Sheriff Road Line

Last updated

C33
Sheriff Road Line
Metrobus Logo 2025.svg
Overview
System Metrobus
Operator Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
GarageBladensburg
LiveryLocal
StatusIn Service
Began service1949
PredecessorsU4
Route
Locale Northeast
Communities served Central Northeast, Deanwood, River Terrace
Landmarks served Minnesota Avenue station, River Terrace, Sheriff Road
Start Minnesota Avenue station
ViaSheriff Road NE, Minnesota Avenue NE, Benning Road NE
EndEastern Avenue NE & Chapelwood Lane (Sheriff Road)
33rd & Blaine Streets NE (River Terrace)
Length25-30 minutes
Service
LevelDaily
Frequency15 minutes (Weekday peak hours)
30-35 minutes (Off-peak hours)
Operates4:45 AM – 12:13 AM
Ridership254,127 (FY 2025) [1]
Transfers SmarTrip only
Timetable Sheriff Road-River Terrace Line
←  C31  {{{system_nav}}}  C35  →

The Sheriff Road Line, designated as Route C33, is a daily bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Minnesota Avenue station of the Orange and Silver Lines of the Washington Metro & Eastern Avenue NE & Chapelwood Lane (Sheriff Road) or 33rd Street NE & Blaine Street NE (River Terrace). Route C33 operates every 15 minutes during peak hours, and 30-35 minutes at all other times. Route C33 trips roughly take 30 minutes to complete.

Contents

Background

Route C33 provides daily service between Minnesota Avenue station and Eastern Avenue NE & Chapelwood Lane (Sheriff Road) or 33rd Street NE & Blaine Street NE (River Terrace). Because the C33 route was a short Metrobus route with low passenger demand, C33 had almost always been assigned the smaller sized 30-foot buses, as route U4, as opposed to the regular 40-foot sized buses WMATA typically uses on many of its Metrobus routes. However, route C33 occasionally used 40-foot buses if the 30-foot buses were undergoing maintenance. Beginning with the better bus rollout on June 29, 2025, Route C33 operates entirely with the 40-foot buses.

Route C33 operates out of Bladensburg division.

History

Before WMATA implemented the Better Bus Redesign network, Route C33 was previously known as Route U4. U4 originally operated as part of the "Sheriff Road-River Terrace" streetcar line, between the Deanwood & River Terrace neighborhoods of Northeast Washington D.C. The U4 streetcar line was later replaced by buses during the 1950s and eventually became a WMATA Metrobus Route on February 4, 1973 when WMATA acquired all four bus companies that operated throughout the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area and merged them all together to form its own, "Metrobus" System. U4 kept operating on the same exact streetcar routing it had been operating on since 1949, even after becoming a WMATA Metrobus Route. [2]

On December 3, 1978, U4 went through a minor rerouting change to divert into/serve the newly opened Minnesota Avenue station. The rest of U4's routing remained the exact same. [3] The line was named the Minnesota Avenue Shuttle.

On January 22, 1984, route U4 was rerouted to operate between Sheriff Road and Capitol View passing Minnesota Avenue station in both directions. [4]

In 2014, WMATA announced a series of proposals for route U4 that will be implemented in June 2015 if it was approved by the Metro Board. It went as the following: [5]

This rerouting was to create a better balance of capacity and demand on lines serving the Minnesota Avenue station.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Route U4 was reduced to operate on its Saturday supplemental schedule during the weekdays beginning on March 16, 2020. [6] On March 18, 2020, the line was further reduced to operate on its Sunday schedule. [7] Weekend service was later suspended on March 21, 2020. [8] Service was restored to its pre-pandemic schedule on August 23, 2020. [9]

In February 2021 during the FY2022 budget, WMATA proposed to eliminate the U4 if it does not get any federal funding. [10]

Due to rising cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, the line was reduced to its Saturday service on weekdays. [11] Full weekday service resumed on February 7, 2022. [12]

In 2024 during WMATA's FY2024 Budget crisis, WMATA proposed to eliminate all U4 service. [13] However on April 25, 2024, Metro’s Board of Directors approved a $4.8 billion capital and operating budget which avoided service cuts. [14]

Better Bus Redesign

In 2022, WMATA launched its Better Bus Redesign project, which aimed to redesign the entire Metrobus Network and is the first full redesign of the agency's bus network in its history.

In April 2023, WMATA launched its Draft Visionary Network. As part of the drafts, WMATA proposed to extend the U4 from its Eastern Avenue terminus to Deanwood station via Eastern Avenue NE, and Minnesota Avenue NE. The route would be named Route DC116 in the drafts. [15]

During WMATA's Revised Draft Visionary Network, WMATA renamed the DC116 to Route C33 and maintained the proposed routing. [16] All changes were then proposed during WMATA's 2025 Proposed Network. [17] [18]

During the proposals, WMATA instead shorten the C33 to terminate along Eastern Avenue NE instead of it being extended to Deanwood station, replicating the current U4 routing. [19]

On November 21, 2024, WMATA approved its Better Bus Redesign Network, with service on the Pennsylvania Avenue Line being simplified. [20]

Beginning on June 29, 2025, the U4 was renamed into the C33, keeping its same routing. [21]

Incidents

References

  1. ↑ "Metrobus FY2025 Annual Line Performance Report" (PDF). wmata.com. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  2. ↑ "WASHINGTON DC TRANSIT ROUTES". www.chicagorailfan.com. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  3. ↑ Feaver, Douglas B. (November 30, 1978). "Bus Routes Change Sunday to Link with Orange Line". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  4. ↑ Leslie, Renee T. (January 12, 1984). "Metro Sets Shuttle Bus Link For SE Residents". Washington Post. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  5. ↑ "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROPOSED BUS SERVICE CHANGES" (PDF). www.wmata.com. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Metro announces additional COVID-19 changes, including reduced service beginning Monday | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Archived from the original on March 14, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  7. ↑ "METRO SERVICE LEVELS & HOURS FURTHER REDUCED TO SUPPORT ESSENTIAL TRIPS ONLY, STARTING WEDNESDAY | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Archived from the original on March 19, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Weekend: Metro service limited to 26 bus routes, reduced rail service; expect wait times of 30 minutes; customers urged to travel only if essential | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Metrobus Service Changes beginning August 23 | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  10. ↑ "FY22 Proposed Metrobus Service Changes District of Columbia" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 28, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Metro takes measures to combat omicron variant; Announces service adjustments and protections for customers and employees". Archived from the original on May 6, 2025. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Regular weekday Metrobus service to return February 7". Archived from the original on February 3, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  13. ↑ "District of Columbia Fiscal Year 2025 Proposed Metrobus Service Changes" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 1, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Metro Board approves $4.8B budget that maintains service, avoids drastic cuts thanks to additional investments from D.C., Maryland, and Virginia". www.wmata.com. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Draft Visionary District of Columbia Routes" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Revised Visionary Network Route Summary" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Proposed 2025 Network District of Columbia Routes" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 11, 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Revised Visionary Network Route Summary" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 11, 2025.
  19. ↑ "District of Columbia Better Bus Routes" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 9, 2025. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  20. ↑ "District of Columbia Route Profiles" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 11, 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Metro Board of Directors approves Better Bus Network Redesign, new bus routes to start next summer". WMATA. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  22. ↑ Marraco, Marina (September 5, 2017). "Passenger arrested for spitting in the face of Metrobus driver". FOX 5 DC. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  23. ↑ Powers, Martine. "In latest assault on a bus operator, passenger spits on U4 driver". Washington Post. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
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