New routing proposed for Route 7Y in downtown DC
Metro is proposing to reroute the 7Y within the District of Columbia to serve the Foggy Bottom area as well as Farragut Square, McPherson Square, and Franklin Square. This routing would provide a new, direct bus connection between Virginia and Washington’s downtown employment center as well as provide an additional travel option for current Blue Line riders between the Pentagon and downtown Washington, DC. Under this proposal, the 7Y would follow its current route between Southern Towers and the US State Department (via the Pentagon) then to Franklin Square via 18th/19th Streets, and I/K Streets.
The map below illustrates the changes proposed. Please review and let us know what you think. We will also be presenting these options at our upcoming public hearings.
Map illustrating change proposed for route 7Y. Click image for larger version.
I take the 7Y South in the evenings. Along Constitution Ave, the two most popular stops in the evening are the ones at 19th Street (which is between 18th and 19th) and 21st Street (between 21st and 22nd). It looks like the new alignment will bypass the 19th Street stop, so people who use that stop will have to walk down an extra block to 20th Street.
During peak hours, for example 5:30-6:30 p.m., the bus is often at full seating capacity after the 21st Street stop. (Very few evening riders get off the 7Y South until the Pentagon, except for occasional tourists.) Is there any plan to increase headways to the Pentagon, if downtown riders begin using the 7Y as expected?
@Scott Most of the people who board the 7Y at Constitution and 19th Street are likely coming from places north of Constitution. There is a stop at 19th and Virginia Ave (1 block north) that the 7Y would serve.
Increasing the frequency of 7Y is not part of this proposal, but we would be closely monitoring ridership and passenger loads to see if/when additional service is warranted.
@Scott
That sounds reasonable. (And not just because I appear to be discussing this with myself.) Thanks for the response!
7Y is the only bus that goes along Constitution Ave beyond the 19th. If this is taken away, quite a few people will lose the ride. I hope 7Y will not be rerouted.
I echo hp’s comments. I work on 14th and Constitution and take the 7Y to and from work. If the route is changed, it will disrupt my entire commute. I know several people who work beyond 18th/19th & Constitution whose commutes will be disrupted as well.
This would be great for me. I currently travel to Farragut from Shirlington, and have to take the blue line since the walk is so far from Constitution. Changing the route would allow me to take the 7y directly to work.
This would be great if 7 Y goes back the old schedule . South towers- Park at 13 Street
I work at 1425 new York NW and other friends from Virginia
Ana