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Building a Better Ward 5
Read the latest Ward 5 news in the
Councilmember’s weekly newsletter:
Read the latest Ward 5 news in the Councilmember’s weekly newsletter:
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LATEST WARD 5 WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
June 27, 2025
Dear Ward 5 neighbors,
In just a couple days, Metro will implement their Better Bus Network—the first full overhaul of the region’s bus network in more than 50 years. Every bus route will change. There are mixed reactions to the changes, and I’ve been engaging directly with neighbors on the network redesign for more than two years as WMATA has invited feedback on iterations of the proposal.
One question I’ve frequently heard from neighbors is: why is Metro doing this? This question is understandable; some routes currently work very well for neighbors. But the truth is that our current bus network is something of a “Frankenstein” system. Our various routes and bus lines are vestiges of old streetcar routes and bus systems from multiple jurisdictions, all previously created without full consideration of how they fit into the whole. And, just think of how much the District has changed in the last 50 years! Some neighborhoods exist now that didn’t exist at all until the past decade. By overhauling the entire network, Metro is endeavoring to make a full, cohesive system that works together for improved frequency, reliability, and takes into consideration the many new (and old!) destinations neighbors are trying to reach.
So, is it truly a better bus network? In many ways, yes. In other ways, I’m not so sure (and neighbors aren’t either). Let’s take a deeper look.
LATEST WARD 5 WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Bus Changes and Budget Mark-Ups
June 27, 2025
Dear Ward 5 neighbors,
In just a couple days, Metro will implement their Better Bus Network—the first full overhaul of the region’s bus network in more than 50 years. Every bus route will change. There are mixed reactions to the changes, and I’ve been engaging directly with neighbors on the network redesign for more than two years as WMATA has invited feedback on iterations of the proposal.
One question I’ve frequently heard from neighbors is: why is Metro doing this? This question is understandable; some routes currently work very well for neighbors. But the truth is that our current bus network is something of a “Frankenstein” system. Our various routes and bus lines are vestiges of old streetcar routes and bus systems from multiple jurisdictions, all previously created without full consideration of how they fit into the whole. And, just think of how much the District has changed in the last 50 years! Some neighborhoods exist now that didn’t exist at all until the past decade. By overhauling the entire network, Metro is endeavoring to make a full, cohesive system that works together for improved frequency, reliability, and takes into consideration the many new (and old!) destinations neighbors are trying to reach.
So, is it truly a better bus network? In many ways, yes. In other ways, I’m not so sure (and neighbors aren’t either). Let’s take a deeper look.

Progress Report: January 2023 - January 2025
Check out the latest Progress Report from Councilmember Parker! Our office has been hard at work alongside Ward 5 neighbors to build healthy communities through transformative policy, fighting for Ward 5, and making government accessible and transparent. View the full report and see more of what we achieved together here.
COUNCILMEMBER ZACHARY PARKER

Since taking office in January of 2023, Zachary has delivered for Ward 5 residents through responsive constituent services and significant budget wins. He has introduced dozens of transformative pieces of legislation, including bills to establish the District’s State Superintendent of Education’s School Support Office to improve low-performing schools, and the District Child Tax Credit which provides low-income and middle-class families fully refundable tax credits for children 17 years of age and younger.
LEGISLATION
Since taking office, Councilmember Parker has introduced more than 30 pieces of legislation, and co-introduced more than 150 additional bills. Learn about Councilmember Parker’s legislation, co-introductions, and committee assignments on the Legislation page.

COUNCILMEMBER ZACHARY PARKER
Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker is an educator and a public servant. He taught 7th-grade math in New Orleans, post-Katrina, with Teach For America, and spent nearly a decade supporting DC school administrators at Ward 5 schools like Dunbar High School and Mundo Verde PCS.
Zachary sees firsthand the human impact of a system that leaves our most vulnerable behind. He grew up watching his oldest brother struggle with a one-size-fits-all school system that did not have the resources to support him, and now sees the challenges he faces in life because of it.
And Zachary suffered alongside his middle brother through a long and exhaustive battle with a healthcare system that treated him more like a problem than a patient before he ultimately passed away at 36 from kidney failure. These shouldn’t be the experiences families have when interacting with our public institutions. Zachary has dedicated his life’s work to transforming the systems that failed his brothers and so many like them.

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District Programs
The district has lots of programs available to residents – from utility bill discount programs, to tenants’ advocacy, to events and activities for children and more.
Click here to view a full list of District programs you may be able to take advantage of.
Building a stronger, healthier Ward 5 every day.
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