:Anacostia–Eckington Line
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox bus line
|box_width = 250px
|number = P6
|logo =
|logo_width =
|logo_alt =
|bgcolor =
|titlecolor =
|subheader = Anacostia–Eckington Line
|operatorlogo = WMATA Metrobus logo.svg
|oplogo_width = 250px
|image = WMATA Metrobus 2014 NABI 42 BRT Hybrid.jpg
|image_width = 250px
|image_alt =
|caption = Route P6 at Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood station
|system = Metrobus
|operator = Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
|garage = Shepherd Parkway
|livery = Local
|pvr =
|status = In Service
|open = 1991
|close =
|predecessors =
|night =
|locale = Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest
|communities = Edgewood, Eckington, Chinatown, Archives, National Mall, Capitol Hill, Downtown, Navy Yard, Anacostia
|landmarks = Washington Navy Yard, Navy Yard–Ballpark station, Waterfront station, L'Enfant Plaza station (Late nights and early mornings only), Archives station, Metro Center station, Gallery Place station
|termini =
|start = Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood station
(L'Enfant Plaza station on late nights and early mornings only)
|via = M Street SE/SW, Pennsylvania Avenue NW, North Capitol Street
|end = Anacostia station
|length = 65 minutes
|otherroutes =
|compete =
|ibus =
|level = Daily
|level1 =
|frequency = 15-24 minutes (Weekdays), 30-35 minutes (Late Nights and Weekends)
|alt_frequency =
|time =
|day = 4:10 AM – 11:50 PM
|zone =
|timetable_link= [https://www.wmata.com/schedules/timetables/upload/P6_210905.pdf Anacostia–Eckington Line]
|ridership = 1,201,144 (FY 2024){{cite web | title=Metrobus FY2024 Annual Line Performance Report | website=wmata.com | url=https://www.wmata.com/about/records/upload/Metrobus-FY2024-Annual-Line-Performance-Report.pdf | access-date=February 17, 2025}}
|transfers = SmarTrip only
|map_link =
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|previous_line = NH2
|next_line = P12
|notes =
}}
The Anacostia–Eckington Line, designated Route P6, is a daily bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority between Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood station of the Red Line of the Washington Metro and Anacostia station of the Green Line of the Washington Metro With late night and early morning trips shortened to operate between Anacostia station of the Green Line of the Washington Metro and L'Enfant Plaza station of the Blue, Orange, Silver, Green and Yellow Lines of the Washington Metro. The line operates every 15–20 minutes during the weekday peak hours, 24 minutes during the weekday midday, and 30–35 minutes during the late nights and weekends. Route P6 trips are roughly 65 minutes long.
Background
Route P6 operates daily between Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood station and Anacostia station, running into Downtown and providing service to Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest. Select early morning and late night trips would begin/end at L'Enfant Plaza station. Other select trips will begin/end at McKinley Technology High School during school days.
Route P6 currently operates out of Shepherd Parkway division. Prior to 2012, the route would operate out of Bladensburg division.
History
Prior to the Anacostia–Eckington Line, routes P1, P2, and P4 operated under former routes. It goes as the following:
- Route P1 originally operated as the Petworth-Potomac Park Line operating between Petworth and Potomac Park. It was later renamed route 61 and later discontinued in the 1990s after Georgia Avenue–Petworth station and the Green Line portion in inner DC opened.
- Route P2 operated as the Petworth Line operating between Petworth and Takoma station alongside route P7 which operated between Takoma station and Federal Triangle. The line was later renamed route 62 (P2) and 67 (P7).
- Route P4 operated as the 11th Street Line operating along 11th Street between Decatur and Illinois streets in Brightwood Park, and Federal Triangle until Anacostia station opened.
- Route P5 was discontinued several years prior to the 1990s.
On December 28, 1991, routes P1, P2, P4, P5, and a new route P6 was created as a new line called the Anacostia–Eckington Line to provide service from Anacostia and Downtown in order to replace the A2, A4, A6, and A8 between Anacostia and Archives station which were rerouted to Anacostia station. Route P1 operated between Anacostia station and Potomac Park (State Department) during the weekday peak-hours only. Route P2 operated between Anacostia and Archives station during the weekdays only. Routes P4, P5, and P6 operated between Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood station, Archives station, and Metro Center station. Routes P4, P5, and P6 will run along the B6 routing between Rhode Island Avenue and Metro Center.{{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}}
Routes P1 and P2 would primarily operate along M Street SE/SW, Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 4th Street, North Capitol Street while routes P4, P5, and P6 would operate a similar routing with routes P1 and P2 but operate along Capitol Hill via Virginia Avenue, 3rd Street, E Street, Washington Avenue, and C Street with route P1 primarily operating along Pennsylvania Avenue.
During the mid to late 1990s, routes P4, P5, and P6 were merged into one route as route P6 which will operate between Anacostia station and Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood station on a combination of the B6, P4, and P5 routing.
