Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Northern Garage

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Northern (Depot Code: N) is one of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's former depots. This garage handled routes running in Northwest D.C to Southwest D.C. Northern was equipped with diesel and hybrid buses. It is currently under construction.[1]

Originally a former trolley barn for the Capital Traction Company that opened in 1906, it was converted into a bus garage in 1959 and was taken over by WMATA in 1967.[2] After being rehabbed in the 1980s, the structure began to show structural failure with pieces of the ceiling falling onto the ground during the later years of operation. In 2018, articulated buses were seen parked on streets during the overnight hours and were fully shifted to Bladensburg in December 2018 as they could not be held at Northern garage due to safety concerns. Around the same time, WMATA announced they will close down Northern garage beginning in 2019. Northern was closed on June 23, 2019 and their routes were split to Bladensburg, Montgomery, and Western.[3]

In 2019, WMATA planned to renovate the old Northern garage, but faced criticism by residents due to them wanting electric buses as WMATA planned on keeping the garage with diesel buses only.[4] In 2021 however, WMATA announced they will build Northern as an all-electric facility under Metro’s zero-emission bus plan. Plans include a capacity of 150 buses and using hybrid-electric buses first before fully transiting to an all-electric fleet. Plans also calls for the preservation of the existing building’s historic façade while providing the revamped site with solar panels and LEED-certified systems, and have mix retail shared with the building.[5]

On January 25, 2023, WMATA announced Northern garage will instead be 100% electric with a ground breaking ceremony held on the same day.[6]

Address: 4615 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011-4312

Bus Routes

At the time of closure, Northern garage operated 13 routes alongside with 6 school routes.

Local Routes

52
54
60
62
63
64
70
H8 (select trips)
S2
S4

MetroExtra Routes

59
79
S9

School Routes

D31
D32
D33
D34
W45
W47

Fleet

This was a list of Northern's fleet prior to closure.

Last updated: 6/23/2019

Fleet Numbers Manufacturer Model Total Notes
6428-6461 New Flyer DE40LFA 34
  • Painted in the MetroExtra livery
  • Transferred to Montgomery after closure.
6462-6486, 6488-6491 New Flyer DE40LFA 29
  • 6462-6472 were painted in the MetroExtra livery.
  • 6462-6472 were transferred to Montgomery after closure.
  • 6473-6486, 6488-6491 were transferred to Andrews Federal Center after closure.
6529–6545 New Flyer DE40LFA 17
7203–7235, 7261 New Flyer XDE40 34
  • 7203-7235 were transferred to Andrews Federal Center after closure.
  • 7261 was transferred to Montgomery after closure.
7340-7359 New Flyer XDE40 20
  • 7340-7347 were transferred to Southern Avenue Annex after closure.
  • 7348-7359 were transferred to Montgomery after closure.
Depot Summary 134

References

  1. ↑ Northern Bus Garage Reconstruction Project
  2. ↑ History of Northern Bus Garage
  3. ↑ WMATA 14th Street "bus barn" renovation faces criticism
  4. ↑ WMATA plans to rebuild its 14th Street bus garage with retail, and keep its diesel fleet for now
  5. ↑ Metro announces first all-electric bus garage to be built at Northern bus facility
  6. ↑ Metro celebrates groundbreaking, announces new Northern Bus Garage to open with all zero-emission bus fleet
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