East Capitol Street–Cardozo Line

Route 97 at Washington Union Station

The line provides service through Downtown Washington DC via East Capitol Street, Massachusetts Avenue, New Jersey Avenue, U Street, and Wisconsin Avenue. Route 96 operates daily. Select early morning trips will begin at U and 13th Streets NW.

Route 96 currently operates out of Andrews Federal Center division. Route 96 use to operate out of Southern Avenue division during the weekdays and Bladensburg division during the weekends and late nights (after 9:00 PM). Prior to 2019, route 96 would operate full time out of Bladensburg division. The line has also operated out of Northern division at one point.

Route 96 stops

Bus stop	Direction	Connections
Washington, D.C.
Fort Drive NW / Albemarle Street NW Tenleytown-AU station	Eastbound stop, Westbound terminal	Metrobus: 31, 33, D32, H2, H4, N2, W45, W47 AU Shuttle Washington Metro:
Wisconsin Avenue / River Road NW	Eastbound	Metrobus: 31, 33, N2, W47
Wisconsin Avenue / Albemarle Street NW Tenleytown-AU station	Eastbound	Metrobus: 31, 33, H2, H4, N2, W47 AU Shuttle Washington Metro:
Fort Drive NW / Nebraska Avenue NW	Westbound	Metrobus: 31, 33, H2, H4, N2, W47
Wisconsin Avenue / Tenley Circle NW	Eastbound	Metrobus: 31, 33, D32, H2, H4, N2, W47
Wisconsin Avenue / Veazey Street NW	Westbound	Metrobus: 31, 33, D32, H2, H4, W47
Wisconsin Avenue / Van Ness Street NW	Eastbound	Metrobus: 31, 33, D32, H2, H4, W47
Wisconsin Avenue / Upton Street NW	Bidirectional	Metrobus: 31, 33, D32, H4, W47
Wisconsin Avenue / Rodman Street NW	Bidirectional	Metrobus: 31, 33, D32, H4, W47
Wisconsin Avenue / Porter Street NW	Bidirectional	Metrobus: 31, 33, D32, H4, W47
Wisconsin Avenue / Newark Street NW	Bidirectional	Metrobus: 31, 33
Wisconsin Avenue / Macomb Street NW	Westbound	Metrobus: 31, 33
Woodley Road NW / Wisconsin Avenue	Bidirectional	Metrobus: 31, 33
Woodley Road NW / 35th Street NW	Bidirectional
Woodley Road NW / 34th Street NW	Bidirectional
Woodley Road NW / 32nd Street NW	Bidirectional
Cathedral Avenue NW / Woodley Road NW	Bidirectional
Cathedral Avenue NW / 29th Street NW	Westbound
29th Street NW / Cathedral Avenue NW	Eastbound
29th Street NW / Woodley Road NW	Westbound
29th Street NW / Garfield Street NW	Eastbound
Calvert Street NW / 29th Street NW	Westbound
Calvert Street NW / McGill Terrace NW	Eastbound
Calvert Street NW / Shoreham Drive NW Woodley Park station	Eastbound	Metrobus: L2 DC Circulator:   Woodley Park Adams Morgan – McPherson Square Metro Washington Metro:
Calvert Street NW / Connecticut Avenue Woodley Park station	Bidirectional	Metrobus: L2 DC Circulator:   Woodley Park – Adams Morgan – McPherson Square Metro Washington Metro:
Calvert Street NW / Biltmore Street NW	Bidirectional	Metrobus: 90, L2, X3
Calvert Street NW / Lanier Place NW	Eastbound	Metrobus: 90, L2, DC Circulator:   Woodley Park – Adams Morgan - McPherson Square Metro
Adams Mill Road NW / Columbia Road NW	Westbound	Metrobus: 42, 43, 90, L2 DC Circulator:   Woodley Park – Adams Morgan - McPherson Square Metro
18th Street NW / Columbia Road NW	Eastbound	Metrobus: 42, 43, 90, L2 DC Circulator:   Woodley Park – Adams Morgan - McPherson Square Metro
18th Street NW / Belmont Road NW	Bidirectional	Metrobus: 90
18th Street NW / California Street NW	Bidirectional	Metrobus: 90
U Street NW / Florida Avenue NW	Westbound	Metrobus: 90
U Street NW / 17th Street NW	Bidirectional	Metrobus: 90
U Street NW / 16th Street NW	Bidirectional	Metrobus: 90, S2, S9
U Street NW / 15th Street NW	Bidirectional	Metrobus: 90
U Street NW / 14th Street NW	Bidirectional	Metrobus: 52, 54, 59, 90 DC Circulator:   Woodley Park – Adams Morgan - McPherson Metro
U Street NW / 13th Street NW U Street station	Bidirectional	Metrobus: 90, 92 Washington Metro:
U Street NW / 11th Street NW	Bidirectional	Metrobus: 90, 92
U Street NW / Vermont Avenue NW U Street station	Bidirectional	Metrobus: 63, 64, 90, 92 Washington Metro:
