Washington DC/Better Bus Network
This page is meant to serve as a place to track our progress on creating new bus route relations following WMATA's approval of the Better Bus Network. The new routes went into effect on 29 June 2025. When you complete a bus relation, please reference the new or updated OSM element using the relation template (by using {{Relation:###}}), so that it's easy to click to open it.
Discussion thread on OSM US Slack
Resources and guidance
All the new routes are described on WMATA's website. Only PDF files of all the routes in each jurisdiction are available. For each route (each of which will need two routes, one in either direction), make sure to add the following tags at minimum:
type=routeroute=busfrom=*to=*public_transport:version=2ref=*, which will correspond to the route code in the table below- NSI tags for Metrobus, which should be automatically available in your editor of choice
interval=*andopening_hours=*if possible
Also remember to follow PTV2 tagging guidance, which means creating a master route relation, with the two out and back routes as the members.
Regional maps of the networks (individual route profiles are linked below):
Quality assurance
- Main article: Public transport/Quality Assurance
There are several tools you can use for quality assurance on these new route relations. JOSM's PT Assistant plugin is a great help, especially when uploading. The PTNA report for WMATA routes updates once per day and gives very detailed suggestions on incorrect tagging.
Stops
The new bus routes will prioritize frequency over coverage, and thus WMATA is planning to remove around 500 "underused" bus stops. Most of these stops have been marked with an end_date=* tag and note, and were deleted after 29 June (changeset). This was done using a regex Overpass query of these discontinued stops on ref:wmata=* values.
Routes
| Metrobus route | route_master |
outbound | return |
|---|---|---|---|
| A11 (PTNA) | 19251983 19251983 (J, U) |
19251981 19251981 (J, R) |
19251982 19251982 (J, R)
|
| A12 (PTNA) | 19220939 19220939 (J, U) |
19220937 19220937 (J, R) |
19220936 19220936 (J, R)
|
| A1X (PTNA) | 19220716 19220716 (J, U) |
19220715 19220715 (J, R) |
19220714 19220714 (J, R)
|
| A25 (PTNA) | 19278470 19278470 (J, U) |
19278469 19278469 (J, R) |
19278468 19278468 (J, R)
|
| A27 (PTNA) | 19278499 19278499 (J, U) |
19278498 19278498 (J, R) |
19278497 19278497 (J, R)
|
| A28 (PTNA) | 19278559 19278559 (J, U) |
19278558 19278558 (J, R) |
19278557 19278557 (J, R)
|
| A40 (PTNA) | 19236349 19236349 (J, U) |
19236348 19236348 (J, R) |
19236347 19236347 (J, R)
|
| A49 (PTNA) | 19278688 19278688 (J, U) |
19278687 19278687 (J, R) |
19278667 19278667 (J, R)
|
| A58 (PTNA) | 19220938 19220938 (J, U) |
19220934 19220934 (J, R) |
19220935 19220935 (J, R)
|
| A66 (PTNA) | 19285450 19285450 (J, U) |
19285449 19285449 (J, R) |
19285448 19285448 (J, R)
|
| A70 (PTNA) | 19224220 19224220 (J, U) |
19224219 19224219 (J, R) |
