View source for Oxon Hill–Fort Washington Line

{{Infobox bus line
|box_width     = 250px
|number        = P18
|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     = Oxon Hill–Fort Washington Line
|operatorlogo  = WMATA Metrobus logo.svg
|oplogo_width  = 250px
|image         =
|image_width   = 250px
|image_alt     =
|caption       =
|system        = [[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]
|operator      = [[Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]]
|garage        = Shepherd Parkway
|livery        = Local
|pvr           =
|status        = In Service
|open          =
|close         =
|predecessors  =
|night         =
|locale        = [[Prince George's County, Maryland]]
|communities   = [[Tantallon, Maryland|Tantallon]], [[Oxon Hill, Maryland|Oxon Hill]], [[Fort Washington, Maryland|Fort Washington]], [[Forest Heights, Maryland|Forest Heights]], [[Temple Hills, Maryland|Temple Hills]]
|landmarks     =  [[Fort Foote]], Oxon Hill Park & Ride Lot
|termini       = <!-- used when route starts and stops at a single location, overrides the start and end parameters -->
|start         = Fort Washington Park & Ride Lot
|via           = Oxon Hill Road, [[Southern Avenue (Washington, D.C.)|Southern Avenue]]
|end           = [[Southern Avenue station]]
|length        = 45 minutes
|otherroutes   =
|compete       =
|ibus          =
|level         = No weekend service
|level1        =
|frequency     = 20-30 minutes (Weekday Peak Hours)<br>60 minutes (Weekday midday)
|alt_frequency =
|time          =
|day           = 4:32 AM - 7:30 PM
|zone          =
|timetable_link= [https://www.wmata.com/schedules/timetables/upload/P18_210905.pdf Oxon Hill-Fort Washington Line]
|ridership     = 144,829 (FY 2023)<ref name=ridership>{{cite web | title=Metrobus FY2023 Annual Line Performance Report | website=wmata.com | date=April 27, 2024| url=https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/plans/upload/ALPR-FY2023.pdf| access-date=May 28, 2024}}</ref>
|transfers     = [[SmarTrip]] only
|map_link      =
|map           =
|map_state     =
|map_name      =
|previous_line = [[Eastover–Addison Road Line|P12]]
|next_line     = [[Veirs Mill Road Line|Q1]]
|notes         =
}}
The '''Oxon Hill–Fort Washington Line''', designated '''Route P18''', is a weekday only bus route operated by the [[Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]] between Fort Washington Park & Ride Lot and [[Southern Avenue station]] of the [[Green Line (Washington Metro)|Green Line]] of the [[Washington Metro]]. The line operates every 25 minutes during the weekday peak hours and 60 minutes during the weekday midday. Route P18 trips are roughly 45 minutes.
==Background==
Route P18 operates weekdays only between Fort Washington Park & Ride Lot and [[Southern Avenue station]], mostly operating along Oxon Hill Road, Indian Head Highway, and [[Southern Avenue (Washington, D.C.)|Southern Avenue]]. Route P18 operates all day on weekdays. A limited stop segment is run between Southern Avenue station and Indian Head Highway at all times serving only three stops in each direction.
Route P18 currently operates out of Shepherd Parkway division.
