TheBus (Prince George's County)

TheBus (stylized as THE BUS) is a bus transportation system serving Prince George's County, Maryland, providing Monday-Saturday service. There are 29 bus routes, with most operating between Washington Metro stations in the county, with two routes running to Upper Marlboro. The fare is $1.25, but seniors (age 60+), the disabled, one child under 5 years old, and students (between 2:00PM and 7:00PM) ride free.[2][3] On October 13, 2008, TheBus began accepting payment using SmarTrip regional farecards.[4] The County has contracted operations and maintenance of THE BUS system to RATP Dev.[5]

TheBus
Route 14 at College Park UM Station
FoundedJanuary,1990 (January,1990) [1]
Service areaPrince George's County, Maryland, U.S.
Service typeBus service
Routes22
FleetGillig, ElDorado National
Fuel typeDiesel
OperatorRATP Dev (since July 1, 2020)
WebsiteTheBus

History
A new version of The Bus Route 21X: Prince George's Community College
Gillig LF Diesel in Route U.S. 1 Ride Wrap on The Bus Route 17: Mount Rainier

The idea for Prince George's County establishing its own transit system was initially brought up by Prince George's County in 1986, as a way of providing better transportation access to the Upper Marlboro Courthouse and other important government offices, that were isolated from the many of the other areas of Prince George's County that were served by WMATA's Metrorail and Metrobus System. While WMATA itself could have easily have provided these areas of Prince George's County, it was not very cost effective for Prince George's County to allow WMATA to do so as WMATA would have charged Prince George's County for the costs of operating those particular bus routes. WMATA charges counties the costs of operating some routes, because as regional routes they were not profitable due to lower ridership. Therefore, Prince George's County decided it would be much cheaper for the county to operate their own transit system instead. Prince George's County learned watching Montgomery County's success of developing its own "Ride On" transit system in March 1975, which also was being asked by WMATA to pay for their buses on routes in Montgomery County. Thus, Prince George's County's "The Bus" system was created in January 1990.

The first two "The Bus" routes that Prince George's County started off operating were routes 20 and 21. Route 20 would operate between the Addison Road Metro Station (WMATA's Blue Line's northern terminus in Prince George's County at the time, prior to the Largo Town Center extension in December 2004) and the Upper Marlboro Courthouse. Route 21, on the other hand, would operate between the New Carrollton Metro Station (WMATA's Orange Line's northern terminus in Prince George's County) and the Equestrian Center, also serving the Upper Marlboro Courthouse as well. After observing the success of these two Prince George's County bus routes, Prince George's County decided to expand its routes in April 1996 from two routes to six. The Bus system was able to increase the number of routes it operated around this time as WMATA's northern Green Line stations in Prince George's County, which notably were the West Hyattsville, Prince George's Plaza, College Park U of MD, and Greenbelt opened about three years earlier in December, 1993. Thus, there were even more residential areas around these stations to serve. These additional routes would serve areas somewhat already served by WMATA's Metrobus and Metrorail system but instead provide additional transportation service to residents and business living in those areas. Even more routes were added as several Metro Green Line stations opened in January, 2001, which notably were the Southern Avenue, Naylor Road, Suitland, and Branch Avenue Metro Stations. Then, eventually, in December, 2004, PG County's The Bus expanded once again when WMATA's new Blue Line stations, Morgan Boulevard and the Largo Town Center Metro Stations, opened.

