Ridership Figures for C83, C85, & D70
To evaluate the ridership numbers effectively, it helps to look at the distinct roles these three lines play in the Chevy Chase DC neighborhood network:
The C83 (Barnaby Woods–Friendship Heights): Acting as a crucial neighborhood lifeline for Chevy Chase DC, this route serves a highly specific residential ridership. When looking at its numbers, consider the service adjustments and the 30-minute frequency during the week and the 60-minute wait implemented during the Better Bus redesign.
The C85 (Nebraska Av–Foggy Bottom / Tenleytown corridor): This is a broader, cross-town connector designed to link residential hubs directly to local area schools (Lafayette ES, Deal MS, and Jackson-Reed HS) and commercial centers (Tenleytown and Georgetown). The weekday peaks on this route are heavily driven by commuting students.
The D70 (Connecticut Av / Downtown Axis): As the successor to the historical L2 route along the densely populated Connecticut Avenue corridor, this is a high-capacity, core network route. Its ridership statistics naturally dwarf the more local C83 and C85 bus routes, serving as an indicator of overall north-south transit demand into the city’s downtown core.
Route C83: A Neighborhood Feed To Connecticut Avenue Commercial Core and Friendship Heights
- Trend Analysis: The C83 shows a steady ridership base, which ranges from a low of around 350 weekday riders in January 2026 to a high of some 417 riders in September 2025.
- Operational Insight: As a neighborhood local route with longer waits of every 30 minutes, its ridership is highly sensitive to seasonal weather shifts and school calendars. Local adoption of the Better Bus network configuration appears to be solidifying as neighborhood residents adjusted to the new route and schedule.
- C83 Ridership Data
| Month | Average Weekday Ridership | Average Weekend Ridership |
|---|---|---|
| July 2025 | 404.8 | 283.8 |
| August 2025 | 371.3 | 294.9 |
| September 2025 | 411.7 | 320.1 |
| October 2025 | 395.8 | 317.0 |
| November 2025 | 393.8 | 279.0 |
| December 2025 | 391.3 | 272.6 |
| January 2026 | 349.8 | 207.7 |
| February 2026 | 358.6 | 242.2 |
| March 2026 | 386.2 | 303.1 |
| April 2026 | 387.9 | 304.9 |
| May 2026 | 371.4 | 302.9 |
| Source: WMATA |
Route C85: A School & Medical Connector
- Trend Analysis: The C85 experienced the most dramatic growth of all three routes, surging nearly 170% from its July weekday ridership (284) to its April ridership of 713. It exhibits sharp dips during traditional academic breaks—dropping significantly in July/August (1,020).
- Operational Insight: This volatility confirms its heavy reliance on commuters, including students and hospital staff. The massive overall upward trajectory suggests that the cross-town alignment is successfully capturing a previously underserved transit market.
- C85 Ridership Data
| Month | Average Weekday Ridership |
|---|---|
| July 2025 | 266.7 |
| August 2025 | 338.2 |
| September 2025 | 656.7 |
| October 2025 | 757.3 |
| November 2025 | 699.2 |
| December 2025 | 610.7 |
| January 2026 | 655.8 |
| February 2026 | 724.1 |
| March 2026 | 746.8 |
| April 2026 | 713.0 |
| May 2026 | 757.8 |
| Source: WMATA; The C85 offers no weekend service and limited daily service |
Route D70: The Chevy Chase DC Anchor
- Trend Analysis: Dwarfing the other two routes combined, the D70 maintains a massive, stable volume, averaging over 3,500 daily weekday riders.
- Operational Insight: As a primary north-south artery, the D70 acts as a core bus corridor. I
MD70 Ridership Data
| Month | Average Weekday Ridership | Average Weekend Ridership |
|---|---|---|
| July 2025 | 3,673.4 | 6,441.0 |
| August 2025 | 3,483.0 | 5,102.0 |
| September 2025 | 3,691.4 | 5,110.8 |
| October 2025 | 3,523.5 | 4,489.7 |
| November 2025 | 3,370.4 | 4,492.9 |
| December 2025 | 3,178.3 | 4,246.6 |
| January 2026 | 2,992.1 | 3,608.9 |
| February 2026 | 3,378.3 | 4,471.2 |
| March 2026 | 3,617.4 | 5,403.2 |
| April 2026 | 3,744.2 | 5,568.3 |
| May 2026 | 3,806.9 | 5,700.3 |
| Source: WMATA |
| Average Weekday Ridership Jul-25 Aug-25 Sep-25 Oct-25 Nov-25 Dec-25 Jan-26 Feb-26 Mar-26 Apr-26 C83 404.8 371.3 411.7 395.8 393.8 391.3 349.8 358.6 386.2 387.9 C85 266.7 338.2 656.7 757.3 699.2 610.7 655.8 724.1 746.8 713.0 D70 3,673.4 3,483.0 3,691.4 3,523.5 3,370.4 3,178.3 2,992.1 3,378.3 3,617.4 3,744.2 | |