19224218 19224218 (J, R)
|
| A71 (PTNA) | 19285543 19285543 (J, U) |
19285542 19285542 (J, R) |
19285541 19285541 (J, R)
|
| A76 (PTNA) | 19285584 19285584 (J, U) |
19285583 19285583 (J, R) |
19285582 19285582 (J, R)
|
| A90 (PTNA) | 19285511 19285511 (J, U) |
19285510 19285510 (J, R) |
19285509 19285509 (J, R)
|
| C11 (PTNA) | 19258307 19258307 (J, U) |
19258306 19258306 (J, R) |
19258305 19258305 (J, R)
|
| C13 (PTNA) | 19203206 19203206 (J, U) |
19203205 19203205 (J, R) |
19203206 19203206 (J, R)
|
| C15 (PTNA) | 19258308 19258308 (J, U) |
19258304 19258304 (J, R) |
19258303 19258303 (J, R)
|
| C17 (PTNA) | 19261707 19261707 (J, U) |
19258302 19258302 (J, R) |
19261705 19261705 (J, R)
|
| C21 (PTNA) | 19203253 19203253 (J, U) |
19203251 19203251 (J, R) |
19203252 19203252 (J, R)
|
| C23 (PTNA) | 19269819 19269819 (J, U) |
19269817 19269817 (J, R) |
19269816 19269816 (J, R)
|
| C25 (PTNA) | 19282081 19282081 (J, U) |
19269811 19269811 (J, R) |
19269812 19269812 (J, R)
|
| C26 (PTNA) | 19269818 19269818 (J, U) |
19269809 19269809 (J, R) |
19269808 19269808 (J, R)
|
| C27 (PTNA) | 19293481 19293481 (J, U) |
19293480 19293480 (J, R) |
19293479 19293479 (J, R)
|
| C29 (PTNA) | 19269820 19269820 (J, U) |
19269813 19269813 (J, R) |
19269812 19269812 (J, R)
|
| C31 (PTNA) | 19195286 19195286 (J, U) |
19195282 19195282 (J, R) |
19195281 19195281 (J, R)
|
| C33 (PTNA) | 19269821 19269821 (J, U) |
19269806 19269806 (J, R) |
19269807 19269807 (J, R)
|
| C35 (PTNA) | 19290093 19290093 (J, U) |
19290091 19290091 (J, R) |
19290092 19290092 (J, R)
|
| C37 (PTNA) | 19290094 19290094 (J, U) |
19290089 19290089 (J, R) |
19290090 19290090 (J, R)
|
| C41 (PTNA) | 19196427 19196427 (J, U) |
19196426 19196426 (J, R) |
19196425 19196425 (J, R)
|
| C43 (PTNA) | 19268390 19268390 (J, U) |
19268381 19268381 (J, R) |
19268382 19268382 (J, R)
|
| C51 (PTNA) | 19255518 19255518 (J, U) |
19255515 19255515 (J, R) |
19255514 19255514 (J, R)
|
| C53 (PTNA) | 19195285 19195285 (J, U) |
19195284 19195284 (J, R) |
19195283 19195283 (J, R)
|
| C55 (PTNA) | 19286791 19286791 (J, U) |
19286790 19286790 (J, R) |
19286789 19286789 (J, R)
|
| C57 (PTNA) | 19283222 19283222 (J, U) |
19283218 19283218 (J, R) |
19283217 19283217 (J, R)
|
| C61 (PTNA) | 19189288 19189288 (J, U) |
19189287 19189287 (J, R) |
19189286 19189286 (J, R)
|
| C63 (PTNA) | 19293483 19293483 (J, U) |
19293478 19293478 (J, R) |
19293477 19293477 (J, R)
|
| C71 (PTNA) | 19293482 19293482 (J, U) |
19293475 19293475 (J, R) |
19293476 19293476 (J, R)
|
| C75 (PTNA) | 19161423 19161423 (J, U) |
19161421 19161421 (J, R) |
19161422 19161422 (J, R)
|
| C77 (PTNA) | 19269822 19269822 (J, U) |
19269815 19269815 (J, R) |
19269814 19269814 (J, R)
|
| C81 (PTNA) | 19245853 19245853 (J, U) |
19245851 19245851 (J, R) |
19245852 19245852 (J, R)
|
| C83 (PTNA) | 19268389 19268389 (J, U) |
19268384 19268384 (J, R) |
19268383 19268383 (J, R)
|
| C85 (PTNA) | 19298083 19298083 (J, U) |