=== P18 Stops ===
<section begin=P18-table/>
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
!Bus stop
!Direction
!Connections
|-
!colspan="5"|[[Prince George's County, Maryland]]
|-
![[Southern Avenue station]]<br /><small>Bus Bay F</small>
|Southbound station,<br />Northbound terminal
|{{bus icon}} '''[[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]''': [[Pennsylvania Avenue Line (Washington, D.C.)|32]], A2, A32, [[Oxon Hill-Suitland Line|D12, D14]], [[National Harbor Line|NH1]], [[Eastover-Addison Road Line|P12]], W1, W2, W14<br>{{bus icon}} '''[[TheBus (Prince George's County)|TheBus]]''': 33, 35, 37<br>{{rint|rail|size=12}} '''[[Washington Metro]]''': {{WMATA icon|Green}}
|-
![[Southern Avenue (Washington, D.C.)|Southern Avenue]] / 13th Street SE
|Bidirectional
|{{bus icon}} '''[[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]''': A2, D12, D14, NH1, P12, W2, W14<br>{{bus icon}} '''[[TheBus (Prince George's County)|TheBus]]''': 33, 35, 37
|-
!Southern Avenue / Chesapeake Street SE
|Bidirectional
|{{bus icon}} '''[[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]''': A6, A7, D12, D14, NH1, P12, W14<br>{{bus icon}} '''[[TheBus (Prince George's County)|TheBus]]''': 33, 35, 37
|-
!Southern Avenue / 6th Street SE
|Southbound
|{{bus icon}} '''[[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]''': A6, A7, A8, D12, D14,  W14<br>{{bus icon}} '''[[TheBus (Prince George's County)|TheBus]]''': 35, 37
|-
!Southern Avenue / [[South Capitol Street]]
|Northbound
|{{bus icon}} '''[[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]''': A6, A7, A8, D12, D14,  W14<br>{{bus icon}} '''[[TheBus (Prince George's County)|TheBus]]''': 35, 37
|-
![[Maryland Route 210|Indian Head Highway]] / Southern Avenue
|Bidirectional
|{{bus icon}} '''[[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]''': A6, A7, A8, D12, D14, W14<br>{{bus icon}} '''[[TheBus (Prince George's County)|TheBus]]''': 35, 37
|-
!Indian Head Highway / Audrey Lane
|Bidirectional
|{{bus icon}} '''[[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]''': D12, D14, P12, W14<br>{{bus icon}} '''[[TheBus (Prince George's County)|TheBus]]''': 35, 37
|-
!Indian Head Highway / Talbert Street
|Southbound
|{{bus icon}} '''[[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]''': D14, W14<br>{{bus icon}} '''[[TheBus (Prince George's County)|TheBus]]''': 35
|-
!Indian Head Highway / Livingston Road
|Northbound
|{{bus icon}} '''[[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]''': D14, W14<br>{{bus icon}} '''[[TheBus (Prince George's County)|TheBus]]''': 20
|-
!Indian Head Highway / Seneca Drive
|Southbound
|{{bus icon}} '''[[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]''': D14, W14<br>{{bus icon}} '''[[TheBus (Prince George's County)|TheBus]]''': 37
|-
!Indian Head Highway / [[Interstate 95|I-95]], [[Capital Beltway|I-495]]
|Northbound
|{{bus icon}} '''[[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]''': D14, W14<br>{{bus icon}} '''[[TheBus (Prince George's County)|TheBus]]''': 35, 37
|-
!Indian Head Highway / Tecumseh Drive
|Southbound
|{{bus icon}} '''[[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]''':D14, W14<br>{{bus icon}} '''[[TheBus (Prince George's County)|TheBus]]''': 35, 37
|-
!Oxon Hill Park & Ride Lot<br /><small>Bus Bay D</small>
|Bidirectional
|{{bus icon}} '''[[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]''': D14, NH1, [[National Harbor-Alexandria Line|NH2]]<br>{{bus icon}} '''[[TheBus (Prince George's County)|TheBus]]''': 35, 35S
|-
![[Maryland Route 414|Oxon Hill Road]] / Harborview Avenue
|Bidirectional
|{{bus icon}} '''[[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]''': D14, NH1, NH2<br>{{bus icon}} '''[[TheBus (Prince George's County)|TheBus]]''': 35, 35S
|-
!Oxon Hill Road / Oxon Hill Manor
|Southbound