U Street NW / 9th Street NW	Eastbound	Metrobus: 90, 92
Florida Avenue NW / 7th Street NW	Eastbound	Metrobus: 70, 79, 90, 92
Florida Avenue NW / Georgia Avenue	Westbound	Metrobus: 70, 79, 90, 92
Florida Avenue NW / 6th Street NW	Bidirectional	Metrobus: 90, 92
Florida Avenue NW / 5th Street NW	Eastbound	Metrobus: 90, 92
New Jersey Avenue NW / Florida Avenue NW	Westbound	Metrobus: 90, 92
New Jersey Avenue NW / Rhode Island Avenue	Bidirectional	Metrobus: G2, G8
New Jersey Avenue NW / R Street NW	Bidirectional	Metrobus: G2
New Jersey Avenue NW / P Street NW	Bidirectional	Metrobus: G2
New Jersey Avenue NW / N Street NW	Bidirectional
New Jersey Avenue NW / M Street NW	Westbound
New Jersey Avenue NW / Pierce Street NW	Bidirectional
New Jersey Avenue NW / K Street NW	Bidirectional	Metrobus: D4, P6
New Jersey Avenue NW / H Street NW	Bidirectional	Metrobus: X2
Massachusetts Avenue / G Street NW	Bidirectional	Metrobus: 80
Massachusetts Avenue / First Street NE	Bidirectional	Amtrak, VRE, MARC at Union Station DC Streetcar at Union Station Metrobus: 80, D6, D8, X1, X2, X8, X9 DC Circulator:   Georgetown–Union Station   Congress Heights – Union Station   National Mall MTA Maryland Bus: 903, 922 Loudoun County Transit PRTC OmniRide Washington Metro: at Union Station
Massachusetts Avenue / Delaware Avenue NE	Eastbound	Metrobus: D6, X8
Massachusetts Avenue / Columbus Circle NE	Westbound	Metrobus: D6, X8
Massachusetts Avenue / 2nd Street NE	Eastbound	Metrobus: D6, X8
Massachusetts Avenue / 3rd Street NE	Westbound	Metrobus: D6, X8
Massachusetts Avenue / 4th Street NE	Eastbound	Metrobus: D6, X8
C Street NE / 4th Street NE	Westbound	Metrobus: D6, X8
Massachusetts Avenue / Constitution Avenue NE	Eastbound	Metrobus: 90, 92
Massachusetts Avenue / 8th Street NE	Westbound	Metrobus: 90, 92
East Capitol Street / Kentucky Avenue SE	Eastbound
East Capitol Street / Tennessee Avenue NE	Westbound
Massachusetts Avenue / 13th Street SE	Bidirectional
Massachusetts Avenue / 14th Street SE	Eastbound
Massachusetts Avenue / South Carolina Avenue SE	Westbound
Massachusetts Avenue / 15th Street SE	Eastbound
Massachusetts Avenue / 17th Street SE	Bidirectional
Massachusetts Avenue / 18th Street SE	Eastbound
Massachusetts Avenue / 19th Street SE	Eastbound
18th Street SE / East Capitol Street	Westbound	Metrobus: B2 (Southbound only)
18th Street SE / Independence Avenue	Westbound	Metrobus: B2 (Southbound only)
18th Street SE / Massachusetts Avenue	Westbound	Metrobus: B2 (Southbound only)
19th Street SE / C Street SE Stadium-Armory station	Eastbound	Metrobus: B2 (Northbound only) Washington Metro:
Stadium-Armory station Bus Buys D and F	Bidirectional	Metrobus: B2, D6 Washington Metro:
East Capitol Street / Stoddert Place SE	Eastbound
East Capitol Street / 40th Street NE	Westbound
East Capitol Street / 41st Street NE	Bidirectional
East Capitol Street / #4250	Bidirectional
East Capitol Street / Fort Chaplin Park Apartments	Bidirectional
East Capitol Street / Texas Avenue SE	Bidirectional
East Capitol Street / Benning Road NE/SE Benning Road station	Bidirectional	Metrobus: U5, U6, V7, V8, W4 Washington Metro:
East Capitol Street / 47th Street NE/SE	Bidirectional	Metrobus: U5, U6, W4
East Capitol Street / 49th Street SE	Eastbound	Metrobus: U5, U6, W4
East Capitol Street / Sycamore Road NE	Westbound	Metrobus: U5, U6, W4
East Capitol Street / 50th Street NE/SE	Bidirectional	Metrobus: U5, U6, W4 (Southbound only)
East Capitol Street / 52nd Street SE	Eastbound	Metrobus: W4 (Northbound only)
East Capitol Street / 53rd Street NE	Westbound
East Capitol Street / 53rd Place SE	Eastbound
East Capitol Street / 55th Street NE/SE	Bidirectional
East Capitol Street / 56th Place SE	Eastbound
East Capitol Street / 57th Place NE	Westbound
East Capitol Street / 58th Street NE/SE	Bidirectional
Capitol Heights, Maryland
Capitol Heights station Bus Bay C	Westbound stop, Eastbound terminal	Metrobus: A12, F14, V2, V4, X9 TheBus: 24, 25 Washington Metro:

