The new service is in response to increased demand for more bus options in a booming corridor of the District, where riders have long complained about crowding and bus unreliability. With ridership of about 15,000, the 14th Street routes 52, 53 and 54 are some of the busiest and most crowded in the region.

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But as the overall quality of Metro service has declined in recent years, the 14th Street routes also have lost riders, transit agency data shows. City officials hope the addition of the 59 will help bring old riders back and attract new ones.

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“As our city continues to grow, it’s becoming even more important for us to ensure that our entire transportation network is dependable and safe,” Bowser said in a statement. She said enhancements to bus service, especially in corridors like 14th Street, are critical to continuing to provide the transportation options residents need.

“We are taking another significant step forward in ensuring that this progress continues,” she said.

For years, 14th Street bus riders have complained that the current service is too slow. Buses have too many stops, are crowded, delayed and often arrive in bunches.

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The addition of limited-stop service, known as MetroExtra, will provide faster trip for many customers because the buses serve fewer stops than the regular buses. It will also help relieve some of the crowding on the 52, 53 and 54, officials said.

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MetroExtra has proven to be effective in delivering faster and more reliable service, officials say. In other corridors such as 16th Street and Georgia Avenue, the introduction of limited stop routes have spurred ridership.

Along 14th Street, riders had been asking for a MetroExtra route for years after taking notice of the success in neighboring corridors, said Sam Zimbabwe, a top D.C. Department of Transportation official. Some riders even walk to 16th Street to take advantage of that service.

The plan is to run 59 every 15 minutes during morning and evening rush hour.