Greenbelt–BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Express Line
| Company type | Public transit service |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | November 16, 2001 |
| Defunct | March 17, 2020 |
| Fate | Discontinued |
Area served | Greenbelt, Maryland; Baltimore, Maryland |
| Products | Bus transit service |
| Parent | Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) |
The Greenbelt–BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Express Line (Route B30) was a weekday transit service managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority that linked Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport with Greenbelt station, which serves the Green and Yellow Lines of the Washington Metro. Operating every 70 minutes, the route traveled along the Baltimore–Washington Parkway, making limited stops at the BWI Business District Light Rail Stop and Arundel Mills Mall. Service hours spanned from 6:00 AM until 10:45 PM on weekdays, with the final departure from BWI scheduled at 10:09 PM. The journey typically took about 50 minutes.
Service
On weekdays, buses ran at 70-minute intervals between Greenbelt station and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. WMATA predominantly deployed six 2006 New Flyer D40LFR buses (numbers 6212–6217) housed at the Landover Division, with alternate vehicles substituting when necessary. Initially, the route utilized retired 1997 Orion V models (4390–4395). The buses were equipped with seating arrangements suited for suburban travel and featured overhead luggage racks, including an expanded central rack to accommodate larger items.
Stops
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Background
The service commenced operations on November 16, 2001, establishing a connection between Prince George's County and BWI Airport. The B30 stood out as the sole WMATA route interfacing with Maryland Transit Administration’s non-commuter transit options, serving as a crucial regional corridor. Initially, the one-way fare was set at $3, offering a competitive alternative to services such as Greyhound and the MARC Train.
By 2007, the B30 played a significant role in positioning BWI Airport among the nation’s most accessible airports. WMATA responded by boosting service frequency during peak travel times and holiday periods. Nevertheless, Maryland received criticism for its minimal efforts in promoting this route.
From 2016 to 2017, WMATA considered discontinuing the B30 due to its underperformance. Weekend operations were halted on June 25, 2017, accompanied by a fare increase to $7.50 one-way—surpassing MARC train prices—and headways were extended from 40 minutes to an hour.
In the FY2019 budget proposal, WMATA outlined intentions to reroute the B30 to include service via Arundel Mills Boulevard starting June 2018, enhancing connectivity by adding stops along Baltimore Avenue to attract more riders. This rerouting was implemented on June 24, 2018. Subsequently, by December 30, 2018, headways were further lengthened to 70 minutes.
Continued evaluations recommended eliminating the B30 due to declining ridership and the availability of alternative transit options. The route was officially discontinued on March 17, 2020, as part of COVID-19 related service adjustments and remained inactive during later service restorations. By September 2021, WMATA had removed the B30 from its list of active routes.
Despite its termination, there remained public interest in reinstating the B30 service—a topic raised during WMATA’s Better Bus Redesign initiatives—yet no concrete plans have been made to restore direct service to Baltimore–Washington International Airport.