McLean–Crystal City Line

23A, 23B, 23T
McLean–Crystal City Line
Route 23A on North Glebe Road in Arlington County in December 2013
Overview
System	Metrobus
Operator	Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Garage	Four Mile Run
Livery	Local
Status	In Service
Began service	1934
Ended service	23C: March 30, 2014
Route
Locale	Fairfax County, Arlington County, Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
Communities served	Tysons, McLean, Rock Springs, Lee Heights, Waycroft–Woodlawn, Ballston, Buckingham, Alcova Heights, Douglas Park, Nauck, Shirlington, Parkfairfax, North Ridge, Arlington Ridge, Aurora Highlands, Crystal City
Landmarks served	Tysons Corner Center, McLean station, Marymount University, Ballston–MU station, Ballston Quarter, The Village at Shirlington, Shirlington Transit Center, Crystal City VRE station, Crystal City station
Start	Tysons Corner Center (23A, 23T) Ballston–MU station (23B)
Via	Dolley Madison Boulevard, Old Dominion Drive, Glebe Road, South Kenmore Street, Shirlington Road, West Glebe Road, Arlington Ridge Road, 23rd Street South, Crystal Drive
End	Shirlington Transit Center (23T) Crystal City station (23A, 23B)
Service
Level	Daily
Frequency	15-60 minutes (Weekdays) 20-60 minutes (Weekends)
Operates	5:26 AM – 1:55 AM (Monday to Friday) 5:45 AM – 2:00 AM (Saturdays and Sundays)
Ridership	58,219 (23A, FY 2023) 325,426 (23B, FY 2023) 382,025 (23T, FY 2023)
Transfers	SmarTrip only
Timetable	McLean-Crystal City Line
Route map ← 22F  {{{system_nav}}}  25B →

The McLean–Crystal City Line, designated Routes 23A, 23B & 23T, is a daily bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Tysons Corner Center and Ballston–MU station of the Orange and Silver lines of the Washington Metro and Shirlington Transit Center & Crystal City station of the Yellow and Blue lines of the Washington Metro.

The 23 line trips are roughly 15-60 minutes during the weekdays, and 20-60 minutes during the weekends. This line provides service from Tysons in Fairfax County to Ballston and Crystal City of Arlington County.

Route description and service

The 23A, 23B, and 23T operate out of Four Mile Run Division 7 days a week. Route 23A only operates during late nights daily and early mornings on Saturdays and Sundays. The 23A runs the full route between Tysons Corner Center and Crystal City. The 23A also runs through other neighborhoods such as McLean, Rock Springs, Buckingham, Nauck, Parkfairfax, Arlington Ridge, and Aurora Highlands. Routes 23B and 23T operate on daily schedules with the same intervals, with transfers between Ballston station and Shirlington Transit Center. The 23B operates between Ballston station and Crystal City station, while the 23T operates between Tysons Corner Center and Shirlington Transit Center.

History

20th century

The McLean–Crystal City Line was introduced in 1934, under the Glebe Road Line, as the route was part of the Washington Virginia & Maryland Coach Company. It was later operated by WMATA in 1973, when it acquired all routes from the WV&M.

Since 1973, the McLean–Crystal City Line consists of all 23 line. Some 23 routes were split into different lines, to run as a sister line which brings faster service between rush hours. The 23 line runs along Dolley Madison Boulevard, Old Dominion Drive, and Glebe Road, connecting to Fairfax and Arlington counties and Alexandria.

Route 23A initially started as a daily service route, which runs the full route all day. Route 23C was added to operate between the CIA headquarters and Crystal City, although, select 23C trips terminates at the Village at Shirlington. The 23C only operates during rush hour, bringing faster service between the neighborhood of McLean and Crystal City. Starting on September 24, 2005, bus transfers from Langley are no longer accepted due to security restrictions. The 23C bus time was not affected following the addition of the transfer restriction.

