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Crosstown Line (Washington, D.C.)

From Alfawiki
Crosstown Line (Routes H2 and H4)
Company typePublic transit service
IndustryPublic transportation
Founded1920s (as streetcar line)
FateReplaced by Route C61 on June 29, 2025
Headquarters
Washington, D.C.
,
United States
Area served
Washington, D.C.
ProductsBus service
ParentWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

The Crosstown Line, consisting of Routes H2 and H4, was a daily bus operation managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. This service linked the Brookland–CUA station and the Tenleytown–AU station on the Red Line of the Washington Metro. During peak periods (7AM–9PM), buses ran every 12 minutes collectively, while after 9PM, intervals ranged between 20 and 40 minutes. The typical journey duration was around 48 minutes.

Background

The Crosstown Line's Routes H2 and H4 connected Brookland–CUA station and Tenleytown–AU station, providing transit access to the hospital area along 1st Street. Beyond Columbia Heights station, the routes diverged: Route H2 primarily traveled via Adams Mill Road, Connecticut Avenue, Van Ness Street, and Veazey Street. In contrast, Route H4 covered Mount Pleasant Street, Park Road, Porter Street, and Wisconsin Avenue. Both routes offered a bus connection between Brookland and Tenleytown stations without utilizing the Red Line rail service.

Both Routes H2 and H4 were operated out of the Bladensburg division.

H2 stops

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H4 stops

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History

Routes H2 and H4 began as streetcar lines run by the Capital Traction Company before transitioning to bus service in the 1920s. These routes linked Fort Lincoln with Westmoreland Circle, passing through neighborhoods such as Tenleytown, Forest Hills, Cleveland Park, and Brookland. They primarily operated along key corridors including Yuma Street, Massachusetts Avenue, Wisconsin Avenue, and 14th Street NE, focusing on service in outer Washington, D.C. without extending into Downtown.

In 1956, DC Transit took over these routes and later redirected service to the Washington Hospital Complexes located on 1st Street. The lines were incorporated into the Metrobus system in 1973.

On February 19, 1978, both H2 and H4 were rerouted to provide access to the newly opened Brookland–CUA station, facilitating connections to the Red Line. Subsequently, on August 25, 1984, these routes were modified again to serve the newly established Tenleytown–AU station.

With the inauguration of Columbia Heights station on September 18, 1999, route H2 was truncated to end at Van Ness–UDC station, while route H4 terminated at Tenleytown–AU station. The sections along Yuma Street and Westmoreland Circle were replaced by route N8, which employed smaller buses to reduce noise concerns. Additionally, the stretch between Fort Lincoln and Brookland was substituted by route H6.

Route H3 was introduced to operate during weekday peak periods between Brookland and Tenleytown stations. It followed a combined path of routes H2 and H4 but bypassed the hospital complex. On June 25, 2000, route H3 was realigned to more closely mirror H4’s trajectory through Mount Pleasant.

In WMATA’s fiscal year 2011 budget proposal, plans called for route H2 to revert its service from Van Ness–UDC back to Tenleytown–AU station in order to replace the diminishing N8 route. These adjustments took effect on December 19, 2010: route H2 was redirected to serve Tenleytown via Van Ness Street and Wisconsin Avenue; route H3 was rerouted to follow the path of route H4; meanwhile, service along Reno Road and Van Ness–UDC was discontinued. Connecticut Avenue segments were assumed by routes L1, L2, and L4.

In September 2013, WMATA suggested transforming route H3 into a limited-stop MetroExtra line extending service to Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood station. This change aimed to accelerate cross-town travel while preserving local stops through routes H2 and H4.

During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, route H3 was suspended altogether; meanwhile, routes H2 and H4 operated on reduced schedules with additional cutbacks implemented through March. Weekend service for route H2 was temporarily halted but reinstated in August 2020; however, route H3 remained inactive.

Due to federal funding limitations in September 2020, WMATA proposed eliminating all service on route H3. Further proposals in February 2021 included rerouting routes H2 and H4 via Friendship Heights station along Connecticut Avenue NW starting January 2022. This change would replace routes L1 and L2 while discontinuing service along sections of Porter Street, Wisconsin Avenue, Van Ness Street, and Veazey Street.

On September 5, 2021, service frequency for routes H2 and H4 during peak periods was increased to every 12 minutes; however, route H3 was not reinstated.

As part of WMATA's Better Bus Redesign effective June 29, 2025, routes H2 and H4 were consolidated into a single line designated C61. This new route predominantly follows the former alignment of H4 but incorporates segments from the old H2 along Harvard Street and Adams Mill Road. The C61 no longer loops around hospital complexes but instead provides continuous service turning onto Irving Street. Other portions previously served by these routes are now covered by C63 (Michigan Avenue), D72 (Mount Pleasant Street/Park Road), and C87 (Connecticut Avenue/Van Ness Street during peak hours). There is no replacement for service along Reno Road or Veazey Street.

Incidents

  • On July 21, 2014, a 65-year-old passenger assaulted an H4 bus operator near Tenleytown station following a disagreement over the fare. The individual struck the driver while brandishing a knife, inflicting a facial injury that necessitated medical treatment. The attacker was apprehended by the Metropolitan Police Department and subsequently arrested by Metro Transit Police on charges of assault with a deadly weapon.
  • On January 22, 2020, an XN40 bus serving the H4 line was involved in a collision with multiple vehicles at the intersection of Porter Street and Connecticut Avenue in Cleveland Park, resulting in considerable damage.

References

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