Before WMATA implemented the Better Bus Redesign network, Route D6X was previously known as Routes S9. Express lines along the 16th Street corridor were originally operated by routes S3 and S5. These routes provided service from Silver Spring station to Franklin Square. However the line was discontinued in the 1990s in favor for routes S1, S2, and S4. [5]
New Route S9
On March 30, 2009, route S9 was introduced as a new limited-stop express route between Silver Spring station and McPherson Square station along 16th Street serving only 16 stops in both directions. The new route will supplement routes S1, S2 and S4 during the weekday peak-hours only. [9] [10] [11]
The new route also debut new hybrid buses (2009 New Flyer DE40LFAs) branded under the express scheme which were used for the S9. These new buses were painted in the 4th Generation paint scheme with the primary color being blue instead of red. [12]
Due to the Red Line collision in June 2009, route S9 service was temporarily increased and operated all day during the weekdays between June 22 to June 26. [13] Service reverted to its regular service on June 29, 2009.
On June 17, 2012, the express branding was merged into the MetroExtra brand. All routes that originally operated under the limited-stop express branding was merged into the MetroExtra brand in order to simplify the brands. Route S9 was converted in the fall of 2012. [14]
When the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center at Silver Spring station opened, route S9 was rerouted from its terminus along Wayne Avenue to the new transit center. The S9 were assigned to Bus Bay 104 on level 1. [15] [16]
In 2016 during WMATA FY2018 budget, WMATA proposed to add midday and Saturday service to route S9 at a 20-minute frequency and increase the peak hour frequency from 7–8 minutes to 6 minutes between Silver Spring and Missouri/Colorado avenues NW and 7–8 minutes to 3 minutes from Missouri/Colorado avenues NW to Franklin Square. These changes were recommended by DDOT's 16th Street NW Transit Priority Planning Study from April 2016: [17]
- To better match the demand for limited-stop MetroExtra service on 16th Street.
- To alleviate overcrowding in the corridor by increasing the number of Route S9 trips, which have a faster travel time than local Route S2 and S4 trips, allowing for a net gain in number of trips.
- To make 16th Street corridor service easier to understand for customers.
Performance Measures goes as the following: [17]
| Performance Measure | Routes S2, S4 | Routes S9 | WMATA Guideline | Pass/Fail |
|---|
| Average Weekday Riders | 13,258 | 3,913 | 432 | Pass |
| Cost Recovery | 38.79% | 39.76% | 16.6% | Pass |
| Subsidy per Rider | $1.85 | $1.77 | $4.81 | Pass |
| Riders per Trip | 36.9 | 37.0 | 10.7 | Pass |
| Riders per Revenue Mile | 4.8 | 4.8 | 1.3 | Pass |
- Current morning rush hour Route S2 trips are 90% full and Route S4 trips are 96% full, on average. Route S9 trips are 128% full, on average. WMATA service guidelines indicate that the maximum should be 120% for this service type.
- Current afternoon rush hour Route S2 trips are on average 89% full and Route S4 trips are 82% full, on average. Route S9 trips are 124% full, on average. WMATA service guidelines indicate that the maximum should be 120% for this service type.
On June 25, 2017, midday and Saturday service was added to route S9 that will operate every 20 minutes. Also additional Route S9 limited-stop trips will be added to the schedule, including trips between 16th Street & Missouri Avenue NW and Franklin Square during morning rush hour and between Franklin Square and 16th Street & Colorado Avenue NW during afternoon rush hour. [18] [19]
In 2019, WMATA proposed to reroute route S9 to remain straight along 16th Street instead of diverting onto Alaska and Eastern Avenues NW and add service to bus stops at 16th Street & Kalmia Road NW, 16th Street & Portal Drive NW and 16th Street & Eastern Avenue NW in order to replace route S4 which is proposed to be renamed route S9. Route S9 will also have service extended to 11:00 PM and new Sunday service add to operate every 20 minutes between 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. [20] [21] This was due to the following according to WMATA: [21]
- Provide faster service and improve travel time on Route S9 in response to customer feedback, allowing more frequent service for the majority of customers and to complement the District Department of Transportation’s planned 16th Street bus lanes.
- Restructure 16th Street NW corridor service to better serve existing customers and attract new riders to Metrobus.
- Maintain local bus connections and enhance faster, limited-stop service options.
- Improves corridor travel options within the District and between Downtown DC and Silver Spring.
- Reduce vehicular traffic with additional MetroExtra limited-stop, direct and more frequent service.
- Improve service reliability and reduce instances where more than one bus arrives at a stop at the same time (bus bunching).
- Streamline service and simplify the route structure, making service easier for customers to understand.
- Extend all Route S9 trips to operate along the entire route between Downtown DC and Silver Spring in response to demand and where customers can make connections to other services.
- On an average weekday, 80 customers board at the Route S4 stops on 16th Street north of Alaska Avenue NW that are proposed to be eliminated. This is less than 1% (0.9%) of Route S2 and S4 ridership.
- Route S9 is proposed to serve stops along 16th Street north of Alaska Avenue at Kalmia Road, Eastern Avenue and Portal Drive NW.
- On an average weekday, 278 customers board Route S9 at the Alaska Avenue & Kalmia Road NW bus stops. These stops will continue to be served by Route S2 and are one block away from route 79 service between Downtown DC and Silver Spring. Route S9 ridership at this stop is 4.8% of Route S9 ridership.
- On an average weekday, 84 customers (1.4% ridership) board Route S9 at the Eastern Avenue & 16th Street NW bus stops. These stops are 1-2 blocks from proposed Route S9 stops at 16th Street & Eastern Avenue and 16th Street & Portal Drive NW.
Later in 2019, WMATA proposed to raise the MetroExtra fare from $2.00 to $3.00 and extend the hours of route S9. [22]
Beginning on March 16, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all route S9 service was reduced to operate on its Saturday schedule. [23] However beginning on March 18, 2020, all route S9 service was suspended as WMATA shifted to operate on a modified Sunday schedule. [24]
On August 23, 2020, route S9 was restored and rerouted to remain along 16th Street instead of diverting onto Alaska Avenue and Eastern Avenue in order to replace the S4. Route S9 service was also extended to 11:00 PM on Monday through Saturday and added Sunday service operating every 20 minutes between 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. [25] Service on Alaska Avenue and Eastern Avenue is still provided by route S2.
When Black Lives Matter Plaza opened, route S9 routing detoured along 15th Street NW at I Street resuming route on 16th Street NW at K Street going to Silver Spring and detoured along K Street NW at 16th Street resuming route on 11th Street NW at H Street going to Franklin Park when the S9 resumed service on August 23, 2020. [26] The reroute became permanent on October 5, 2020, after the DC Council made Black Lives Matter Plaza permanent. All service on 16th Street between H and K streets was eliminated. [27]
On September 5, 2021, the line was increased to operate every 12 minutes daily. [28]
As part of WMATA's Better Bus Redesign beginning on June 29, 2025, Route S9 was renamed into the D6X and was extended to terminate at Federal Triangle, essentially swapping terminals with the S2 (renamed into the D60) which was cutback to terminate at McPherson Square station. [29]
