View source for Greenbelt–BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Express Line

{{notability|date=December 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox bus line
|box_width     = 300px
|number        = B30
|logo          = <!-- bus logo (ex: Image_name.png) -->
|logo_width    = <!-- width of bus logo -->
|logo_alt      = <!-- logo image alternate text (only works if logo_width is supplied) -->
|bgcolor       = <!-- background color for infobox title (hex codes need a '#', i.e. #00ff33 not 00ff33) -->
|titlecolor    = <!-- color of the title text (hex codes need a '#') -->
|subheader     = Greenbelt–BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Line
|operatorlogo  = WMATA Metrobus logo.svg
|oplogo_width  = 250px
|image         = WMATA New Flyer D40LFR 6215 on Route B30.jpg
|image_width   = 300px
|image_alt     = <!-- This image cannot be displayed. -->
|caption       = Route B30 at [[Arundel Mills Mall]]
|system        = [[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]
|operator      = [[Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]]
|garage        = Landover
|livery        =
|pvr           =
|status        = Discontinued
|open          = 2001
|close         = 2020
|predecessors  =
|night         =
|locale        = [[Prince George's County, Maryland|Prince George's County]]<br />[[Anne Arundel County]]
|communities   = [[Greenbelt, Maryland|Greenbelt]]
|landmarks     = [[BWI Business District (Baltimore Light Rail station)|BWI Business District station]]
[[BWI Airport]]
[[Arundel Mills Mall]]
|termini       = <!-- used when route starts and stops at a single location, overrides the start and end parameters -->
|start         = [[Greenbelt station]]
|via           = [[Baltimore-Washington Parkway]]
|end           =  [[Baltimore–Washington International Airport|BWI Marshall Airport]]
|length        = Northbound: {{convert|30.7|mi|2}}
|otherroutes   =
|compete       =
|ibus          =
|level         = Daily
|level1        =
|frequency     = 70 minutes
|alt_frequency = No Service
|time          =
|day           = 6:00 AM – 10:45 PM (weekdays)
|zone          =
|timetable_link= [https://www.wmata.com/schedules/timetables/upload/B30_181230.pdf Greenbelt-BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Express Line]
|ridership     =
|transfers     = [[SmarTrip]] only
|map_link      = <!-- external link to an online map (ex: [http://www.example.com/map.html Line xx map]) -->
|map           = {{Greenbelt–BWI Airport Line|inline=yes}}
|map_state     = collapsed
|map_name      = <!-- name of the map (defaults to 'Route map') -->
|previous_line = [[Crofton–New Carrollton Line|B29]]
|next_line     = [[Greenbelt–Twinbrook Line|C2]]
|notes         = <!-- anything special in small font, centered at the bottom of the infobox -->
}}
The '''Greenbelt–BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Express Line''' (commonly shortened to the '''Greenbelt–BWI Airport Line'''), designated '''Route B30''', was a weekday-only bus route operated by the [[Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]] between [[Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport]] and the [[Greenbelt station]] of the [[Green Line (WMATA)|Green]] and [[Yellow Line (WMATA)|Yellow]] Lines of the [[Washington Metro]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XfEa1nfL31wC&pg=PA12 |title=Frommer's Portable Washington, Part 3|author=Elise H. Ford|date=2009|publisher=Wiley Publishing, Inc.|page=12|isbn=978-0-470-38433-6}}</ref> When it last ran, the line operated every 70 minutes five days a week along the [[Baltimore–Washington Parkway]] between these two locations with no intermediate stops, with the exception of the [[BWI Business District (Baltimore Light Rail station)|BWI Business District Light Rail Stop]] and [[Arundel Mills Mall]],<ref name=dresser>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1214595031.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+12%2C+2007&author=MICHAEL+DRESSER&pub=The+Sun&desc=OBSCURE+THIRD+WAY+CONNECTS+BALTIMORE+AND+WASHINGTON|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106031442/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1214595031.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+12,+2007&author=MICHAEL+DRESSER&pub=The+Sun&desc=OBSCURE+THIRD+WAY+CONNECTS+BALTIMORE+AND+WASHINGTON|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 6, 2012|title=Obscure Third Way Connects Baltimore and Washington|newspaper=Baltimore Sun|date=February 12, 2007|accessdate=March 20, 2011|first=Michael|last=Dresser|page=1.B}}{{subscription required}}</ref> and the last bus leaving BWI at 10:09 pm. The trip was approximately 50 minutes long.
