MetroExtra

The service began in 2007 with an express service of the Georgia Avenue-7th Street Line, 79.^[1] The route would follow its local counterpart but only serve the most important stops.

In 2008, a study was released along the 16th Street corridor to improve the line by both WMATA and the District Department of Transportation. The corridor averages a weekday ridership of 16,000 making it the third most heavily used line in the Metrobus system, Parts of the proposal were to create a new route S3 which would be shortened routes S1, S2, and S4, and create a limited stop route S9.^[2] These 2 routes would then become the most popular MetroExtra routes.^[3]

On September 29, 2002, route 16Y began service, the first bus route to provide service in Downtown Washington since 1983.^[4] However, it didn't become a MetroExtra route until 2012 (along with route 16F).^[5] When route 16X discontinued in 2018,^[6] route 16Y became the only MetroExtra to operate in Virginia.

In 2015, WMATA proposed a new MetroExtra route, Q9. The route would provide limited stop service supplementing the Veirs Mill Road Line. The route would operate between Rockville station and Wheaton station and be the first Metro Extra route to operate exclusively in Montgomery County, Maryland.^[7]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, all MetroExtra routes except Route 79 were suspended beginning on March 18, 2020. Routes 16Y, 37, 39, 59, A9, G9, J4, K9, X9 were suspended beginning on March 16, 2020, and Route S9 was suspended beginning on March 18, 2020.^[8][9] Weekend service for Route 79 was also suspended beginning on March 21, 2020.^[10] Normal service resumed on Routes 59, 79, S9, and X9 beginning on August 23, 2020.^[11] Routes 16Y and K9 would also return to service on September 5, 2021. However Routes 37, 39, A9, G9, and J4 were never brought back into service.^[12]

The MetroExtra branding was discontinued following the implementation of WMATA's Better Bus Redesign Network on June 29, 2025 with all MetroExtra routes being renamed into Express (59, 79, K9, S9, X9), turned into local routes (16Y), or were eliminated.

When MetroExtra service began, services were operated by a dedicated fleet of buses, painted in a blue color scheme with MetroExtra logos.^[13]

More information Image, Builder and model ...

Image	Builder and model	Model year	Length	Numbers (Total)	Fuel type	Notes
	New Flyer Industries C40LF	2002	40 ft (12 m)	2464 (1 bus)	CNG	Repainted in 2010. Retired in 2015
	DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses Orion VII (07.501) (semi-low floor)	2005-2006	40 ft (12 m)	2528, 2563, 2603, 2616, 2626-2629, 2636, 2640-2641, 2643-2644, 2646-2647, 2650-2651, 2655, 2663, 2665, 2668, 2670-2671, 2677-2685 (32 buses)		2528, 2563, 2603, 2616, 2626-2629, 2636, 2640-2641, 2643-2644, 2646-2647, 2650-2651, 2655, 2663, 2665, 2668, 2670-2671 repainted into MetroExtra scheme between 2010-2012. 2677-2685 repainted into MetroExtra scheme in 2014. Retired between 2019-2020
	New Flyer Industries DE40LFR	2006	40 ft (12 m)	6040 (1 bus)	Diesel-electric hybrid	Repainted in 2012 following an accident Retired in 2021
	New Flyer DE40LFA	2009	42 ft (13 m)	6413–6461 (49 buses)		Most units retired between 2022-2025
		2010	42 ft (13 m)	6462–6472 (11 buses)		Repainted into MetroExtra colors in 2018
	New Flyer Xcelsior XDE40	2011	40 ft (12 m)	7086–7100 (15 buses)		7086-7090 repainted into MetroExtra colors in 2014; Repainted back into local scheme in 2020. 7091-7100 delivered in MetroExtra colors; Repainted into local scheme in 2020. Final buses delivered in MetroExtra colors

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MetroExtra routes follow the same numbering as local Metrobus routes. Although, they typically end with a 9.

• MetroExtra routes in Washington, D.C. have either a two digit number (59, 79) or a letter followed by a 9 (S9, X9)
• MetroExtra routes in Montgomery County, MD have a letter followed by a 9 (K9, S9, Q9)
• MetroExtra routes exist in Prince George's County, MD but are mainly in Montgomery County or Washington, D.C. so no route follows the rule of having a letter followed by two numbers (F12, J12, P12, etc.)
• MetroExtra routes in Northern Virginia have one or two numbers followed by a letter. Although there is only one MetroExtra route in Virginia and the only MetroExtra route to not have a 9. (16Y)

These routes have existed in the past but were discontinued. However, most local service along these routes remained.