|{{bus icon}} '''[[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]''': D14<br>{{bus icon}} '''[[TheBus (Prince George's County)|TheBus]]''': 35S
|-
!Oxon Hill Road / [[Tanger Outlets]] Main Entrance
|Northbound
|{{bus icon}} '''[[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]''': D14<br>{{bus icon}} '''[[TheBus (Prince George's County)|TheBus]]''': 35S
|-
!Oxon Hill Road / Pipers Glen Lane
|Southbound
|{{bus icon}} '''[[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]''': D14
|-
!Oxon Hill Road / Brockton Road
|Northbound
|{{bus icon}} '''[[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]''': D14
|-
!Oxon Hill Road / Abbington Drive
|Bidirectional
|{{bus icon}} '''[[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]''': D14
|-
!Oxon Hill Road / Claudia Drive
|Bidirectional
|{{bus icon}} '''[[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]]''': D14
|-
!Oxon Hill Road / Kerby Parkway
|Bidirectional
|
|-
!Fort Foote Road / River Bend Road
|Bidirectional
|
|-
!Fort Foote Road / River Wood Drive
|Bidirectional
|
|-
!Fort Foote Road / Potomac Valley Drive
|Southbound
|
|-
!Fort Foote Road / Loughran Road
|Northbound
|
|-
!Fort Foote Road / East Fort Foote Terrace
|Southbound
|
|-
!Fort Foote Road / Bluffwood Lane
|Bidirectional
|
|-
!Fort Foote Road / Bluffwood Lane
|Northbound
|
|-
!Fort Foote Road / Fortside Driveway
|Southbound
|
|-
!Fort Foote Road / Lark Lane
|Bidirectional
|
|-
!Fort Foote Road / Ivanhoe Road
|Northbound
|
|-
!Fort Foote Road / Sandy Bar Drive
|Southbound
|
|-
!Fort Foote Road / Loughran Road
|Northbound
|
|-
!Fort Foote Road / Wedgewood Drive
|Southbound
|
|-
!Fort Foote Road / Indian Queen Elementary School
|Southbound
|
|-
!Fort Foote Road / Round Table Drive
|Northbound
|
|-
!Fort Foote Road / Traverse Way
|Southbound
|
|-
!Fort Foote Road / Messina Drive
|Northbound
|
|-
!Iverson Street / Shady Tree Court
|Southbound
|
|-
!Fort Foote Road / Stony Hill Drive
|Northbound
|
|-
!Oxon Hill Road / Livingston Road
|Bidirectional
|{{bus icon}} '''[[TheBus (Prince George's County)|TheBus]]''': 35S
|-
!Livingston Road / Fort Washington Road
|Bidirectional
|{{bus icon}} '''[[TheBus (Prince George's County)|TheBus]]''': 35S
|-
!Fort Washington Road / #11310
|Bidirectional
|
|-
!Fort Washington Road / Riverview Road
|Bidirectional
|
|-
!Fort Washington Road / Kimberly Woods Lane
|Bidirectional
|
|-
!Fort Washington Road / Beech Street
|Bidirectional
|
|-
!Fort Washington Road / Autumnwood Lane
|Southbound
|
|-
!Fort Washington Road / Lourdes Drive
|Northbound
|
|-
!Fort Washington Road / Swan Creek Road
|Bidirectional
|
|-
!Fort Washington Road / Rexburg Avenue
|Bidirectional
|
|-
!Fort Washington Road / Tantallon Drive
|Bidirectional
|
|-
!Tantallon Drive / Asbury Drive
|Bidirectional
|
|-
!Tantallon Drive / Buckmaster Lane
|Bidirectional
|
|-
!Gable Lane / Tantallon Drive
|Bidirectional
|
|-
!Gable Lane / Merek Place
|Bidirectional
|
|-
!Fort Washington Park & Ride Lot<br /><small>Bus Bay A</small>
|Northbound station,<br />Southbound terminal
|{{bus icon}} '''[[TheBus (Prince George's County)|TheBus]]''': 35S
|-
<!--| colspan="5" style="text-align:center;"|'''Notes''':-->
|}<section end=P18-table/>
==History==
The line was created during the 1970s in order to provide service to [[Downtown (Washington, D.C.)|Downtown DC]] to [[Fort Washington, Maryland|Fort Washington]]. Routes P17, P18, and P19 were created to run the new '''Oxon Hill–Fort Washington Line'''. Routes P17 and P19 operated during the weekday peak-hours between Fort Washington Park & Ride Lot and [[Farragut Square]] via Oxon Hill Road, Indian Head Highway, and [[South Capitol Street]]. Route P18 operated between Fort Washington Park & Ride Lot and [[Bolling Air Force Base]]. Routes P17 and P19 operated during weekday peak-hours in the peak direction while route P18 operated during the weekday midday.
