Draft:Brookland–Potomac Park Line

The Brookland–Potomac Park Line, designated Route H1 was a weekday peak hour-only bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Brookland–CUA station of the Washington Metro's Red Line and Potomac Park. The Line ran south about every 16 minutes during the AM Rush and north every 20-30 minutes during the PM rush. Trips took roughly 50-65 minutes to complete. Like most of the other "1" Lines (L1, V1, X1, etc), it provided extra service to its daily counterpart during peak hours.

Background
Route H1 ran from Brookland–Catholic University of America station to West Potomac Park, mainly along Columbia Road, 23rd Street, and Constitution Avenue, proving service in Adams Morgan, Dupont Circle, and Foggy Bottom without making customers need to take multiple routes during the peak hours. It was mainly an alternative service for routes H2, H3, and H4 between Columbia Heights station and Brookland–CUA station

Route H1 operated out of Bladensburg Division.

Stops


History
H1 was created as a brand new route on September 18, 1999, to operate as a "reincarnation" of the former H6 "Brookland - Kennedy Center" Line that was discontinued around March 1995.

A study along the H Lines was released in 2013 and they made two proposals to improve route H1. One was to create 2 additional trips during the PM Rush, one at 6:30 and one at 7:00. The other proposal was to make the line operate all day instead of only during peak hours The route would operate in both directions and terminate at Dupont Circle station or Foggy Bottom–GWU station. It was also proposed to increase peak hour service to run buses every 15 minutes and 30 minutes during off hours.

In 2018, the proposal was brought back up. At the same time, it was proposed to reroute the line in the Potomac Park area so it would be changed to operate along Constitution Avenue, 18th Street, and Virginia Avenue to terminal west of 18th Street NW. Service on 18th Street between Virginia Avenue and E Street NW, and C Street between 17th Street and Virginia Avenue NW, would be eliminated. Alternative service would be provided by Routes L1 and 80. This was proposed due to customers wanting more Crosstown service between Brookland–CUA and Columbia Heights. The reroute was also proposed so that there would be only one terminal stand to avoid complexity.

On March 16, 2020, WMATA suspended Route H1 in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In 2020, WMATA proposed to eliminate Route H1. WMATA said they wanted to get rid of the routes that duplicate other routes or have very reliable alternative services, such as the H1.

On September 5, 2021, Route H1 was eliminated. Alternative service is provided by Routes H2 and H4 from Columbia Heights to Brookland–CUA and Routes 42 and 43 from Adams Morgan to Dupont Circle. Riders could also use the Washington Metro's Green, Yellow, and Red Lines.