Service changes to the McLean–Crystal City Line wasn't changed until March 30, 2014. The 23A now ends at Tysons Corner Center instead of the Tysons-Westpark Transit Station. The 23A was also rerouted from Chain Bridge Road, to Dolley Madison Boulevard, to bring new service for the Silver Line, which opened on July 26, 2014. Two new routes was added to the line, the 23B & 23T. The 23B and 23T replaced the 23A rush hour service, although neither the two routes serves Langley resulting the discontinuation of the 23C. The remaining 23A portion between Tysons-Westpark Transit Station and Tysons Corner Center was served by route 23W of the Westpark Shuttle Line to serve as a temporary route to run through Tysons Galleria until the Silver Line opens. Since 2016, the 23B and 23T runs on daily service, as the 23A runs on late nights and early mornings.

2010 proposed changes

In 2010 during WMATA's FY2011 budget, WMATA proposed to eliminate route 23C and replace it with route 23A. This was due to bus transfer being restricted at Langley, as riders will have to stop at Old Dominion Drive and Chain Bridge Road to transfer to the 15K or 15L of the Chain Bridge Road Line.

With the 23C being proposed to be converted to the 23A, service at Douglas Park, which operates via Walter Reed Drive and Arlington Mill Drive, would be discontinued. Arlington Transit route 77 will continue to provide service on Douglas Park, following the same path as the 23C, although ART 77 will split on South Glebe Road to continue straight towards Court House station.

2013 proposed changes

In 2013, WMATA proposed to reconstruct the 23 line, by revising the 23A and add a new route, the 23T. The 23A will be rerouted to operate via Dolley Madison Boulevard instead of Chain Bridge Road, to serve Salona Village Shopping Center at McLean. With the new Silver Line service planned to open in 2014, the 23A woukd serve McLean station and Tysons Corner station (now Tysons station), however, it will now terminate at Tysons Corner Shopping Center, no longer serving Tysons-Westpark Transit Station via Tysons Galleria. Since route 23C was still in service during the proposal, it was omitted from the reconstructive plan for the 23 line. Although the 15K and 15L was still mentioned as an alternate route for Langley, as both routes operates via Chain Bridge Road where the 23A will no longer operate, the 23C is most likely being proposed to be eliminated.

The reason why WMATA planned these changes was to clear up bus bunching with Fairfax Connector on Chain Bridge Road, as those routes operates nearly the same path as the 23A.

March 2014 changes

To make way for the Silver Line, the 23A was truncated from Tysons-Westpark Transit Station to Tysons Corner Center March 30, 2014. 23B & 23T were introduced March 30, 2014 replacing the 23C. Alternate service to Langley is provided by routes 15K and 15L at the neighborhood of McLean. A temporary 23W was added to serve as a shuttle bus between Tysons-Westpark Transit Station and Tysons Corner Center, until the Silver line opens. The 23W runs under the Westpark Shuttle Line.

June 2016 changes

Starting on June 26, 2016, weekday middays, evenings & weekends was added to routes 23B & 23T, replacing most of the route 23A service. 23A now operates only during the early mornings and late nights.

December 2018 changes

Due to the West Glebe Road bridge construction, service will be rerouted via West Glebe Road at the City of Alexandria on December 30, 2018. Routes 23A and 23B no longer operates through Avalon Bay at South Glebe Road.

2020 changes

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, routes 23A, 23B, and 23T went on major service modification to simplify routes. The line operated on its Sunday schedule during the pandemic. The 23A, 23B and 23T weekend service was also suspended to limit its service. WMATA later announced to restore the line on August 23, 2020 as part of the Metro's COVID-19 Recovery Plan. However, some changes were made on the line, with the 23A operating on full weekdays, and the 23B and 23T only operating during weekends. This marks the 23A operating on full day for the first time since 2016, when the 23A was replaced by the 23B and 23T. No route segment changes was made, as the 23A retains the same intervals and same stops as the late night schedules.

September 2020 proposed changes

On September 10, 2020 as part of its FY2022 proposed budget, WMATA proposed to reduce all weekend frequencies on routes 23A, 23B, and 23T service in order to reduce costs and low federal funds.

Incidents

• On October 4, 2010, a pick-up truck ran into the side of a 23A bus on South Glebe Road near the interchange with I-395. Two people from the truck were sent to a hospital with no injuries reported on the bus.