==Service==
Service operates every 70 minutes between [[Greenbelt station]] and [[Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport]] on weekdays only.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bwiairport.com/to-from-bwi/transportation/transit/wmata |title=WMATA &#124; BWI Airport |access-date=2019-04-28 |archive-date=2019-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214052916/https://www.bwiairport.com/to-from-bwi/transportation/transit/wmata |url-status=dead }}</ref> WMATA uses 6 2006 New Flyer D40LFRs numbered 6212–6217 to operate on the route based out of Landover Division. However, other buses can be used on the route if the D40LFRs are running on other routes or going under maintenance. The original vehicles used were now retired 1997 Orion Vs numbered 4390–4395. Each bus has suburban seating with overhead luggage racks with a larger luggage rack in the middle of the bus.
===Stops===
<section begin=b30-table/>
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
!Bus stop
!Direction
!Connections
|-
!colspan="3"|[[Greenbelt, Maryland]]
|-
![[Greenbelt station|Greenbelt Station]]<br /><small>Bus Bay D</small>
|Southbound Terminal,<br /> Northbound station
|{{bus icon}} '''[[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]''': 87, 89, 89M, [[Greenbelt–Twinbrook Line|C2]], [[Greenbelt-New Carrollton Line|G12, G14]], [[Kenilworth Avenue Line|R12]]<br />{{bus icon}} '''[[Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland|RTA]]''': 302/G<br /> {{bus icon}} '''[[TheBus (Prince George's County)|TheBus]]''': 11, 15, 16<br />{{bus icon}} '''[[Shuttle-UM]]''': 129<br /> {{bus icon}} '''[[BoltBus]]'''<br />{{rint|rail|size=12}} '''[[Washington Metro]]''': {{WMATA icon|Yellow}} {{WMATA icon|Green}}<br />{{rint|rail|size=12}} '''[[MARC Train|MARC]]''': ''[[Camden Line]]''
|-
!Greenbelt Metro Drive&nbsp;/ Cherrywood Lane
|Bidirectional
|{{bus icon}} '''Metrobus''': 87, 89, 89M, C2, G12, G14, R12
|-
!colspan="3"|[[Baltimore–Washington Parkway]]
|-
!colspan="3"|[[Hanover, Maryland]]
|-
![[Arundel Mills|Arundel Mills Mall]]
|Bidirectional
|{{bus icon}} '''[[MTA Maryland]]''': 75, 201<br />{{bus icon}} '''RTA''': 201, 202, 501, 502
|-
!colspan="3"|Baltimore–Washington Parkway
|-
!colspan="3"|[[Baltimore, Maryland]]
|-
![[BWI Rail station]]
|Bidirectional
|{{rint|rail|size=12}} '''[[MARC Train|MARC]]''': ''[[Penn Line]]''<br />{{rint|rail|size=12}} '''[[Amtrak]]'''
|-
![[BWI Business District station]]
|Bidirectional
|{{rint|rail|size=12}} '''[[Baltimore Light RailLink]]'''
|-
![[Baltimore–Washington International Airport|Baltimore–Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport]]
|Northbound Terminal,<br /> Southbound station
|{{rint|rail|size=12}} '''[[Baltimore Light RailLink]]'''<br />
|-
<!--| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|'''Notes''':-->
|}<section end=b30-table/>
==Background==
Service began on November 16, 2001, to connect service to BWI Airport from Prince George's County.
