to operate solely between Rhode Island Avenue station and Mount Rainier terminal; these trips were previously designated as Route 82 before being renamed in 2016.

In snow-related detours, both routes are redirected to Greenbelt station, suspending their usual service to Cherry Hill and Calverton. Furthermore, during such detours, Route 86 continues directly along Rhode Island Avenue without stopping at Hyattsville Crossing station.

Route 83 stops

<section begin=dc83x-table/>

<section end=dc83x-table/>

Route 86 stops

<section begin=dc86-table/>

<section end=dc86-table/>

Route 82

The 82 Streetcar Line was part of the former Capital Transit Company (CTC) Maryland Line, running from Potomac Park to Branchville beginning in 1897. In 1958, the service shifted from streetcars to buses as CTC rebranded itself as the "DC Transit System" (DCTS), replacing streetcar operations with bus routes. Around 1961, the 82 bus route extended beyond Branchville, traveling northward to Hollywood via Rhode Island Avenue and adjacent local streets. By 1968, its northern terminus reached the Seven Springs Village Apartment Complex located in College Park, Maryland. WMATA took over DC Transit in 1973 and officially converted Route 82 into a Metrobus line on February 4 of that year.

Route 84

Initially functioning as a branch of the 82 Streetcar Line, Route 84 served the corridor between Branchville and Beltsville from 1902 until its cessation in 1949. Upon WMATA’s establishment around 1973, Route 84 was reinstated along the Maryland Line between Potomac Park and East Pines, paralleling Routes 82, 86, and 88 up to Mount Rainier before following the former DC Transit East Riverdale-Cheverly Line (Route B4) to East Pines after B4 was discontinued. On December 3, 1978, Route 84 was separated from the Maryland Line and designated as an independent Metrobus route—the Rhode Island Avenue–New Carrollton Line, operating between Rhode Island Avenue station and New Carrollton station.

Routes 86 and 88

Routes 86 and 88 were both introduced around WMATA's Metrobus launch in 1973. Route 86 initially connected Potomac Park with Riverdale, closely shadowing Routes 82 and 84 but diverting via Riverdale Road, Rhode Island Avenue, and Queensbury Road to terminate near what is now Riverdale Park Town Center station.

Route 88 followed a similar path as Routes 82, 84, and 86 between Potomac Park and Mount Rainier before continuing along the former DC Transit East Riverdale-Cheverly Line (Routes B6 and B8) to Cheverly. Unlike B6, Route 88 served Prince George's Hospital by deviating off Landover Road akin to B8. This route was discontinued on December 3, 1978, coinciding with the opening of Cheverly station, with Route F2 assuming service between Mount Rainier and Cheverly.

Later History

On March 27, 1976, Routes 82, 84, 86, and 88 were rerouted to provide service to the newly inaugurated Rhode Island Avenue station.

Route 83 debuted on February 19, 1978, operating as a limited-stop Metrobus that paralleled Route 82 between Potomac Park and Hollywood during weekday peak periods.

At the same time, Route 86 was adjusted to replace the former G6 Hyattsville Line segment connecting Mount Rainier and College Park. While retaining its original alignment to Brentwood, it extended through several important corridors including Queensbury Road, Belcrest Road, Prince George's Plaza, Baltimore Avenue, and College Avenue.

With increased Metrorail frequency on September 24, 1978, Routes 82, 83, 84, 86, and 88 were truncated to terminate at Rhode Island Avenue station. The newly introduced B6 route provided alternative downtown service between Rhode Island Avenue station and Metro Center. Shortly after Cheverly Station opened, Route 88 was discontinued. Meanwhile, Route 84 was extended to New Carrollton station, forming what became known as the Rhode Island Avenue–New Carrollton Line.

In August of 1988, due to the closure of Maryland Route 500 for Green Line construction works, Route 86 permanently shifted its path from Queens Chapel Road to East-West Highway through University Park following community requests.

October 1989 saw Routes 82 and 83 rerouted to serve Cherry Hill Park Campground via Seven Springs Apartments; this change eliminated their previous Hollywood Loop north of Rhode Island Avenue.

Following the Green Line extension in December 1993, Route 82 was shortened for select trips to operate only between Rhode Island Avenue station and Mount Rainier; Route 83 took over full routing including service to Greenbelt station. Additionally, Route 86 extended north from College Park to Centerpark Office Park (Calverton), replacing former segments of discontinued route R2. It also altered its alignment off Belcrest Road to serve the new Prince George's Plaza (now ) station.

Between 1996 and 1997, Route 81 transitioned from the North Capitol Street Line into a Maryland Line variant of Route 83 serving Rhode Island Avenue station to Cherry Hill via Greenbelt station; concurrently, Route 83 modified its routing to serve College Park–University of Maryland station instead of Greenbelt station.

The line officially adopted the name College Park Line on January 13, 2001.

Due to closure of bus bays at Prince George's Plaza Shopping Center on May 15, 2003 for a new Target store construction project, Route 86 along with other routes ceased direct entry into the plaza.