Route 96 originally operated as part of the East-Capitol Hill Streetcar Line under the Washington Railway & Electric Company, which began service in 1922. The line originally as Woodley via 29th but was later replaced. Route 96 operated between Duke Ellington Bridge in Northwest and the Capitol Building. The line would operate along Calvert Street, 18th Street, U Street, Florida Avenue, New Jersey Avenue, North Capitol Street, Louisiana Avenue, and Constitution Avenue.

The line was later acquired by the Capital Traction Company and replaced by buses in 1962 operating under DC Transit. WMATA later acquired DC Transit and three other private bus companies that operated throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area and merged them all together to form its own, Metrobus System on February 4, 1973.[1]

On March 27, 1976, 96 was rerouted from the Capitol Building, and instead terminate at the Washington Union Station. Service along Constitution Avenue was discontinued.

On May 11, 1991, when the U Street station opened, route 96 began serving the newly opened U Street in the middle of its route. No route changes were made during this particular time.[2]

In March, 1995, when routes 40 and 44 were both discontinued, and route 42 was truncated to operate between Mount Pleasant and Metro Center, route 96 was extended from Washington Union Station] to operate to Capitol Heights station, via Stadium–Armory station, District of Columbia General Hospital, and Benning Road station. Route 96 will terminate at Stadium Armory during the weekday peak-hours only. The new routing helped out route D6 and provide additional service between Union Station and Stadium Armory. Route 96 will mainly operate along Massachusetts Avenue and East Capitol Street.[3]

A new route 97 was introduced to operate alongside the 96, except only operating between Union Station and Capitol Heights during the weekday peak-hours along East Capitol Street. Route 97 would operate on a different pathway between Stadium Armory and Union station mostly remaining along East Capitol Street, and turned on 1st Street, Constitution Avenue, and Louisiana Avenue. Route 96 would operate along Massachusetts Avenue to Union station.[3]

Route 97 would directly serve Stadium–Armory while operating both directions, but 96 would only directly serve Stadium–Armory eastbound only. Passengers wishing to board/alight on the 96, were required to do so at DC General Hospital. Also, the 97 would not serve DC General Hospital. As a result of the changes, the line was renamed the East Capitol Street–Cardozo Line.[3]

On June 24, 2007, 96 was extended from Duke Ellington Bridge, to McLean Gardens, by operating on Calvert Street past Duke Ellington Bridge, then operating via 29th Street NW, Cathedral Avenue NW, Woodley Road NW, Wisconsin Avenue NW, Idaho Avenue NW, and Newark Street NW, in order to replace the segment of routes 90, 92, 93 between Duke Ellington Bridge and McLean Gardens. The changes were to improve on-time performance for routes 90, 92, and 93.[4]