Routes P17 and P18 operates along Tantallon Drive, Creek Road, Gable Lane and Fort Foote Road while route P19 remains straight along Oxon Hill Road, making it more direct. Route P17 and P19 operates a limited stop segment between the Oxon Hill Park & Ride and Washington DC and had several boarding and alighting restrictions to passengers.<ref>{{cite web |title=P17,18,19 - WMATA.com |url=https://studylib.es/doc/5809149/p17-18-19---wmata.com |language=es}}</ref>
===1991 Service Changes===
On December 28, 1991, route P18 was diverted along Firth Sterling Avenue to serve [[Anacostia station]] when it opened.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1991/12/22/as-metrorail-moves-to-anacostia-questions-remain/40ea057b-552f-43a8-98e8-ad46edb6b987/|title=AS METRORAIL MOVES TO ANACOSTIA, QUESTIONS REMAIN|last=Fehr|first=Stephen C.|date=1991-12-22|work=Washington Post|access-date=2020-05-06|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
===2001 Service Changes===
On January 13, 2001, route P19 was rerouted between Fort Washington and Oxon Hill Park & Ride lots to operate via East Swann Creek, Fort Washington, Livingston and Oxon Hill Roads. Routes P17 and P18 were not affected.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wmata.com/metrobus/servicechange_011301_md.htm |title=Metrobus service changes effective January 13, 2001 Maryland |date=February 10, 2001 |accessdate=June 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010210013516/http://wmata.com/metrobus/servicechange_011301_md.htm |archive-date=February 10, 2001 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===2014 Proposed Changes===
In 2014 during WMATA's FY2015 budget, WMATA proposed to reroute P18 to [[Southern Avenue station]] via [[Southern Avenue (Washington, D.C.)|Southern Avenue]] in order to improve connectivity in southern Prince George's County and to Shifting to Southern Avenue Station will help alleviate crowding at [[Anacostia station]]. Another option was to transfer the P18 to [[TheBus (Prince George's County)|TheBus]] and being rerouted to [[Southern Avenue station]].<ref name="FY2015">{{cite web |title=MARYLAND PROPOSED BUS SERVICE CHANGES FISCAL YEAR 2015 |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/public-hearings/upload/MD_Docket.pdf |accessdate=23 May 2020}}</ref>
Also WMATA proposed to eliminate existing boarding and alighting restrictions and instead create a limited stop segment between the Oxon Hill Park & Ride and South Capitol & O Streets for routes P17 and P19 because the existing boarding and alighting restrictions are confusing for passengers and operators and creating a limited stop segment would preserve the “express” nature of the route in a more easy to understand way.<ref name="FY2015"/>
===2015 Service Changes===
On June 21, 2015, route P18 was diverted along [[Southern Avenue (Washington, D.C.)|Southern Avenue]] to serve [[Southern Avenue station]] discontinuing service to [[Anacostia station]]. Routes P17 and P19 also discontinue the boarding and alighting restrictions and instead had a limited stop segment created between the Oxon Hill Park & Ride and South Capitol & O Streets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wmata.com/rider_tools/metro_service_status/advisories.cfm?AID=4948&t=bus |title=Metrobus Service Changes Beginning June 21 |date=June 21, 2015 |accessdate=June 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613080640/http://wmata.com/rider_tools/metro_service_status/advisories.cfm?AID=4948&t=bus|archive-date=June 13, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Levine |first1=Ethan |title=Metrobus Service, Schedule Changes to Take Effect Sunday |url=https://patch.com/maryland/collegepark/metrobus-service-schedule-changes-take-effect-sunday |website=College Park, MD Patch |accessdate=21 May 2020 |language=en |date=19 June 2015}}</ref>
===2016 Proposed Changes===
During WMATA's FY2018 budget, WMATA proposed to either eliminate the '''Oxon Hill–Fort Washington Line''' or discontinue service to [[Downtown (Washington, D.C.)|Downtown DC]] being rerouted to [[Southern Avenue station]]. WMATA would also charge the local fare for routes P17 and P19 as express service would be discontinued if it was rerouted to Southern Avenue. This was in order to reduce costs and it has a high subsidy per rider. Performance measures for WMATA goes as the following:<ref>{{cite web |title=MARYLAND Proposed Metrobus Service Changes |url=https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/budget/upload/FY18-MD-Bus-Docket.pdf |accessdate=23 May 2020}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Performance Measure !! Routes P17, P18, P19 !! WMATA Guideline !! Pass/Fail