The line is unique for being the only WMATA bus line that has a connection with any [[Maryland Transit Administration]] non-commuter services, and is responsible for providing a regular link between the two services. The original $3 one-way fare was seen as a bargain compared with other transportation modes in the area, including [[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound]] and [[MARC Train|MARC Train Service]].<ref name=dresser />
In 2007, it was reported that the B30 line was partly responsible for BWI Airport ranking as one of the nation's top 10 airports in ease of access.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2007/08/13/daily28.html|work=Baltimore Business Journal|title=BWI passenger access draws industry praise|author=Scott Dance|date=August 15, 2007}}</ref>  WMATA also provides higher levels of service on the line in special times of need, especially on certain holidays.<ref>{{cite press release|agency=WMATA|url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/pressreleasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=4740|title=Metro to have additional buses and trains on standby in anticipation of Thanksgiving week travel to regional airports|date=November 17, 2010|accessdate=March 20, 2011}}</ref>
The state of Maryland, which provides funds for operating the service, has been criticized for doing little to promote its use.<ref name=dresser />
Between 2016 and 2017, WMATA proposed to eliminate the B30 route completely due to the route under-performing under WMATA standards.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carloan |first1=Alex |title=WMATA wants to eliminate the Greenbelt-BWI bus route. College Park officials disagree. |url=https://dbknews.com/2017/02/12/wmata-college-park-b30-bus/ |website=The DiamondBack |date=13 February 2017 |accessdate=28 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Vinopal |first1=Courtney |title=With Metro's Cuts to the BWI Bus, Everyday Commuters May Be Hit Hardest |url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2017/07/20/with-recent-cuts-to-the-b30-everyday-commuters-may-be-hit-hardest/ |website=Washingtonian |date=20 July 2017 |accessdate=28 April 2019}}</ref>
On June 25, 2017, weekend service for the B30 was discontinued and the one-way fare for the route was increased to $7.50 making the B30 bus a more expensive option than the MARC train. Buses also increase head-ways from 40 to 60 minutes.<ref>{{cite press release|agency=WMATA|url=https://www.wmata.com/service/status/details/upload/June25FareServiceChanges_PrintableBrochure_English.pdf|title=Be Ready for Metro Changes June 25th, 2017|date=June 25, 2017|accessdate=June 26, 2017}}</ref>
On June 24, 2018, the B30 was rerouted to serve [[Arundel Mills]] via Arundel Mills Boulevard.<ref>{{cite web |title=Metrobus Service Changes, June 24 {{!}} WMATA |url=https://www.wmata.com/service/status/details/metrobus-june-24-service-changes.cfm |website=www.wmata.com |accessdate=9 August 2020}}</ref>
On December 30, 2018, head-ways were increased from 60 to 70 minutes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Metrobus Service Changes, December 30 {{!}} WMATA |url=https://www.wmata.com/service/status/details/metrobus-service-changes-dec-30-2018.cfm |website=www.wmata.com |accessdate=9 August 2020}}</ref>
Through the years, WMATA proposed to eliminate all route B30 service due to low ridership and multiple alternative services.<ref>{{cite web |title=MARYLAND Proposed Metrobus Service Changes |url=https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/budget/upload/FY21-MD-Metrobus-Changes.pdf |accessdate=9 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=FY2021 Budget Update; FY2022 Budget Outlook and Approval for Public Hearing for FY21 Budget Amendment |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/board/meetings/board-pdfs/upload/3B-Action-Item-FY21-and-FY22-Budgets-v6-2.pdf?fbclid=IwAR13l9OVet2P4uSMZvQH_QaTl1SvXIPbaPG0EBJjUOgugKgPNbUxBtNPqMs |accessdate=9 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Proposed Service Adjustments by Jurisdiction |url=https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/budget/upload/proposed-service-adjustments-by-jurisdiction.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2yAnFIhNZRyVMm07dbgmkZO9jhR5aZWUeuhd1dWN2Y3RrXVvi0LHrqTLY |accessdate=27 September 2020}}</ref> The route last operated on March 17, 2020, due to Metro's response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Washington, D.C.|COVID-19 pandemic]]. When WMATA began to increase service in August 2020, the B30 remained suspended. By September 2021, with WMATA beginning improved frequencies on high ridership routes, all suspended routes, including the B30 was no longer mentioned on WMATAs website.<ref>{{cite web |title=Improved frequency and changes to Metrobus service begin Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021 {{!}} WMATA |url=https://www.wmata.com/service/status/details/metrobus-service-changes-september-2021.cfm |website=www.wmata.com |access-date=2 August 2023}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[D.C.–Dulles Line]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.wmata.com/bus/ Metrobus]
{{BWI Airport}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Greenbelt-BWI Airport Line}}
[[Category:Metrobus (Washington, D.C.) routes|B30]]
[[Category:Transportation in Maryland]]
[[Category:Baltimore/Washington International Airport]]
[[Category:Greenbelt, Maryland]]