Thursday, January 29, 2004
District, Downtown BID Unveil New Bus Maps to Increase Bus Ridership
The District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Downtown DC Business Improvement District (Downtown BID) today unveiled the first of over 300 new bus route maps to be installed in shelters throughout the District. The unveiling, at the bus stop at 13 and G Streets, NW, above the Metro Center Metrorail stop, included Dan Tangherlini, the Director of Transportation for the District, Councilmember Jim Graham and Joe Sternlieb, Deputy Director of the Downtown BID, the organization that developed the maps under contract with DDOT and WMATA.
The full color maps show the District bus system and highlight all the routes that service that stop. The new maps, a significant improvement over the current sketch drawings, are in large format (36”x 45”) based on the Metro fold-out bus map. Each map is custom-made with information unique for the stop where it is placed.
“For too long, bus riders and others who might consider riding the bus found very little if any information at the stops; the bus system has been a mystery to both DC residents and visitors,” said Director Tangherlini. “Now, people will be able to get information right where they need it – at the bus stop.”
"As a Metro Board member, it's important to me that people understand how to use the bus system as well as the rail system," said Councilmember Graham, who just finished his one-year term as chair of the WMATA Board.
“These maps will make DC a more transit-friendly city,” added Joe Sternlieb. “We know that ridership goes up when people have good information about where buses go and when they are scheduled to arrive.”
The maps are printed on a special outdoor laminate product and are double-sided so they can be seen both inside and outside a shelter. The effort to promote bus ridership with new bus shelter maps was spearheaded by the Downtown BID and DDOT with strong support from Councilmember Graham, WMATA, and Clear Channel Adshel, the District’s contractor for more than 400 advertising bus shelters located throughout the District. Clear Channel Adshel is installing the maps at no cost to the District.
Contacts:
Bill Rice (DDOT): 202/671-2004; 202/437-7787/Cell
Ellen Jones (Downtown Bid), 626-1145
