University Boulevard Line
| Company type | Public transit authority |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
Area served | Washington metropolitan area |
| Products | Bus service, Metro rail service |
| Website | wmata |
University Boulevard Line (Route M12)
The University Boulevard Line, identified as Route M12, is a daily transit route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. It provides service between Hyattsville Crossing station on the Green Line and Twinbrook station on the Red Line of the Washington Metro. During peak periods, buses run every 6 to 24 minutes, while off-peak and weekend intervals range from 12 to 24 minutes. Late-night service operates with a frequency of 20 to 30 minutes. A full journey along this route typically lasts around 80 minutes. Some trips are shortened, running only between Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center and Wheaton Station, with an approximate duration of 40 minutes. This corridor serves as a connection between northern Prince George's County and Montgomery County via University Boulevard East/West (MD 193).
Background
Route M12 mainly follows University Boulevard, linking Montgomery County and Prince George's County through Takoma Park. The Montgomery division oversees its operations.
C2 stops
<section begin=C2-table/>
| Bus stop | Direction | Connections | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County, Maryland | ||||
| Wheaton station Bus Bay D |
Westbound terminal, Eastbound station |
Template:Bus icon Ride On: 7, 8, 9, 31, 34, 37, 38, 48 Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C4, Q2, Q4, Q6, Y2, Y7, Y8 Template:Rint Washington Metro: Template:WMATA icon | ||
| Veirs Mill Road / University Boulevard | Eastbound | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C4, Q2, Q4, Q6, Y2 (NB only), Y7 (NB only), Y8 (NB only) Template:Bus icon Ride On: 8, 9, 34, 38, 48 | ||
| Reedie Drive / Fern Street | Westbound | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C4 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 7, 8, 9, 31 | ||
| University Boulevard / Fern Street | Eastbound | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C4 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 7, 8 | ||
| Amherst Avenue / University Boulevard | Westbound | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C4 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 7, 8, 9, 31 | ||
| University Boulevard / Westchester Drive | Bidirectional | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C4 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 7, 8 | ||
| University Boulevard / Reedie Drive | Bidirectional | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C4 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 7, 8 | ||
| University Boulevard / Eastcrest Drive | Bidirectional | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C4 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 7, 8 | ||
| University Boulevard / Inwood Avenue | Bidirectional | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C4 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 7, 8 | ||
| University Boulevard / Sligo Creek Parkway | Bidirectional | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C4 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 8 | ||
| University Boulevard / Warwick Towers | Westbound | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C4 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 8 | ||
| University Boulevard / Gabel Street | Eastbound | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C4 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 8, 9 | ||
| University Boulevard / #728 | Eastbound | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C4 | ||
| University Boulevard / Northwood High School | Westbound | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C4 | ||
| University Boulevard / Caddington Avenue | Westbound | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C4 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 9 | ||
| University Boulevard / Orange Drive | Bidirectional | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C4 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 9 | ||
<section end=C2-table/>
C4 stops
<section begin=C4-table/>
| Bus stop | Direction | Connections | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County, Maryland | ||||
| Twinbrook station Bus Bay A |
Terminus westbound, Station eastbound |
Template:Bus icon Ride On: 5, 10, 26, 44, 45, 46 Template:Rint Washington Metro: Template:WMATA icon | ||
| Parklawn Drive / Wicomico Avenue | Eastbound only | Template:Bus icon Ride On: 10, 26, 44, 45 | ||
| Parklawn Drive / Twinbrook Parkway | Westbound only | Template:Bus icon Ride On: 10, 26, 44, 45 | ||
| Parklawn Drive / Washington Avenue | Both directions | Template:Bus icon Ride On: 10 | ||
| Parklawn Drive / Parklawn Building | Serves both directions | Template:Bus icon Ride On: 10 | ||
| Parklawn Drive / Wilkins Avenue | Available in both directions | Template:Bus icon Ride On: 10 | ||
| Parklawn Drive / Braxfield Court | Bidirectional service | Template:Bus icon Ride On: 10 | ||
| Randolph Road / Putnam Road | Eastbound route | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C8 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 10 | ||
