W ) ▁prior ▁to ▁the ▁ 1 9 6 0 s . ▁ ▁Number ing ▁Most ▁Metro bus ▁routes ▁in ▁V A ▁begin ▁with ▁a ▁single ▁or ▁double ▁digit ▁number ▁followed ▁by ▁a ▁letter . ▁ ▁History ▁Many ▁current ▁routes ▁operate ▁under ▁former ▁street car ▁routes . ▁The ▁street c ars ▁provided ▁the ▁main ▁transport ation ▁in ▁the ▁Northern ▁Virginia ▁area ▁from ▁the ▁ 1 8 0 0 s ▁to ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 0 s . ▁The ▁Alexand ria , ▁Bar cro ft ▁and ▁Washington ▁Trans it ▁Company ▁( AB & W ) ▁operated ▁some ▁of ▁the ▁routes ▁prior ▁to ▁ 1 9 7 3 . ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 3 , ▁WM ATA ▁acquired ▁the ▁two ▁bus ▁companies ▁along ▁with ▁other ▁bus ▁companies ▁to ▁form ▁its ▁current ▁Metro bus ▁system . ▁At ▁one ▁point , ▁most ▁MD ▁routes ▁would ▁enter ▁into ▁Dow nt own ▁before ▁Metro ▁was ▁built ▁in ▁which ▁all ▁bus es ▁would ▁terminate ▁at ▁stations ▁in ▁various ▁locations . ▁Today , ▁the ▁main ▁Northern ▁V A ▁hub ▁is ▁at ▁Pent agon ▁station ▁which ▁connect s ▁to ▁Ar ling ton ▁Trans it , ▁D ASH , ▁Fair f ax ▁Con ne ctor , ▁L oud oun ▁County ▁Trans it , ▁PR TC ▁Om ni R ide , ▁and ▁R ide ▁Sm art ▁Northern ▁Sh en ando ah ▁Valley ▁lines . ▁ ▁Rout es ▁Most ▁Virginia ▁Metro bus ▁routes ▁operate ▁inside ▁Northern ▁Virginia . ▁However ▁a ▁few ▁routes ▁will ▁go ▁into ▁Dow nt own ▁DC ▁under ▁former ▁street car