At College Park's request on June 27, 2004, Route 86 adjusted its routing to directly serve College Park–University of Maryland station via Baltimore Avenue instead of diverting onto College Avenue and Dartmouth Avenue.

Mid-2007 construction near Prince George's Plaza altered bus exit patterns; northbound Route 86 exited via East-West Highway while maintaining southbound routing through Belcrest Road.

On August 25, 2011 WMATA launched a pilot weekday summer service dubbed "83X" offering direct trips from Cherry Hill Campground to College Park–U of MD station.

In FY2015 proposals WMATA suggested splitting Routes 83 and 86 into four segments terminating at College Park station requiring transfers but preserving full corridor coverage.

FY2016 budget plans aimed at introducing Sunday service for Route 83 replacing Sunday runs previously covered by Route 81 while discontinuing Sunday service to Greenbelt station; service coverage for Greenbelt would be maintained by Routes C2.

On March 27, 2016 Route 81 was discontinued with Route 83 absorbing most of its service except coverage at Greenbelt station which was replaced by Route C2; Sunday service was added accordingly on Route 83.

Route 82 ceased operation on December 18, 2016; short trips previously under this route were rebranded as part of Route 83. During SafeTrack maintenance periods causing Metro closures at midnight on weekends select late-night trips operated between Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood and College Park–U of MD stations.

Weekday peak short trips on March 19, 2017 on Route 83 between Rhode Island Avenue station and Mount Rainier were replaced by new Route G9 service.

Due to Purple Line construction beginning September 1, 2019 at College Park station bus loop Routes 83 and 86 were temporarily rerouted along River Road then later Calvert Road until June 12, 2022 when regular service resumed at Bus Bay G.

During the COVID-19 pandemic starting March 2020 both Routes 83 and 86 operated reduced schedules with weekend service curtailed; weekend operations for Route 86 remained suspended until September 5, 2021 when pre-pandemic schedules were restored. The summer-only "83X" service did not resume in summer of 2020 or thereafter due to pandemic-related impacts.

Proposals in September 2020 and early 2021 aimed at reducing frequencies on Routes 83 and 86 amid constrained federal funding included eliminating all Sunday service on Route 86 (already suspended since March 2020) with potential complete discontinuation if funding failed; extending Route 83 was also proposed to cover portions of discontinued C2 service.

Better Bus Redesign

In 2022, WMATA launched the Better Bus Redesign initiative, marking the first major restructuring of its Metrobus Network.

By April 2023, WMATA unveiled the Draft Visionary Network, suggesting that Routes 83 and 86 terminate at Greenbelt station and College Park–University of Maryland station, with new designations MD249 and MD250. The segment of Route 83 between College Park and Cherry Hill was redesignated as Route M349 and extended to Goddard Corporate Park. Meanwhile, Route 86’s service from Hyattsville Crossing to Calverton was renamed M248 and extended to White Oak Shopping Center, bypassing College Park station. The section between 38th Street and Hyattsville Crossing was substituted by Routes DC114 and MD344.

In the Revised Draft Visionary Network, MD249 and MD250 were renamed to Routes P1X and P10 respectively. Route P1X operated between Rhode Island Avenue station and Greenbelt station, while Route P10 was rerouted through Hyattsville, maintaining a path similar to the original Route 86. MD248 was redesignated as Route P11, preserving the Route 86 alignment with an extension to Greencastle Park & Ride. These adjustments were incorporated into WMATA’s Proposed Network for 2025. The MD349 remained as Route P46 but was truncated to College Park station and rerouted to New Carrollton station before being removed from the 2025 proposal.

Throughout these drafts, Route P1X’s terminus shifted from Greenbelt station to IKEA Way in College Park, with service between Greenbelt station and Greenbelt Road & Baltimore Avenue covered by Route P32. Additionally, Route P11 was eliminated in favor of Route M44, which operates between North Bethesda station and Hyattsville Crossing station, combining former C8 and proposed P11 corridors.

On November 21, 2024, WMATA officially approved the Better Bus Redesign Network, streamlining service on the College Park Line.

Effective June 29, 2025, Route 83 will be renamed Route P1X and rerouted to serve IKEA Way in College Park, discontinuing stops at College Park station and Cherry Hill. It will continue along Baltimore Avenue but cease service on Greenbelt Road, Rhode Island Avenue, Edgewood Road, and Cherry Hill Road. The segment between College Park station and Cherry Hill will be replaced by Route M42, which extends to North Bethesda station via the former C8 corridor. Route 86 will become Route P10, rerouted along Jefferson Street and 42nd Avenue in Hyattsville, terminating at College Park–University of Maryland station. Service between College Park station and Calverton will be replaced by Route M44 operating between Hyattsville Crossing station and North Bethesda station, following the previous Route 86 path but bypassing College Park station. Service along 38th Street will be substituted by Route C41; however, Hamilton Street and 40th Avenue will no longer receive bus service.

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=College_Park_Line&oldid=16259"