MetroExtra
MetroExtra was a limited-stop service operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which operates on Metrobus lines that need extra service with faster trips. There were six MetroExtra routes with only two of them having daily service.
History
The service began in 2007 with an express service of the Georgia Avenue-7th Street Line, 79. 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. These 2 routes would then become the most popular MetroExtra routes.
On September 29, 2002, route 16Y began service, the first bus route to provide service in Downtown Washington since 1983. However, it didn't become a MetroExtra route until 2012. When route 16X discontinued in 2018, 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.
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. Weekend service for Route 79 was also suspended beginning on March 21, 2020. Normal service resumed on Routes 59, 79, S9, and X9 beginning on August 23, 2020. 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.
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, turned into local routes, or were eliminated.
Fleet
When MetroExtra service began, services were operated by a dedicated fleet of buses, painted in a blue color scheme with MetroExtra logos.| Image | Builder and model | Model year | Length | Numbers | Fuel type | Notes |
| New Flyer Industries C40LF | 2002 | 2464 | CNG |
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| DaimlerChryslerCommercial Buses Orion VII | 2005-2006 | 2528, 2563, 2603, 2616, 2626-2629, 2636, 2640-2641, 2643-2644, 2646-2647, 2650-2651, 2655, 2663, 2665, 2668, 2670-2671, 2677-2685 | CNG |
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| New Flyer IndustriesDE40LFR | 2006 | 6040 | Diesel-electric hybrid |
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| New FlyerDE40LFA | 2009 | 6413–6461 | Diesel-electric hybrid |
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| New FlyerDE40LFA | 2010 | 6462–6472 | Diesel-electric hybrid |
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| New FlyerXcelsior XDE40 | 2011 | 7086–7100 | Diesel-electric hybrid |
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| - | - | - | - | - | - |
Routes
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 or a letter followed by a 9
- MetroExtra routes in Montgomery County, MD have a letter followed by a 9
- 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
- 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.