|-
| Average Weekday Riders || 1,167 || 432 || Pass
|-
| Cost Recovery || 32.33% || 16.6% || Pass
|-
| Subsidy per Rider || $6.68 || $4.81 || Fail
|-
| Riders per Trip || 21.3 || 10.7 || Pass
|-
| Riders per Revenue Mile || 1.3 || 1.3 || Pass
|}
The line would later be saved in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Max |title=Metro budget agreement raises fares, cuts rush hour service, saves some bus lines |url=https://wtop.com/tracking-metro-24-7/2017/03/metro-budget-agreement-raises-fares-cuts-rush-hour-service-saves-bus-lines/ |website=WTOP |accessdate=21 May 2020 |language=en |date=6 March 2017}}</ref>
===2017 Service Changes===
Beginning on June 25, 2017, service to [[Downtown (Washington, D.C.)|Downtown DC]] was discontinued. Route P19 was rerouted along [[Southern Avenue (Washington, D.C.)|Southern Avenue]] to serve [[Southern Avenue station]] alongside route P18 keeping its same routing between Oxon Hill Park & Ride and Fort Washington Park & Ride. Route P17 was discontinued and replaced by route P18 which added weekday peak hour service in both directions. P19 would still operate in the weekday peak-hour direction during the changes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Be ready for Metro changes June 25, 2017 {{!}} WMATA |url=https://www.wmata.com/service/status/details/june-25-changes.cfm |website=www.wmata.com |accessdate=23 May 2020}}</ref>
Express fares for route P19 was also discontinued and the limited stop segment was also discontinued with all trips becoming local.<ref>{{cite web |title=Metrobus Service Changes, June 25 {{!}} WMATA |url=https://www.wmata.com/service/status/details/metrobus-service-changes-june-25.cfm |website=www.wmata.com |accessdate=21 May 2020}}</ref>
===New Limited Stop Segment===
Beginning on August 7, 2017, in response to customer feedback, routes P18, P19, and W14 implemented a new limited stop segment along [[Southern Avenue (Washington, D.C.)|Southern Avenue]] between [[Southern Avenue station]] and Indian Head Highway serving only three stops in each direction. Local service is provided by routes A6, A7, D12, D13, D14, [[National Harbor–Southern Avenue Line|NH1]], and [[Eastover–Addison Road Line|P12]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bus Stop Changes: Routes P18, P19 and W14 along Southern Ave {{!}} WMATA |url=https://www.wmata.com/service/status/details/stop-changes-p18-p19-w14.cfm |website=www.wmata.com |accessdate=24 May 2020}}</ref>
===2020 Proposed changes===
On September 26, 2020, WMATA proposed to eliminate all route P19 service and replace them with route P18 due to low federal funding. Route P19 has not operated since March 17, 2020 due to Metro's response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Washington, D.C.|COVID-19 pandemic]].<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>
==Incidents==
* On November 27, 2015, at around 1:55 PM, a man was hit by a P18 bus at the intersection of Southern Avenue SE, and Indian Head Highway suffering serious injuries.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sturdivant |first1=Christina |title=A Man Was Hit By A Metro Bus On Southern Avenue |url=https://dcist.com/story/15/11/27/man-hit-by-metro-bus-on-southern-av/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223071138/https://dcist.com/story/15/11/27/man-hit-by-metro-bus-on-southern-av/ |url-status=live |archive-date=February 23, 2024 |website=DCist |accessdate=21 May 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
* On September 28, 2017, a P18 bus stalled and lost all power to the bus causing it to crash. The accident lead to WMATA pulling its 105 NABI 42-BRT buses from revenue service for two months.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Di Caro |first1=Martin |title=Metro Kept Hybrid Buses In Service Despite Possible Risk Of Stalling Engines. The Second Crash Prompted Action. |url=https://wamu.org/story/17/10/04/metro-kept-hybrid-buses-service-despite-risk-stalling-engines-second-crash-prompted-action/ |website=WAMU |accessdate=21 May 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{clear}}
[[Category:Metrobus (Washington, D.C.) routes|P18]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oxon Hill-Fort Washington Line}}