During WMATA's FY2011 budget year, it was proposed to eliminate all route P2 service as it duplicates to route P1 and P6.{{cite web |title=DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROPOSED BUS SERVICE CHANGES FISCAL YEAR 2011 |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/public-hearings/upload/bus_dc.pdf |accessdate=29 May 2020}}
A year later during the FY2012 budget, WMATA proposed to restructure the Anacostia–Eckington Line. WMATA proposed to eliminate both routes P1 and P2 and reroute P6 along M Street SE/SW and C Street. This was because there was low ridership to the State Department, through Capitol Hill, and on late night Friday and Saturday trips, poor on-time performance and unreliable service due to outdated schedules, focus service on high ridership areas and emerging markets, and a planned closure of C Street SW and CSX tunnel project on Virginia Avenue will require to reroute P6.{{cite web |title=Notice of Public Hearing Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Proposed Adjustments to Metrobus Service Docket B11-03 |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/public-hearings/upload/B11-03_docket_final.pdf |accessdate=29 May 2020}}{{cite web |title=B11-03: Proposed Adjustments to Metrobus Service; October 11-13, 2011 |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/public-hearings/B11-03-Proposed-Adjustments-to-Metrobus-Service-October-11.cfm |accessdate=29 May 2020}}
On June 17, 2012, routes P1 and P2 were discontinued and replace by route P6. Route P6 was also rerouted along M Street SE/SW instead of Virginia Avenue, and via Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue instead of 13th Street, SE to align with the new 11th Street Bridge.{{cite web|url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/pressreleasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=5233|title=Metro News Release|website=wmata.com|accessdate=12 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214065918/https://www.wmata.com/about/news/pressreleasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=5233|archive-date=December 14, 2018|url-status=dead}}
On June 26, 2016, route P6 was converted into a 24-hour bus route in order to replace the A42, A46, and A48. The early morning and late night P6 trips will only operate between Anacostia station and Archives station.{{cite web |title=Metrobus service changes effective June 26 to simplify routes, improve reliability {{!}} WMATA |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/Metrobus-service-changes-effective-June-26-to-simplify-routes-improve-reliability.cfm |website=www.wmata.com |accessdate=29 May 2020}}{{cite web |title=Metrobus Service Changes June 26, 2016 {{!}} WMATA |url=https://www.wmata.com/service/status/details/metrobus-changes-june-2016.cfm |website=www.wmata.com |accessdate=29 May 2020}}
Beginning on June 25, 2017, routes P6 and M31 (McKinley Tech High School Line) were merged into route P6 as it would be easier to operate the line under one name. Route P6 will have select trips operated from McKinley Tech High School during the school days only.{{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=29 May 2020}}
During the COVID-19 pandemic, route P6 was relegated to operate on its Saturday supplemental schedule.{{cite web |title=Metro announces additional COVID-19 changes, including reduced service beginning Monday {{!}} WMATA |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/Metro-announces-additional-COVID-19-changes.cfm |website=www.wmata.com |access-date=31 January 2021}} However on March 18, 2020, further changes happened with route P6 operating on its Sunday schedule and weekend service being suspended beginning on March 21, 2020.{{cite web |title=METRO SERVICE LEVELS & HOURS FURTHER REDUCED TO SUPPORT ESSENTIAL TRIPS ONLY, STARTING WEDNESDAY {{!}} WMATA |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/METRO-SERVICE-FURTHER-REDUCED-TO-SUPPORT-ESSENTIAL-TRIPS-ONLY.cfm |website=www.wmata.com |access-date=31 January 2021}} Additional service and weekend service was restored on August 23, 2020.{{cite web |title=Metrobus Service Changes beginning August 23 {{!}} WMATA |url=https://www.wmata.com/service/status/details/proposed-august-2020-metrobus-service-changes.cfm |website=www.wmata.com |access-date=31 January 2021}}
In February 2021, WMATA proposed to eliminate all P6 service if they did not get any federal funding.{{cite web |title=FY22 Proposed Metrobus Service Changes District of Columbia |url=https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/budget/upload/Proposed-DC-Bus-Changes.pdf |access-date=25 March 2021}}
On May 29, 2022, all late night route P6 service was shortened to terminate at L'Enfant Plaza station. Also, service was rerouted along 6th Street instead of 5th Street between H and K streets NW.{{cite web |title=Metrobus Service Changes Effective May 29, 2022 {{!}} WMATA |url=https://www.wmata.com/service/status/details/metrobus-service-changes-May292022.cfm |website=www.wmata.com |access-date=17 May 2022}}
On December 17, 2023, all late night route P6 service was discontinued and replaced by extended Routes A6 and A8 which were extended to end at L'Enfant Plaza station.{{cite web |title=WMATA {{!}} Metrobus Changes Begin Sunday, December 17, 2023 with 24/7 DC Bus Service |url=https://www.wmata.com/service/status/details/Metrobus-Changes-Begin-Sunday-December-17-2023-with-24-7-DC-Bus-Service.cfm#:~:text=Changes%20to%2043%20Metrobus%20routes,time%20performance%20across%20the%20region. |website=WMATA |access-date=6 April 2025 |language=en}}
As part of WMATA's Better Bus Redesign beginning on June 29, 2025, the P6 was discontinued and portions were added into a few routes. P6 service between L'Enfant Plaza station and Anacostia station was combined with Route A8, which was extended to National Harbor (St. George Boulevard & Waterfront Street) during the day, and Eastover Shopping Center during late nights via Indian Head Highway. The P6 portion between Rhode Island Avenue and Gallery Place station was combined with the G8 and renamed into the D32 and D34. Service between Gallery Place and Waterfront station was discontinued.{{cite web |title=Metro Board of Directors approves Better Bus Network Redesign, new bus routes to start next summer |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/Metro-Board-of-Directors-approves-Better-Bus-Network-Redesign-new-bus-routes-to-start-next-summer.cfm |website=WMATA |access-date=23 January 2025 |language=en}}