All bus routes will be renamed, beginning with a letter to indicate the area served. For example, buses servicing DC will begin with a D or C, whereas Metrobuses in Montgomery County will start with the letter M. Many routes will have improved frequencies, and some will run at different times or serve new areas. Most Metrobus stops will remain the same, some will be added, and a small number will be removed to speed up service.

Credit: WMATA

A useful tool for commuters to help transition to the new bus network can be found at wmata.com/betterbus. Just enter an existing bus route to see the new route option(s).

The new bus network will provide more frequent, consistent bus service, enhance access across the region, and make bus service easier to understand. Temporary signs and maps are helping to guide commuters and other riders for the June 29^th start and will eventually be replaced with permanent signage.

Better Bus Partners are helping riders prepare for launch day by distributing fact sheets and other materials, including route maps and schedules. Metro looks to extend the reach of engagement for the Better Bus initiative with the help of employers to share information to their employees.

For more information, visit Better Bus.

In 2025, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that employers can provide up to $325 in qualified transportation fringe benefits tax-free to employees using transit or qualified vanpools to get to and from work. This is an increase of $10 from the 2024 transit benefit amount.

SmartBenefits^® is Metro’s IRS-compliant commuter benefits program where employers can fund the benefit tax-free, up to the IRS limit. Employers can fund transit fares, or employees can pay the fare themselves through a tax-free payroll deduction. A combination of the two funding methods can be used as well.

Signing up for the SmartBenefits^® service is free for employers to administer, and the tax savings are undeniable. For more information, visit SmartBenefits^® .