19298082 19298082 (J, R) |
19298081 19298081 (J, R)
|
| C87 (PTNA) | 19290095 19290095 (J, U) |
19290087 19290087 (J, R) |
19290088 19290088 (J, R)
|
| C91 (PTNA) | 19251737 19251737 (J, U) |
19251730 19251730 (J, R) |
19251731 19251731 (J, R)
|
| D10 (PTNA) | 19261706 19261706 (J, U) |
19261703 19261703 (J, R) |
19261704 19261704 (J, R)
|
| D1X (PTNA) | 19207161 19207161 (J, U) |
19207158 19207158 (J, R) |
19207159 19207159 (J, R)
|
| D20 (PTNA) | 19189289 19189289 (J, U) |
19189284 19189284 (J, R) |
19189289 19189289 (J, R)
|
| D24 (PTNA) | 19261708 19261708 (J, U) |
19261701 19261701 (J, R) |
19261702 19261702 (J, R)
|
| D2X (PTNA) | 19265204 19265204 (J, U) |
19265202 19265202 (J, R) |
19265203 19265203 (J, R)
|
| D30 (PTNA) | 19251736 19251736 (J, U) |
19251727 19251727 (J, R) |
19251726 19251726 (J, R)
|
| D32 (PTNA) | 19279741 19279741 (J, U) |
19279738 19279738 (J, R) |
19279739 19279739 (J, R)
|
| D34 (PTNA) | 19251734 19251734 (J, U) |
19251729 19251729 (J, R) |
19251728 19251728 (J, R)
|
| D36 (PTNA) | 19255517 19255517 (J, U) |
19255513 19255513 (J, R) |
19255512 19255512 (J, R)
|
| D40 (PTNA) | 19244855 19244855 (J, U) |
19244848 19244848 (J, R) |
19244849 19244849 (J, R)
|
| D44 (PTNA) | 19251735 19251735 (J, U) |
19251732 19251732 (J, R) |
19251733 19251733 (J, R)
|
| D4X (PTNA) | 19178585 19178585 (J, U) |
19178583 19178583 (J, R) |
19189282 19189282 (J, R)
|
| D50 (PTNA) | 19255516 19255516 (J, U) |
19251851 19251851 (J, R) |
19252734 19252734 (J, R)
|
| D5X (PTNA) | 19244852 19244852 (J, U) |
19244844 19244844 (J, R) |
19244845 19244845 (J, R)
|
| D60 (PTNA) | 19244853 19244853 (J, U) |
19244846 19244846 (J, R) |
19244847 19244847 (J, R)
|
| D6X (PTNA) | 19178584 19178584 (J, U) |
19178581 19178581 (J, R) |
19178580 19178580 (J, R)
|
| D70 (PTNA) | 19245854 19245854 (J, U) |
19245850 19245850 (J, R) |
19245849 19245849 (J, R)
|
| D72 (PTNA) | 19279740 19279740 (J, U) |
19279737 19279737 (J, R) |
19279736 19279736 (J, R)
|
| D74 (PTNA) | 19207160 19207160 (J, U) |
19207156 19207156 (J, R) |
19207157 19207157 (J, R)
|
| D80 (PTNA) | 19185756 19185756 (J, U) |
19185754 19185754 (J, R) |
19185755 19185755 (J, R)
|
| D82 (PTNA) | 19282084 19282084 (J, U) |
19282082 19282082 (J, R) |
19282083 19282083 (J, R)
|
| D90 (PTNA) | 19265205 19265205 (J, U) |
19265201 19265201 (J, R) |
19265200 19265200 (J, R)
|
| D94 (PTNA) | 19265206 19265206 (J, U) |
19265198 19265198 (J, R) |
19265199 19265199 (J, R)
|
| D96 (PTNA) | 19283221 19283221 (J, U) |
19283219 19283219 (J, R) |
19283220 19283220 (J, R)
|
| F19 (PTNA) | |||
| F1X (PTNA) | 19299256 19299256 (J, U) |
19299255 19299255 (J, R) |
19299254 19299254 (J, R)
|
| F20 (PTNA) | 19244854 19244854 (J, U) |
19244850 19244850 (J, R) |
19244851 19244851 (J, R)
|
| F23 (PTNA) | |||
| F24 (PTNA) | |||
| F26 (PTNA) | |||
| F28 (PTNA) | |||
| F29 (PTNA) | |||
| F44 (PTNA) | |||
| F50 (PTNA) | 19251897 19251897 (J, U) |
19251896 19251896 (J, R) |
19251895 19251895 (J, R)
