WMATA to Retire BusETA Bus Tracker Jan. 3
Metro plans to shut down its BusETA arrival-estimate service on January 3, 2027, directing riders to newer Rider Tools.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Forecasts
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WMATA plans to retire its BusETA bus tracking service on January 3, 2027. Riders are being directed to Rider Tools on wmata.com and the MetroPulse app, which provide real-time and scheduled arrivals.
Why it matters
BusETA riders who search by route, stop number, or address for arrival estimates will need to switch to Metro's newer tools before the service ends. Washington-area bus riders relying on text or mobile web tracking should plan the transition ahead of the retirement date.
WMATA's announced retirement date for BusETA is January 3, 2027, with the service remaining available until then. The extraction does not specify whether a text-message alternative will replace BusETA's SMS function.
The players
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
WMATA is the public agency that operates Metrorail and Metrobus across the Washington, D.C. region.
The details
BusETA lets riders look up arrival estimates by bus route, stop number, or address, and works on mobile web and by text message. Metro is directing users to Rider Tools on wmata.com and the MetroPulse app, which show real-time and scheduled arrivals, route details, nearby stops, and a map of buses moving along routes.
Timeline
January 3, 2027: BusETA is planned to be retired.
Seasonal Patterns
The BusETA retirement moves riders from Metro's older text-and-web arrival tool to the MetroPulse app and wmata.com Rider Tools, which are the agency's current real-time arrival platforms. The change is a platform consolidation rather than a change in the underlying schedule data.
Riders who currently use BusETA by route, stop number, or address should move to Rider Tools on wmata.com or the MetroPulse app before January 3, 2027. Those who text bus stop numbers for arrival times will need to find an alternative once the service ends.
The takeaway
Switching to Rider Tools or the MetroPulse app now avoids a lapse in arrival information when BusETA is retired on January 3, 2027.
What happens next
BusETA is scheduled to be retired on January 3, 2027.
Further reading
For related updates on upcoming transit service changes, see the Forecasts section.
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Do you think bus service in your area is getting better or worse?
