DC Streetcar Service Transitioning to Bus System

A recent publication by the Washington Post reveals that Mayor muriel Bowser of Washington DC is set to replace the existing DC Streetcar tramway with a bus service. This change is part of her budget proposals for 2026,which she presented on May 27.

The new initiative, dubbed a ‘next generation streetcar,’ aims to utilize the current overhead charging system but will eliminate fixed tracks entirely by the financial year of 2028.

City Administrator Kevin Donahue shared with local outlets that this shift would allow for quicker and more flexible expansion beyond the current streetcar route.

The existing streetcar line spans approximately 3.9 kilometers along H Street NE and Benning Road, connecting Union Station to Oklahoma Avenue with eight stops in between. Operated by RATP Dev, it runs every twelve minutes and offers free rides.

This project faced significant setbacks before its launch in February 2016, arriving late and over budget. Its performance has suffered due to mixed traffic conditions on city streets, while local buses already provide viable alternatives for commuters.

User numbers have fallen short of expectations; ridership peaked at about 1.185 million trips in its inaugural year but dropped to just over 836,000 passengers in recent reports from this year. Plans for extending this initial route have since been abandoned.