Global InformationSouth Capital Street Limited Line information
| W9 | |
|---|---|
| South Capital Street Limited Line | |
 | |
| Overview | |
| System | Metrobus |
| Operator | Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |
| Garage | Shepherd Parkway |
| Livery | MetroExtra |
| Status | Discontinued |
| Began service | September 2013 |
| Ended service | June 24, 2018 |
| Route | |
| Locale | Southwest, Southeast |
| Communities served | L'Enfant Plaza, Anacostia, Washington Highlands, Bellevue |
| Landmarks served | L'Enfant Plaza station, Waterfront station, M & South Capitol Streets SW, St. Elizabeths Gate 4 (US Coast Guard HQ), Bolling Air Force Base (AM Peak Only), Livingston (AM Peak Only) |
| Start | L'Enfant Plaza station |
| Via | South Capitol Street SW/SE, 7th Street SW, M Street SW |
| End | Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building |
The South Capital Street Limited Line, designated Route W9, was a bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between L'Enfant Plaza station of the Blue, Yellow, Orange, Green, and Silver lines of the Washington Metro and the Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building (Coast Guard) or Livingston (AM Peak only). The line operated during the weekday peak-hours only providing service from the Coast Guard Headquarters to L'Enfant Plaza. The line was discontinued on June 24, 2018 due to low ridership and the U.S. Coast Guard ending their subsidy for the W9 on July 1, 2018. It originally operated as the Defense Facilities Shuttle Line at first. The line was created on December 28, 1991 in conjunction with the opening of Anacostia station.[1] The new route W9 would operate between Anacostia station and the Defense Intelligence Agency Headquarters via Naval Support Facility Anacostia, and Bolling Air Force Base mostly operating along South Capitol Street. The line provides weekday peak-hour service for government workers to Green Line service without having to walk.[2]
However after the September 11 attacks, security increased all around the United States. In addition, security was tighten at the military facilities at the DIA, Naval Support Facility, and Bolling Air Force Base. The increased security prevented Metrobuses entering inside the facilities. The W9 would now have to stop along South Capitol Street outside the Navy and Air Force gates. This requires passengers to walk up to one mile or ride an internal base shuttle to reach their destinations.[2][3]
In 2005, the DIA created a shuttle route to serve the facilities which can enter the base and stop at the DIA Headquarters. Ridership on the W9 decreased as of a result as the shuttle provides access to inside the facility unlike the W9 which can only go as far as the Navy and Air Force Gates.[2]
WMATA proposed to eliminate the W9 in its FY2007 budget as the route only averages 98 passengers per day since the DIA Shuttle took over the route. Its performance measures went as follows:[2]
| Performance Measures | W9 | WMATA Guidelines | Pass/Fail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passengers | 98 | <300 | Fail |
| Passengers Rev/Mile | 1.1 | <1 | Pass |
| Passengers Rev/Trip | 4 | <8 | Fail |
| Subsidy/Passenger | $9.96 | >$4.00 | Fail |
| Cost Recovery | 6.5% | <13% | Fail |
- ^ Fehr, Stephen C. (December 22, 1991). "AS METRORAIL MOVES TO ANACOSTIA, QUESTIONS REMAIN". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Staff Report on the Proposal to Increase Fares and Parking on Four Holidays and the FY07 Service Changes" (PDF). Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ "Metrobus service advisories". October 25, 2001. Archived from the original on October 25, 2001. Retrieved June 15, 2020.