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Queens Chapel Road 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 Queens Chapel Road Line, identified as Route P33, is a daily bus operation managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority that links the Highview Apartment Complex in Hyattsville, Maryland with Brookland–CUA station on the Red Line of the Washington Metro. Service frequency ranges from every 20 to 35 minutes during peak periods, and approximately every 65 to 70 minutes during midday hours and weekends. The average journey time is around 30 minutes.

Background

Operating every day, Route P33 connects Brookland–CUA station to Highview, traveling along major thoroughfares such as Bunker Hill Road NE, 10th Street NE, Perry Street NE, Michigan Avenue NE, Queens Chapel Road, Ager Road, West Hyattsville station, Hamilton Street, Belcrest Road, Hyattsville Crossing station, East-West Highway, Toledo Terrace, Northwest Drive, Dean Drive, and Highview Terrace.

In cases of light or moderate snowfall requiring detours, the route terminates service at Hyattsville Crossing station without continuing to Highview. During severe snow conditions, the route ceases operations entirely.

Route P33 is dispatched from the Bladensburg division.

Route P33 stops

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Early Developments

Prior to WMATA's Better Bus Redesign initiative, what is now Route P33 was originally designated as Route R4. In 1962, DC Transit introduced the G7 and G9 routes as part of the Prince George's Express Line. The G7 operated between Highview and Potomac Park, traveling through important corridors such as Prince George's Plaza and Rhode Island Avenue. Similarly, the G9 covered the stretch from Prince George's Plaza to Potomac Park. Subsequently, the G5 route was added, linking Highview to Potomac Park with an additional detour to the Bureau of Engraving.

Following WMATA’s acquisition of DC Transit and other transit providers, these routes were integrated into the Metrobus network. On February 19, 1978, the G5, G7, and G9 lines were discontinued and replaced by Metrobus Routes R2, R4, R6, and R7 coinciding with the launch of Brookland-CUA station.

Routes R2, R4, R6, and R7

Launched in 1975, Route R2 formed part of the Calverton-Kennedy Center Line, connecting Kennedy Center with Great Oaks Center in Calverton. It traversed significant corridors including New Hampshire Avenue NW and Queens Chapel Road.

On February 19, 1978, all service segments extending into Virginia were eliminated, leading to route modifications:

  • The R2 was truncated to operate solely between Brookland–CUA station and Great Oaks Center. During Metrorail operating hours, Route H6 took over service to the Kennedy Center; however, R2 maintained trips to the Kennedy Center when Metrorail was not running.
  • Route R4 was adjusted to run between Brookland–CUA station and Hyattsville. It followed the former R2 path up to Queens Chapel Road & Hamilton Street in Hyattsville before looping through Hamilton Street, Gallatin Street, Baltimore Avenue, Jefferson Street, and other local roads.
  • Route R6 connected Brookland–CUA station with Lewisdale. It followed R2’s alignment until Queens Chapel Road & Ager Road before diverting onto Ager Road and serving the Lewisdale Loop via 23rd Avenue and Lewisdale Drive.
  • Route R7 linked Brookland-CUA station with Highview by following R2’s route to Prince George's Plaza Shopping Center then continuing along former G5 and G7 corridors via Belcrest Road and Northwest Drive to Highview Terrace.

Service Streamlining

With the December 11, 1993 openings of West Hyattsville and Prince George's Plaza stations, Route R2 was reconfigured to operate between Fort Totten station and Calverton via Riggs Road, The Mall at Prince Georges, Prince George's Plaza, and Calverton Boulevard as part of the Riggs Road Line. This revision discontinued service to Brookland-CUA as well as along Queens Chapel Road, Belcrest Road, Toledo Road, Adelphi Road, the University of Maryland, and Baltimore Avenue. Service coverage to Calverton via Baltimore Avenue was assumed by Route 86; meanwhile, Routes F6 and F8 took over service along Adelphi Road and to the University of Maryland.

Routes R4 and R7 were consolidated into a single Route R4 operating between Brookland-CUA station and Hyattsville. This new alignment diverted off Queens Chapel Road onto Ager Road to serve West Hyattsville station before following the previous R7 path between Hyattsville and Highview via key corridors such as Queens Chapel Road, Belcrest Road, and The Mall at Prince Georges.

As a result of these changes, Routes R6 and R7 were discontinued and their coverage areas replaced by Routes R3 and R4. The Lewisdale area formerly served by R6 became part of Route R3’s service area while Route R4 assumed responsibility for the former R7 corridor. Service along Hamilton Street, 38th Avenue, and Jefferson Street transitioned to Route F8. Additionally, in 1996 Prince George’s County TheBus Route 13 took over service for the Hyattsville loop previously operated by Metrobus.

Later years

On May 15, 2003, the Metrobus bays at Prince George's Plaza were removed to make way for a new Target store, resulting in Route R4 no longer entering or circulating inside the mall. While the Mosaic Apartments were being built near Prince George's Plaza station, Route R4 was temporarily rerouted along East-West Highway and Belcrest Road to reach Highview from Prince George's Plaza station; however, southbound trips toward Brookland continued on their usual path.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, starting March 16, 2020, Route R4 operated on a reduced schedule equivalent to its typical Saturday service. This was further scaled back on March 18 to a Sunday timetable, and weekend operations were suspended entirely beginning March 21. Weekend service resumed with a modified schedule on August 23, 2020.

Better Bus Redesign

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

By April 2023, WMATA unveiled its Draft Visionary Network plan, which included shortening Route R4 to terminate at Hyattsville Crossing station and rebranding the shortened portion as Route MD343. Service coverage to Highview Apartments was consolidated into Routes F1 and F2 and Route F8, combined under the proposed Route MD344.

In the Revised Draft Visionary Network, Route MD343 was renamed to Route P33 and rerouted to travel via Belcrest Road, Toledo Terrace, and East-West Highway before arriving at Hyattsville Crossing. Meanwhile, Route MD344 was replaced by TheBus Route P43. These adjustments were incorporated into WMATA’s proposed network for 2025.

On November 21, 2024, WMATA formally approved the Better Bus Redesign Network. Prior to final implementation, customer input led to extending Route P33 back to Highview Apartments, thereby reinstating full coverage of the original R4 path.

Starting June 29, 2025, Route R4 was officially redesignated as Route P33 while retaining its existing routing.

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