Deanwood–Alabama Avenue Line
| Company type | Bus route |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Predecessor | Capital Traction Company, DC Transit |
| Founded | 1924-12-23 |
| Fate | Rebranded as Route C23 on June 29, 2025 |
Area served | Washington, D.C., Maryland (Landover Hills) |
Key people | Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |
| Products | Bus service |
| Parent | Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |
The Deanwood–Alabama Avenue Line, known as Route W4, was a daily bus service managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority that linked Deanwood station on the Silver and Orange Lines to Anacostia station on the Green Line. The route maintained a 12-minute frequency from 7:00 AM until 9:00 PM, shifting to a 20-minute interval during later hours, with an average trip duration of approximately one hour.
Background
Operating every day, Route W4 connected Deanwood station and Anacostia station, primarily catering to residents in the Northeast and Southeast sectors of Washington, D.C. The bus traveled along Division Avenue NE, Benning Road SE, Southern Avenue, and Alabama Avenue SE, serving numerous communities along these corridors. On school days, additional runs originated from Ballou High School in both directions. Some trips concluded at Malcolm X Avenue & Newcomb Street SE, though riders could remain onboard for service extending to Malcolm X Avenue & South Capitol Street.
The Shepherd Parkway garage was the base for Route W4 operations. Due to increased passenger volume during weekday rush hours, articulated buses were deployed. Before Shepherd Parkway received articulated vehicles, the route operated from Bladensburg garage and from Southern Avenue garage prior to its closure in June 2024.
History
Route W4 has its roots in former streetcar lines, transitioning into bus service during the mid-20th century. Initially run by the Capital Traction Company, it officially became a bus route on December 23, 1924. Management later passed to DC Transit until WMATA took over DC Transit operations in 1973.
Originally, W4 connected Capital Plaza Mall in Landover Hills, Maryland with Bolling Air Force Base, serving stops such as Craftsman Circle and Prince George's Plaza Hospital along Division Avenue NE, Benning Road SE, Alabama Avenue SE, Kenilworth Avenue, and the Baltimore–Washington Parkway. Outside peak hours, service terminated at Kenilworth Avenue.
Following the inauguration of the Orange Line on December 3, 1978, Route W4 was adjusted to serve Deanwood station via Minnesota Avenue. During off-peak periods, buses ended their trips at Deanwood station; peak hour services extended to Capital Plaza.
On January 13, 2001, the route was redirected along Alabama Avenue to provide access to the newly opened Congress Heights station, while routes W2 and W3 continued servicing other adjacent areas.
Due to tightened security measures at Bolling Air Force Base, effective March 21, 2003, Route W4 ceased entering the base and was rerouted along South Capitol Street instead. Passengers transferred to an internal military shuttle available near the Navy’s Firth Sterling Gate.
On June 29, 2003, further changes led W4 to terminate at Anacostia station rather than Bolling Air Force Base.
In 2011, WMATA suggested removing the portion of Route W4 between Deanwood station and Capital Plaza Mall because of low patronage and Maryland traffic congestion causing delays that affected scheduling flexibility within D.C. This proposal aimed to enhance frequency throughout operational hours.
Alternatives proposed included extending routes F1, F2, or F13 from Prince George's Hospital to Deanwood station while discontinuing service to Cheverly station.
Service between Deanwood station and Capital Plaza Mall was officially discontinued on March 24, 2013 due to insufficient ridership and efforts to improve schedule adherence. Alternative options comprised routes A12, F1, F2, F8, F13, R11/R12, V7/V8, and V14/V15; however, none provided direct coverage for Craftsman Circle.
In WMATA’s FY2021 budget proposal released in 2019, a plan emerged to reroute W4 through Fort Drum and D.C. Village as replacements for routes A4 and W5 while eliminating service to Anacostia station. Service coverage would be maintained by routes A2, A6, A7, A8, A9, and W2. This adjustment would have removed direct Anacostia access for residents of Fort Drum and D.C. Village but was ultimately withdrawn on March 31, 2020.
Beginning March 16, 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Route W4 operated under a reduced schedule—initially adopting Saturday supplemental weekday timetables followed by Sunday schedules—with weekend frequencies reduced to every 30 minutes starting March 21. Normal service levels resumed on August 23, 2020.
In February 2021’s FY2022 budget proposal without federal funding secured, WMATA revisited plans to reroute W4 via Fort Drum and D.C. Village but terminating at Minnesota Avenue station instead of Deanwood. The Deanwood segment would be replaced by a modified Route 96; meanwhile a revised A8 route would cover service to Anacostia station.
On September 5, 2021, frequency improvements increased W4 service intervals to every 12 minutes daily between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.
As part of WMATA’s Better Bus Redesign effective June 29, 2025, Route W4 was rebranded as C23 with adjusted routing: it continues operating between Deanwood and Benning Road stations before proceeding via Texas Avenue SE and Alabama Avenue SE—replacing routes M6 and V8—and then runs along Marion Barry Avenue SE substituting for routes W6/W8 before ending at Anacostia station. Service coverage for Congress Heights station and Southern Avenue SE shifted to route C21 (formerly V7), which also assumed responsibilities for frequent and around-the-clock operations.
Incidents
- On October 20, 2011, Demetrius Thompson, aged 22, was tragically shot and killed aboard a W4 bus near the intersection of 24th Street and Alabama Avenue SE.
- Four individuals sustained injuries on May 14, 2021, when an SUV collided head-on with a W4 bus along Southern Avenue close to Alton Street.
- A 42-year-old woman was assaulted and forcibly removed from a W4 bus in Southeast Washington, D.C., on October 18, 2022; subsequently, two suspects were apprehended in connection with the incident.