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{{Short description|Bus system in Washington, D.C}}{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2018}}

factoids

| headquarters =| locale =| service_area = Downtown Washington, D.C.| service_type = Downtown circulator| alliance =| routes = 6 + 1 seasonal| destinations =| stops = 139| hubs =| stations =| lounge =| fleet = 81DC Washington DOT MB annual}} ({{American transit ridershipannualcitation}}Diesel fuel>Diesel, Diesel-electric Hybrid, Electric bus| operator = RATP Dev| ceo =| leader_type = Partners

• DC Dept. of Transportation
• WMATA
• DC Surface Transit, Inc.

}}dccirculator.com}}}}The DC Circulator is a bus system in Washington, D.C. The District of Columbia Department of Transportation operates the service in a public–private partnership with RATP Dev.NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/bus-drivers-and-their-supporters-make-a-case-for-the-municipalization-of-the-dc-circulator/2018/05/13/39f3432a-4fb3-11e8-af46-b1d6dc0d9bfe_story.html, Bus drivers, allies make a case for putting D.C. Circulator under city control, May 14, 2018, The Washington Post, May 14, 2018, WEB, DC Circulator Celebrates a Sweet 16 Years of Service {{!, ddot|url=https://ddot.dc.gov/release/dc%C2%A0circulator%C2%A0celebrates-sweet-16-years-service|access-date=2021-08-13|website=ddot.dc.gov}}The DC Circulator buses are similar to shuttle buses since they operate on a predictable fixed route and schedule, and run between the city’s main attractions and some of the more popular neighborhoods for visitors. The service began in 2005, and passengers increased as the routes grew from two to five. Ridership peaked in 2011, and has decreased since then. In {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the system had a ridership of {{American transit ridership|DC Washington DOT MB annual}}.The fare per ride is $1.00.WEB,www.dccirculator.com/, DC Circulator, The subsidy per rider is unusually high; in 2016, it averaged $3.32.