Beginning on November 7, 2020, TheBus launched new Saturday service on routes 13, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 26, 30, 32, 33, 35, and 36. All routes operate every 30-45 minutes between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM.[6][7]

Fleet

As of September 2020, the fleet consists of the following:

Photo Builder and
model name		 Model year Length Numbers
(Total)		 Amount in service Fuel Propulsion Powertrain (Engine/Transmission) Notes
Gillig
Low Floor		 2008-2012 35 ft (10.67 m) 63159-63170, 63188-63217, 62616, 62623-62628, 62633-62652
(68 buses)		 57 Diesel
  • Cummins ISL
  • Voith D864.5
2011-2012 29 ft (8.839 m) 62617-62622, 62629-62632
(10 buses)		 10
  • Cummins ISL
  • Voith D864.5
ElDorado National
Axess BRT		 2019 35 ft (10.67 m) 63011-63016
(6 buses)		 6
  • Cummins L9
  • Allison B400R
  • Entered service on July 5, 2019
ElDorado National
E-Z Rider II BRT		 2020 63032-63036
(5 buses)		 5
  • Entered service in August, 2020
Gillig
Low Floor BRT		 2020 29 ft (8.839 m) 63017-63031
(15 buses)		 15
  • Entered service in September, 2020

Retired Fleet
Year Builder and model name Numbers
(preserved numbers)		 Year Retired Picture Powertrain
(engine and transmission)		 Notes
1990 Flxible
Metro B		 9485, 9493, 9497
  • Cummins L10
  • Voith D863.3
1992 Bus Industries
of America
Orion V (05.501)		 8033–8036
  • Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGR
  • Voith D864.3E
1996 Gillig
Phantom 35'		 62895-62899
1996-97 Champion
Contender		 62922-62935
1999 Thomas Built Buses
TL960 30'		 62992-62994
2000-01, 2004 Thomas Dennis
SLF230		 63004-63008, 63017-63031, 63076-63078
Goshen
Presidential		 63009-63016, 63039-63056, 63100
  • 63100 is a 2004 model.
2001-02 Thomas Dennis
SLF230		 53012, 53015-53016, ?
  • Cummins ISB
  • Allison B300R
Thomas Dennis
SLF		 63128-63130
2005-06 Thomas
Saf-T-Liner HDX		 63086-63099, 63101-63108 2015-16
2006 Gillig
Phantom 35'		 63139-63151 2020
  • Cummins ISL
  • Voith D864.5
  • Replaced by ElDorado buses and Gillig BRTs

Routes

All routes operate between Monday and Friday with select routes operating on Saturday. Service usually ends around 7:00 pm.