|
| F60 (PTNA) | 19248242 19248242 (J, U) |
19248241 19248241 (J, R) |
19248240 19248240 (J, R)
|
| F61 (PTNA) | 19251744 19251744 (J, U) |
19251742 19251742 (J, R) |
19251743 19251743 (J, R)
|
| F62 (PTNA) | 19247963 19247963 (J, U) |
19247962 19247962 (J, R) |
19247961 19247961 (J, R)
|
| F81 (PTNA) | |||
| F83 (PTNA) | |||
| F85 (PTNA) | |||
| M12 (PTNA) | 19268388 19268388 (J, U) |
19268386 19268386 (J, R) |
19268385 19268385 (J, R)
|
| M20 (PTNA) | 19237135 19237135 (J, U) |
19237133 19237133 (J, R) |
19237134 19237134 (J, R)
|
| M22 (PTNA) | 19308406 19308406 (J, U) |
19308404 19308404 (J, R) |
19308405 19308405 (J, R)
|
| M42 (PTNA) | 19308458 19308458 (J, U) |
19308457 19308457 (J, R) |
19308456 19308456 (J, R)
|
| M44 (PTNA) | 19308489 19308489 (J, U) |
19308488 19308488 (J, R) |
19308487 19308487 (J, R)
|
| M52 (PTNA) | 19312218 19312218 (J, U) |
19312217 19312217 (J, R)19312216 19312216 (J, R) |
19312214 19312214 (J, R)19312215 19312215 (J, R)
|
| M54 (PTNA) | 19312258 19312258 (J, U) |
19312257 19312257 (J, R) |
19312256 19312256 (J, R)
|
| M60 (PTNA) | 19212705 19212705 (J, U) |
19212702 19212702 (J, R) |
19212703 19212703 (J, R)
|
| M6X (PTNA) | 19299257 19299257 (J, U) |
19299253 19299253 (J, R) |
19299252 19299252 (J, R)
|
| M70 (PTNA) | 19237136 19237136 (J, U) |
19237131 19237131 (J, R) |
19237132 19237132 (J, R)
|
| M82 (PTNA) | 19311252 19311252 (J, U) |
19311251 19311251 (J, R) |
19311250 19311250 (J, R)
|
| P10 (PTNA) | 19386101 19386101 |
||
| P12 (PTNA) | |||
| P14 (PTNA) | |||
| P15 (PTNA) | |||
| P16 (PTNA) | |||
| P1X (PTNA) | 19268387 19268387 (J, U) |
19268379 19268379 (J, R) |
19268380 19268380 (J, R)
|
| P20 (PTNA) | |||
| P21 (PTNA) | |||
| P24 (PTNA) | |||
| P30 (PTNA) | 19212704 19212704 (J, U) |
19212700 19212700 (J, R) |
19212701 19212701 (J, R)
|
| P31 (PTNA) | |||
| P32 (PTNA) | |||
| P33 (PTNA) | |||
| P35 (PTNA) | |||
| P40 (PTNA) | 19213773 19213773 (J, U) |
19213770 19213770 (J, R) |
19213771 19213771 (J, R)
|
| P41 (PTNA) | |||
| P42 (PTNA) | |||
| P60 (PTNA) | 19213772 19213772 (J, U) |
19213768 19213768 (J, R) |
19213769 19213769 (J, R)
|
| P61 (PTNA) | |||
| P62 (PTNA) | |||
| P63 (PTNA) | |||
| P66 (PTNA) | |||
| P72 (PTNA) | |||
| P73 (PTNA) | |||
| P87 (PTNA) | |||
| P90 (PTNA) | 19386027 19386027 |
||
| P93 (PTNA) | |||
| P94 (PTNA) | |||
| P96 (PTNA) | |||
| P97 (PTNA) |
Notes
The first letter of the route describes the area it’s in— “D” for downtown DC, “C” for crosstown lines, “P” for Prince George’s County, “M” for Montgomery County, “A” for Alexandria and Arlington, and “F” for Fairfax and Falls Church. The second character, a number, describes the neighborhood the route runs in, and the third character is either a number, labeling the route within its cluster, or the letter X, to denote that it is an express, limited-stop route. You can learn more about the Better Bus initiative here.
See also
- Washington DC/WMATA - wiki page for all WMATA information