Metro’s bus service expands Sunday

A sign asking about cash free bus rides is posted at a Metrobus stop in Washington, DC, on October 24, 2018. - As the US capital traded stifling summer heat for cool autumn breezes, signs began appearing on lamp posts, asking Washington commuters: what do you think about buses going cash-free? It was the latest iteration of a growing trend in the United States: from lunch spots to music venues and vendors at the city's ballpark, one Washington business after another are completely ditching paper for plastic. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)(AFP via Getty Images/JIM WATSON)

Starting on Sunday, 36 Metro bus routes will stay open later seven days a week for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began.

The routes in the District, Maryland and Virginia will be open until 2 a.m.

Besides the late-night change, Metro will add more frequent service and restore more routes as part of service improvements to more than 60 routes.

The service changes will boost Metrobus service to approximately 85% of pre-pandemic levels, according to a Metro news release.

Ridership is increasing as well. In May, Metrobus ridership reached the highest levels since the pandemic began with weekday bus ridership up to 50% of pre-pandemic levels.

More than half the weekdays in May saw ridership top more than 190,000, including four days when ridership exceeded more than 200,000 passenger trips, according to Metro.

On July 10, five Metrobus routes to be operated by the Fairfax Connector:

Fairfax Connector Route 703 (formerly Metrobus 3T)
Fairfax Connector Route 715 (formerly Metrobus 15K)
Fairfax Connector Route 803 (formerly Metrobus 3A)
Fairfax Connector Route 834 (formerly Metrobus 29C)
Fairfax Connector Route 835 (formerly Metrobus 29W)

Metro said that the change will restore and enhance service with connections to McLean, East Falls Church, West Falls Church, and Pentagon Metrorail stations.