| Randolph Road / Lauderdale Drive | Westbound route | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C8 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 10 | ||
| Randolph Road / Hunters Lane | Serves both directions | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C8 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 10 | ||
| Randolph Road / Rockinghorse Road | Eastbound only stop | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C8 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 10 | ||
| Randolph Road / Gaynor Drive | Westbound only stop | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C8 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 10 | ||
| Randolph Road / Dewey Road | Bidirectional service available | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C8 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 10 | ||
| Randolph Road / Charles Road | Both directions served | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C8 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 10 | ||
| Randolph Road / Bennion Road | Eastbound service only | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C8 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 10 | ||
| Randolph Road / Selfridge Drive | Westbound service only | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: C8 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 10 | ||
| Veirs Mill Road / Bushey Drive | Stops in both directions | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: Q2, Q4, Q6 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 48 | ||
| Veirs Mill Road / Ferrara Avenue | Available eastbound and westbound | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: Q2, Q4, Q6 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 38, 48 | ||
| Veirs Mill Road / Connecticut Avenue | Serves both directions | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: L8, Q2, Q4, Q6 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 38, 48 | ||
| Veirs Mill Road / Andrew Street | Westbound only stop | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: Q2, Q4, Q6 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 34, 38, 48 | ||
| Veirs Mill Road / Centerhill Street | Eastbound only stop | Template:Bus icon Metrobus: Q2, Q4, Q6 Template:Bus icon Ride On: 34, 38, 48 | ||
<section end=C4-table/>
History
The C2 route was launched on February 4, 1973, taking over the segment previously served by the J8 streetcar between Wheaton Plaza and Montgomery Mall after the J8 was shortened to run solely between Wheaton Plaza and Beltway Plaza. Together, routes C2 and J8 constituted the "Beltway Plaza–Montgomery Mall Line" until February 19, 1978, when they merged into a single C2 line operating from Montgomery Mall to Beltway Plaza via Prince George's Plaza Mall and the University of Maryland.
Initially known as the Randolph Road Line, route C4 connected White Oak and Montgomery College until September 6, 1981, when it was replaced by an extended Z4 service.
On January 27, 1985, route C2 was redirected to end at the newly opened Twinbrook station, ceasing its service to Montgomery Mall. The Wheaton-Montgomery Mall segment was taken over by Ride On route 35. Consequently, the line was renamed the "Beltway Plaza-Twinbrook Line." By September 22, 1990, C2 was shortened to operate only between Wheaton station and Beltway Plaza, while C4 began running between Langley Park and Twinbrook station.
Following the inauguration of the northern section of the Green Line, on December 11, 1993, route C2 extended from Beltway Plaza Mall to Greenbelt Center via Greenbelt station. This change eliminated F6 service between University of Maryland and Beltway Plaza, with routes F4 and F6 rerouted to New Carrollton station. At this time, C2 discontinued its stop at Prince George's Plaza and instead traveled directly through the University of Maryland campus via Campus Drive. Meanwhile, route C4 expanded from Langley Park to Prince George's Plaza (now Hyattsville Crossing) station along what had been C2’s original path via Riggs Road and East West Highway. The combined service was renamed the "Greenbelt-Twinbrook Line."
On January 13, 2001, route C4 was adjusted to run along Toledo Terrace and Belcrest Road to serve residential complexes behind The Mall at Prince Georges, with bus access provided from Belcrest Road.
After bus bays inside Prince Georges Plaza mall were demolished in May 2003 to make way for a new Target store, several routes including C4 stopped entering the mall interior.
In 2010, WMATA proposed eliminating route C4 and substituting it with routes C8 and J5. The J5 would drop Capital Beltway stops but cover former C4 stops along Parklawn Drive and Randolph Road; meanwhile, route C8 would serve Prince George’s Plaza but no longer provide service between College Park and University of Maryland. However, limited peak-hour operations on routes C8 and J5 risked diminishing overall coverage where C4 previously operated.
At the same time, it was suggested that route C2 be shortened to terminate at Greenbelt station. New routes (T12, T14, T16 or G12, G14, G16) were planned to replace service between Greenbelt station and Greenbelt Center due to low ridership and budgetary pressures.
