metro: move over ol’ 42, there’s an express!
I thought I was seeing things or that the driver didn’t turn on the sign properly the other day when I saw a 43 bus headed down Columbia Road, but apparently not. According to this press release, the main difference between 42 and 43 will be the 43 going under Dupont Circle on its way downtown. Jim Graham sent out the following message to the Columbia Heights mailing list:
I am pleased to announce improved bus service from Downtown to Mount Pleasant via Adams Morgan.
During peak periods only, half of the Route 42–now renamed route 43–buses now travel under DuPont Circle in order to avoid traffic congestion. This reduces travel time by 25% between Farragut North and Adams Morgan.
The existing Route 42 service schedule continues to be every 2 to 5 minutes during peak periods.
I’m not so sure about that last line: 2 to 5 minutes, my ass. But it is true that the biggest bottleneck to the 42 line is trying to navigate around the circle. I’m curious how people are going to find out about the changes. There were no signs up inside the buses that I saw and even that press release wasn’t easy to find on their website, but any express, even only slightly more express, route is a good thing.
It doesn’t change the fact that this morning, I didn’t see no 42 bus after 5 minutes and walked to the store instead. Sick days plus crock pot meals are such a good thing.
I’m not so sure about that last line: 2 to 5 minutes, my ass.
On the contrary. On those occasions when I needed a 42 bus during the week, I’ve been more than content to let a full one go by in favor of a less crowded one that was only a few minutes away. If only the D6 could be that consistent.
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hells bells, this makes me happy.
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This is awesome. The main reason I don’t take the 42 is that it takes a half hour to get through Dupont Circle.
I agree, though – two to five minutes? It only comes that fast when I’m waiting at the S2/S4 stop just across the street.
I saw a sign on the B30 and 52 buses announcing the changes, but they were half covered up with brochures. They definitely need to do a better job letting people know about the changes! I just saw that there was a new route named 43 and didn’t even know what it was until I read your blog. Thanks for getting the word out!
I haven’t ridden the 42 in some time (since I no longer live in Mt P) but this is without question a great improvement. Though it does beg the question – why on earth would ANYONE want to take the regular one? I used to get off it before dupont circle and walk to 19th and L because it would take so damn long to go through the circle at rush hour. They should really just eliminate stopping in the circle on any version of that bus.
I predict the 43 will be immensely popular.
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I saw one of these and thought I was hallucinating. I’ve always wondered why any of those buses go around the circle. Only the most infirm couldn’t walk another block to a stop — they ought to run the round-the-circle buses as the exception.
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