Route Name Terminals Major streets History Notes
11
 Greenbelt Metrorail Station – Greenway Center Greenbelt station
  • Hanover Parkway
  • Crescent Road
  • Cherrywood Lane
  • Operates as a loop
12
 West Hyattsville Metrorail Station – Gwen Britt Senior Center West Hyattsville station Gwen Britt Senior Center
  • Hamilton Street
  • 38th Street
  • Rhode Island Avenue
  • 34th Street
  • Chillum Road
  • Serves Cora B. Woods Senior Center when going through Brentwood.
13
 West Hyattsville Metrorail Station – County Service Building - Hamilton Street Prince George's Plaza station West Hyattsville station
  • East-West Highway
  • Queens Chapel Road
  • Hamilton Street
  • Ager Road
  • Serves the communities of Hyattsville and Green Meadows
  • Serves the Hyattsville Courthouse when passing through Downtown Hyattsville via Rhode Island Avenue.
14
 Prince George's Plaza Metrorail Station – College Park Metrorail Station Prince George's Plaza station College Park–University of Maryland station
  • River Road
  • Good Luck Road
  • East-West Highway
  • Queensbury Road
  • Serves the communities of Hyattsville, Riverdale, and College Park
  • Service to Riverdale Station was discontinued on April 29, 2019. Buses now follow a similar path to the Metrobus Route F4 along East-West Highway[8]
15X
 Greenbelt Metrorail Station – New Carrollton Metrorail Station Greenbelt station New Carrollton station
  • Greenbelt Road
  • Cipriano Road
  • Annapolis Road
  • Peak hours service only
  • Express Route
  • Via NASA Goddard Visitors Center
16
 New Carrollton Metrorail Station – Greenbelt Station New Carrollton station Greenbelt station
  • 85th Avenue
  • Good Luck Road
  • Hanover Parkway
  • Greenbelt Road
  • Cherrywood Lane
17
 College Park IKEA – Mount Rainier Terminal IKEA (College Park, MD) Mt. Rainer Terminal
  • Rhode Island Avenue
  • Baltimore Avenue
18
 Langley Park Transit Center – Addison Road MetroRail Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center Addison Road station
  • University Blvd
  • East-West Highway
  • Queens Chapel Road
  • Annapolis Road
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Highway
20
 Addison Road Metrorail Station – County Courthouse Addison Road station County Courthouse
  • Addison Road
  • Marlboro Pike
  • Old Marlboro Pike
  • Main Street
  • Select trips bypass Melwood Training Center
21
 New Carrollton Metrorail Station – County Courthouse/Equestrian Center New Carrollton station County Courthouse
  • Garden City Drive
  • Ardwick-Ardmore Road
  • Landover Road
  • Lottsford Road
  • Largo Road
  • Rerouted to serve Largo Town Center Station once it opened in December, 2004
  • Select trips ends at Equestrian Center Lot 1
21X
 New Carrollton – Prince George's Community College – MVA New Carrollton station Motor Vechile Administration Largo
  • Garden City Drive
  • Ardwick-Ardmore Road
  • Landover Road
  • Campus Way
  • Rerouted to serve Largo Town Center Station once it opened in December, 2004
  • Express Route
  • Trips starting from 6:00pm ends at Prince George's Community College
22
 Morgan Boulevard Metrorail Station – Chatsfield Way Morgan Boulevard station Brightseat Road @ Evarts Street
  • Brightseat Road
  • Sheriff Road
  • Central Avenue
  • Garrett A. Morgan Blvd
  • Service started in December, 2004 when the Morgan Boulevard Station opened as part of the Blue Line Extension from Addison Road-Seat Pleasant to the Largo Town Center Station
  • Route used to serve the former site of Landover Mall even after the mall was demolished, up until Sears closed
23
 Addison Road Metrorail Station – Sheriff Road Cheverly station Addison Road station
  • Columbia Park Road
  • Cabin Branch Drive
  • Sheriff Road
  • Nalley Road
  • Central Avenue
24
 Capitol Heights – Morgan Boulevard Metrorail Station Morgan Boulevard station Capitol Heights station
  • Ritchie Road
  • Pennsylvania Avenue
  • East Capitol Street
  • Rerouted to serve Largo Town Center Station once it opened in December, 2004
25
 Capitol Heights Metrorail Station – Highview Place Capitol Heights station
  • East Capitol Street
  • Central Avenue
  • Capitol Heights Blvd
  • Marlboro Pike
  • Southern Avenue
  • Operates as a loop
26
 Morgan Boulevard Metrorail Station – Largo Metrorail Station Morgan Boulevard station Largo Town Center station
  • Garrett A. Morgan Blvd
  • Hampton Park Blvd
  • Ritchie-Marlboro Road
  • Harry S. Truman Drive
  • Campus Way South
  • Largo Road
  • Rerouted to serve Largo Town Center Station once it opened in December, 2004
  • Trips starting from 6:00pm bypasses Motor Vehicle Administration in Largo
27
 Landover Metrorail Station – Kent Village Landover station
  • Pennsy Drive
  • Landover Road
  • Dodge Park Road
  • 75th Avenue
  • Operates as a loop
28
 Largo Metrorail Station – Woodmore Towne Center Largo Town Center station
  • Largo Drive West
  • Lottsford Road
  • Arena Drive
  • McCormick Drive
  • Campus Way North
  • Rerouted to serve Largo Town Center Station once it opened in December, 2004
  • Operates as a loop
30
 Branch Avenue Metrorail Station - Medstar Southern Maryland Hospital Branch Avenue station Southern Maryland Hospital
  • Auth Road
  • Allentown Road
  • Temple Hill Road
  • Piscataway Road
  • Hospital Drive
32
 Clinton Fringe Parking Lot - Naylor Road Metrorail Station Clinton Fringe Parking Lot Naylor Road station
  • 28th Parkway
  • Temple Hill Road
  • Brinkley Road
  • Coventry Way
  • Woodyard Road
33
 Padgett's Corner Shopping Center - Southern Avenue Metrorail Station Southern Avenue station Old Branch Avenue @ Allentown Way
  • Southern Avenue
  • Owens Road
  • Brinkley Road
  • Allentown Road
34
 Suitland Metrorail Station- Capital Crossing Apartments Suitland station Capital Crossing Apartments
  • Suitland Road
35
 Southern Avenue Metro Station – Camp Springs Southern Avenue station Padgetts Corner
  • Southern Avenue
  • Indian Head Highway
  • Oxon Hill Road
  • Brinkley Road
  • via National Harbor
35S
 Oxon Hill Park and Ride Lot - Ft. Washington Senior Residences Oxon Hill Park & Ride Ft. Washington Senior Residences
  • National Harbor Blvd
  • Oxon Hill Road
  • Livingston Road
  • Fort Washington Road
  • Midday service only
  • 6 total trips only
36
 Clinton Fringe Park & Ride Lot - Mattawoman-Beantown Road Park & Ride MTA Park & Ride Lot Clinton Fringe Parking Lot
  • Brandywine Road
  • US Route 301
  • Only route to exit Prince Georges County
37
 Camp Springs - Southern Avenue Metrorail Station Camp Springs Southern Avenue station
  • Allentown Road
  • Indian Head Highway
  • Southern Avenue
  • Introduced on June 21, 2015 to replace WMATA Metrobus Route W15.
  • Peak hours service only
  • AM to Southern Ave, PM to Camp Springs
51
 Equestrian Center – Courthouse - Chrysler Building Equestrian Center
  • Water Street
51A/51X
 Equestrian Center – Courthouse – Marlboro Meadows Equestrian Center Marlboro Meadows
  • Marlboro Pike
 Introduced on August 24, 2020 to replace route 53.[9]
51B
 Equestrian Center – Courthouse – Dille Drive Equestrian Center Correctional Center
  • Old Marlboro Pike
 Introduced on August 24, 2020 to replace route 53.[9]

