Wilson Boulevard–Vienna Line
| Company type | Public transit bus service |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Predecessor | Washington Virginia & Maryland Coach Company |
| Founded | 1920 |
Area served | Fairfax County, Arlington County, Virginia, United States |
| Products | Bus routes 1A and 1B |
| Parent | Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) |
Wilson Boulevard–Vienna Line
The Wilson Boulevard–Vienna Line, designated as Route 1A and Route 1B, was a daily bus operation overseen by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). It linked Vienna station (served by 1A) or Dunn Loring station (served by 1B) on the Orange Line with Ballston–MU station, providing service along both the Orange and Silver Line corridors.
This transit line covered prominent communities such as Vienna, Merrifield, and Ballston, spanning across Fairfax and Arlington counties. It played a vital role in supporting commuter travel to residential neighborhoods as well as commercial and office hubs, enhancing regional business linkages.
Route Description and Service
Operating out of the Four Mile Run division every day, routes 1A and 1B served distinct functions. Route 1A provided daily service connecting Vienna and Ballston stations via Arlington Boulevard and Wilson Boulevard, passing through Fairfax County areas like Vienna, Woodburn, West Falls Church, and Seven Corners, along with Arlington neighborhoods including Boulevard Manor and Bluemont. Route 1B ran during weekday peak periods between Dunn Loring and Ballston stations, merging onto Arlington Boulevard near Fairview Park Drive while bypassing Seven Corners Transit Center.
History
Originating in 1920 under the Washington Virginia & Maryland Coach Company, the Wilson Boulevard–Vienna Line is among Virginia’s oldest transit routes alongside the Columbia Pike Line. WMATA assumed control in 1973 following acquisitions from AB&W and WV&M. Since that time, this line has consistently linked Fairfax and Arlington counties, facilitating access to residential districts, commercial zones, landmarks, and employment centers.
Wilson Boulevard Line
Initially known as the Wilson Boulevard Line, it included routes such as 1A, 1B, 1E, 1F, 1M, 1V, 1W, and 1X with varying schedules and alignments. In 1983, the line was divided into two segments: the Wilson Boulevard–Annandale Line (including routes like 1A and 1B) and the Wilson Boulevard–Fairfax Line (featuring routes such as 1F and 1X). Throughout the late 1980s into the early 1990s, several routes were either discontinued or consolidated; ultimately routes 1A, 1B, and 1E merged under the Wilson Boulevard–Fairfax Line designation.
By the early 1990s, service patterns stabilized with peak-hour routes (1D, 1E, 1Z), weekday and Saturday service on route 1B, daily operation on route 1C, and weeknight/early morning/Sunday service covered by route 1F. Key stations served included Dunn Loring and Ballston.
On June 24, 2007, WMATA eliminated route 1D to address bus bunching issues and restructured services: route 1C became part of the newly formed Dunn Loring–Fair Oaks Line, while routes 1B, 1C, 1E, 1F, and 1Z continued on the Wilson Boulevard Line. Route 1A was reintroduced to cover a portion of route 1C’s former eastern section. Adjustments also involved limiting route 1B to peak weekday hours and removing some late-night trips from route 1F. On December 29, 2013, route 1F service was fully discontinued; simultaneously the line was renamed Wilson Boulevard–Vienna Line. Routes 1E and 1Z remained operational until their termination in 2016.
Within WMATA’s FY2011 budget proposal, elimination of route 1E was suggested due to low ridership in Dominion Hills; its trips were planned to be absorbed by route 1F to reduce bus bunching effects. The new Seven Corners Transit Center opened on January 22, 2012; several routes including those on the Wilson Boulevard line were rerouted there to improve connectivity without significant schedule changes.
The FY2014 budget recommended extending late-night trips on route 1F to Vienna station but proposed merging all route 1F trips into route 1A to remove redundancy between Seven Corners Transit Center and Ballston–MU station. This aimed to bolster late evening and Sunday service for Arlington Boulevard’s residential areas west of Seven Corners while enhancing access to Inova Fairfax Hospital during these times. Route 1F was discontinued on December 29, 2013.
Major modifications in June 2016 involved discontinuation of route 1Z to reduce overlap with route 1A during rush hours; additionally, route 1B ceased serving Seven Corners Transit Center. In August 2016, Arlington Transit’s route 54 replaced route 1E to connect Dominion Hills with East Falls Church Metro via Washington Boulevard.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, all service on route 1B was suspended beginning March 16, 2020; meanwhile route 1A gradually reduced its frequency before resuming standard weekday schedules on August 23, 2020. WMATA’s FY2022 budget plans introduced in September 2020 proposed permanently eliminating route 1B due to budget constraints amid decreased federal funding. Nevertheless, full restoration of both routes occurred on September 5, 2021. Following a surge in Omicron variant cases later that year, route 1A reverted to Saturday-level weekday service while all route 1B trips were again suspended until full weekday operations resumed February 7, 2022.
As part of WMATA's Better Bus Redesign effective June 29, 2025, the Wilson Boulevard–Vienna Line will be segmented into three new services: F60 incorporates portions of former routes 1A (Ballston to Inova Fairfax Hospital) and 1C (Fair Oaks Mall to Inova Fairfax Hospital), excluding stops at Dunn Loring or Vienna stations; F61 follows former route 1A between Ballston and Vienna combined with parts of route 2B; F62 modifies former route 1B between Dunn Loring and Seven Corners Transit Center before continuing along former 4B routing toward Rosslyn station. Additional connections linking Ballston with Seven Corners will be offered by an extended Route 38B (renamed A58).