On September 30, 2012, route 96 along with route X3 was extended from McLean Gardens to Tenleytown-AU station adding additional service along Wisconsin Avenue NW from McLean Gardens due to a long-term detour route to accommodate construction of Cathedral Commons in 2012.[5]

In 2014, WMATA proposed to shorten 96 back towards Duke Ellington Bridge and reroute the line along Massachusetts Avenue NE between 11th & East Capitol Streets and Washington Union Station instead of via 1st Street and Louisiana Avenue NW. A new route 98 would replace the 96 routing between Tenleytown-AU station and U Street station for the following reasons.[6]

• Improve reliability of service by operating shorter routes.
• Provide direct peak period service between Capitol Heights and Duke Ellington Bridge.
• Provide a faster more direct routing around the U.S. Capitol.
• Create a better balance of capacity and demand throughout the entire line.

On June 21, 2015, WMATA rerouted route 96 along Massachusetts Avenue between East Capitol Street and 1st Street NE and directly serving Station Park in order to improve reliability of service. Route 97 was unaffected from the changes.[7]

During 2017, WMATA proposed to eliminate 96's segment between McLean Gardens and Tenleytown-AU station as it operates parallel with the 30N, 30S, 31, 33, 37, and H3, H4. The line would terminate back at Cathedral Commons which was its pre-2012 extension.[8] Under the proposal, the turnaround would include one of the following:[9]

• Option 1: From northbound Wisconsin Avenue, left on Newark Street to terminal stand on the north side of Newark Street, midblock between Wisconsin and Idaho Avenues NW. Departing the terminal, buses would proceed west on Newark Street, right on Idaho Avenue, right on Wisconsin Avenue NW and resume the current eastbound route.
• Option 2: From northbound Wisconsin Avenue, left on Newark Street, left on Idaho Avenue NW to terminal stand midblock on the west side of Idaho Avenue, between Newark and Macomb Streets NW. Departing the terminal, buses would proceed south on Idaho Avenue, left on Macomb Street, right on Wisconsin Avenue NW and resume the current eastbound route.
• Option 3: From northbound Wisconsin Avenue, left on Porter Street, left on 38th Street, left on Newark Street NW to terminal stand at Idaho Avenue. Departing the terminal, buses would continue east on Newark Street, right on Wisconsin Avenue NW and resume the current eastbound route. This routing was similar prior to the 2012 extension.

Performance measures for route 96 goes as follows according to WMATA:[9]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, route 96 was reduced to operate on its Saturday schedule and all route 97 service was suspended beginning on March 16, 2020.[10] However on March 18, 2020, the line was further reduced to operate on its Sunday schedule.[11] All 96 weekend service was also suspended beginning on March 21, 2020.[12] Additional service was added on route 96 on August 23, 2020 however route 97 remained suspended.[13]

On September 26, 2020, WMATA proposed to eliminate all route 97 service and replace them with route 96 trips that will operate the full route between Tenleytown station and Capitol Heights station. This was due to low federal funding.[14]

On November 13, 2020, eastbound route 96 trips was changed to operate along New Jersey Avenue NW between 3rd Street and Massachusetts Avenue upon completion of construction on New Jersey Avenue. Service along New York Avenue NW, M Street NW and North Capitol Street NW was discontinued.[15]

In February 2021 due to low federal funding, WMATA proposed to modify the 96 by operating between Union Station and Deanwood station combing portions of the U5, U6, V1, V7, V8, and W4. The line would operate its current routing between Union Station and East Capitol Street & Minnesota Avenue, then it will operate along Ridge Road, Texas Avenue, E Street, Alabama Avenue, H Street/Hanna Place, Benning Road, G Street, Fitch Place, 53rd Street (northbound)/51st Street (southbound), Central Avenue, East Capitol Street, Division Avenue, Eastern Avenue and Minnesota Avenue to Deanwood station serving the Benning Heights neighborhood. Route 97, route 96 service past Union station and service to Capitol Heights station would be eliminated.[16]