Former Routes

These routes have been served by TheBus at one point but have since been discontinued due to either low ridership, simplification to other routes, or combined into another route.

Route Name Terminals Major streets Notes and History
15
 Greenbelt to Goddard Corporate Park Greenbelt station Goddard Corporate Park
  • Greenbelt Road
  • Crescent Road
  • Cherrywood Lane
  • Hanover Parkway
52
 Equestrian Center to Courthouse Shuttle
53
 Villages of Marlborough - Marlboro Meadows Village Drive West at Clairfield Lane Clairfield Lane - Arrival
  • Village Drive West
  • Marlboro Pike
  • Old Marlboro Pike
  • Suspended as of March 19, 2020[12] and Discontinued on August 24, 2020 and replaced by routs 51A and 51B.[9]

References
  1. https://ggwash.org/view/67275/thebetterbus-prince-georges-county-is-working-on-a-plan-to-improve-thebus-service /
  2. "TheBus: Routes and Schedules". Prince George's County government. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
  3. "Public Notice" (PDF). Prince George's County government. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
  4. "Public Notice: Prince George's County TheBus will begin using new fareboxes..." (PDF). Prince George's County government. 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
  5. "RATP Dev USA Begins Operations as New Contract Provider for TheBus". 1 July 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  6. https://twitter.com/PGCountyDPWT/status/1324803818496921602?s=20
  7. https://twitter.com/PGCountyDPWT/status/1325060559159570432?s=20
  8. https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/25654/Route-14?bidId=
  9. https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/ImageRepository/Document?documentId=31662
  10. https://www.flickr.com/photos/39017545@N02/5070441932/
  11. https://www.flickr.com/photos/39017545@N02/5070441598/
  12. https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29223/PGC-The-Bus-COVID-19-Public-Notices--overall-service-reduction-plan-v3
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