On December 19, 2010, in response to city requests, route C2 was truncated at Greenbelt station. Service to Greenbelt Center was taken over by routes G13, G14, and G16. Additionally, the Beltway Plaza Loop for C2 was discontinued and replaced by G14 and G16.
In 2015, WMATA recommended splitting routes C2 and C4: under this plan, C2 would run between Greenbelt station and the forthcoming Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center with added Sunday service replacing route 81; meanwhile, C4 would continue its existing path but alternate trips would terminate at Wheaton station. This restructuring aimed to enhance operational efficiency by reducing duplicated service along University Boulevard.
Sunday service on route C2 commenced on March 27, 2016, covering travel between Greenbelt station and Langley Park.
When Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center opened on December 22, 2016, both routes C2 and C4 were rerouted to serve this facility at Bus Bays A (westbound) and D (eastbound).
Due to Reedie Drive closure on December 17, 2017, eastbound buses departing Wheaton station were rerouted via Veirs Mill Road; as a result, eastbound stops on Reedie Drive and Amherst Avenue were discontinued.
Starting March 16, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic response, routes C2 and C4 operated on a Saturday supplemental schedule. By March 18, weekday service was further reduced with route C2 running only between Takoma Langley Crossroads and Greenbelt stations without reaching Wheaton. Weekend operation of route C2 was suspended on March 21 while route C4 maintained a half-hourly frequency over its full routing. Normal weekday and weekend schedules resumed August 23, 2020.
On September 5, 2021, both routes increased their frequency to every twelve minutes daily from 7:00 am until 9:00 pm.
Better Bus Redesign
In 2022, WMATA launched its inaugural full-scale overhaul of the Metrobus Network, known as the Better Bus Redesign initiative.
By April 2023, WMATA unveiled its Draft Visionary Network, which proposed dividing routes C2 and C4 into distinct lines. The segment of route C2 running between Greenbelt station and Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center was separated into three new routes: Route MD246 connecting Greenbelt to West Hyattsville station, partially reinstating the former Route R3; Route MD247 linking the University of Maryland and New Carrollton station; and Route MD249 operating between Rhode Island Avenue station and Greenbelt station, combining portions of the College Park Line. Meanwhile, route C4 continued its service from Hyattsville Crossing station to Randolph Road but was rerouted to serve North Bethesda station instead of Twinbrook station. This line was renamed Route MD143 and featured late-night extensions to New Carrollton station.
In WMATA’s Revised Draft Visionary Network, the routes were renumbered as follows: MD246 became P36, MD247 changed to P31, MD249 was redesignated P1X, and MD143 was updated to M12. These routes retained their previous alignments; however, the nighttime extension to New Carrollton for M12 was discontinued.
The Proposed 2025 Network eliminated route P36 and altered P31’s path to avoid Baltimore Avenue and Queensbury Road, instead routing through College Park–University of Maryland station toward New Carrollton via a corridor formerly served by route F6. The M12 and P1X routes remained consistent with earlier plans.
Additional adjustments included rerouting P1X to provide service along IKEA Way in Beltsville. A new route, P32, replaced service to College Park station by connecting Fort Totten and Greenbelt stations through West Hyattsville and Hyattsville Crossing stations. Service to Riggs Park shifted from P32 to the proposed C71 route. The western terminus of M12 was restored to Twinbrook station, while service to North Bethesda was reassigned to newly introduced routes M42 and M44.
On November 21, 2024, WMATA formally approved the Better Bus Redesign Network, streamlining operations on the College Park Line.
Starting June 29, 2025, Route C4 was renamed M12 with most trips operating between Wheaton station and Takoma Langley Crossroads. Route C2 merged with F6, running from Greenbelt via the University of Maryland to Fort Totten station along a revised alignment as Route P32. The segment serving Takoma Langley was substituted by an updated Route P31.
Incidents
- On September 30, 2010, a collision occurred when a C4 bus rear-ended a C2 bus on University Boulevard, resulting in injuries to 26 passengers.
- On April 17, 2023, Monte Cunningham was fatally stabbed following a dispute with another passenger after disembarking a C2 bus at University Boulevard West and Amherst Avenue in Wheaton, Maryland. Montgomery County Police apprehended Tyrone Curtis, who faced first-degree murder charges and was convicted on January 29, 2024.