History

The concept of a separate downtown bus was included in a 1997 report by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC). The report called for “a simple, inexpensive, and easily navigable surface transit system that complements Metrobus and Metrorail.” The next year, representatives of the Commission, the District of Columbia Department of Transportation, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and the Downtown D.C. business improvement district met to plan what would become the Circulator.WEB,www.downtowndc.org/program/transportation/dc-circulator/, DC Circulator, Downtown DC BID, December 12, 2011, After selecting First Transit as the system operator, the DC Circulator started service in July 2005 with two routes: one along K Street from Union Station to Georgetown, and a second from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center to the Southwest Waterfront.Additional routes were later added to serve the National Mall (2006), the 14th Street Corridor (2009), the Washington Navy Yard (2009), Rosslyn to Dupont Circle (2010), and the Skyland Town Center development in Southeast Washington (2011). The two lines that served the National Mall and the Southwest Waterfront were discontinued in 2011 due to low ridership and redundant service.WEB,ddot.dc.gov/DC/DDOT/About+DDOT/News+Room/Press+Releases/DDOT+to+Implement+Changes+to+Existing+Circulator+Service, DDOT to Implement Changes to Existing Circulator Service, District of Columbia Department of Transportation,ddot.dc.gov/DC/DDOT/About+DDOT/News+Room/Press+Releases/DDOT+to+Implement+Changes+to+Existing+Circulator+Service," title="web.archive.org/web/20120611003650ddot.dc.gov/DC/DDOT/About+DDOT/News+Room/Press+Releases/DDOT+to+Implement+Changes+to+Existing+Circulator+Service,">web.archive.org/web/20120611003650ddot.dc.gov/DC/DDOT/About+DDOT/News+Room/Press+Releases/DDOT+to+Implement+Changes+to+Existing+Circulator+Service, June 11, 2012, dead, December 12, 2011, NEWS,www.tbd.com/articles/2011/04/d-c-circulator-bus-route-on-national-mall-ends-57612.html, D.C. Circulator bus route on National Mall ends, April 1, 2011, TBD, December 12, 2011,www.tbd.com/articles/2011/04/d-c-circulator-bus-route-on-national-mall-ends-57612.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20130523212001www.tbd.com/articles/2011/04/d-c-circulator-bus-route-on-national-mall-ends-57612.html,">web.archive.org/web/20130523212001www.tbd.com/articles/2011/04/d-c-circulator-bus-route-on-national-mall-ends-57612.html, May 23, 2013, dead, The National Mall route was reinstated on June 15, 2015. The route is operated in collaboration with the National Park Service.WEB,www.dccirculator.com/district-to-begin-dc-circulator-national-mall-route-bus-service-partnership-with-national-park-service-connects-national-mall/, District to Begin DC Circulator National Mall Route Bus Service, District of Columbia Department of Transportation, June 17, 2015,www.dccirculator.com/district-to-begin-dc-circulator-national-mall-route-bus-service-partnership-with-national-park-service-connects-national-mall/," title="web.archive.org/web/20170201033538www.dccirculator.com/district-to-begin-dc-circulator-national-mall-route-bus-service-partnership-with-national-park-service-connects-national-mall/,">web.archive.org/web/20170201033538www.dccirculator.com/district-to-begin-dc-circulator-national-mall-route-bus-service-partnership-with-national-park-service-connects-national-mall/, February 1, 2017, dead, A report released in March 2011 calls for developing better routes to replace those that had served the National Mall and Southwest Waterfront, and adding new service to the U Street Corridor, portions of Upper Northwest, and neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River.In 2018, RATP Dev replaced First Transit as the operator of the Circulator.NEWS, Lazo, Luz, D.C. Circulator operations contract going to a new provider, Washington Post, October 17, 2018,www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2018/06/04/d-c-circulator-operations-contract-going-to-a-new-provider/, From February 2019 until October 2019, DC Circulator rides were free under Mayor Bowser Fair Shot initiative.WEB, Rogger, Caitlin, The Circulator is now free. Why just the Circulator? It’s complicated.,ggwash.org/view/71368/the-circulator-is-now-free-why-just-the-circulator-its-complicated, Greater Greater Washington, 23 April 2020, en, WEB, Carrasco, Maria, DC Circulator Bus Rides Will Be Free Indefinitely,www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/dc-circulator-bus-rides-will-be-free-indefinitely/87213/, NBC4 Washington, 23 April 2020, However the $1 fare was reinstated due to increased ridership. However some city officials are looking into reinstating the free rides.WEB, Kaplan, Sophie, DC Circulator to end free rides, charge $1 fare again,www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/sep/30/dc-circulator-end-free-rides-charge-1-fare-again/, The Washington Times, 23 April 2020, WEB, Giambrone, Andrew, Free D.C. Circulator service scrapped in initial budget vote but eastward expansion preserved,dc.curbed.com/2019/5/15/18624876/dc-circulator-free-rides-expansion-transportation, Curbed DC, 23 April 2020, en, 15 May 2019, Rides were free again due to the COVID-19 pandemic until the $1 fare was reinstated again on October 1, 2021.

Accidents

On April 18, 2007, a driver of a bus was off-duty and had left the bus to attend to other business. While he was out of the bus, the bus rolled back and crashed into a Georgetown University building. One woman was injured.NEWS,dcist.com/2007/04/bus_hits_george.php, Bus Hits Georgetown Building, April 18, 2007, May 14, 2018,dcist.com/2007/04/bus_hits_george.php," title="web.archive.org/web/20180206230344dcist.com/2007/04/bus_hits_george.php,">web.archive.org/web/20180206230344dcist.com/2007/04/bus_hits_george.php, February 6, 2018, live,

Routes

The DC Circulator has six lines operating at 10-minute intervals.WEB,www.dccirculator.com/circulator-map-and-information-guide/, Circulator Map and Information Guide, DC Circulator, May 14, 2018,

Georgetown – Union Station {{color box|#febb0c}}

This east-west line connects Georgetown with Union Station and operates primarily along Wisconsin Avenue, K Street, and Massachusetts Avenue. Eastbound, the bus starts on Wisconsin Avenue at Whitehaven Street in Georgetown. Westbound, the route starts in the bus level of the Union Station parking garage.

Woodley Park – Adams Morgan – McPherson Square Metro {{color box|#4bb348}}

This line operates between Woodley Park, Adams Morgan, and McPherson Square via the 14th Street Corridor. Part of this route replaced the discontinued Metrobus 98 route.PRESS RELEASE, Metrobus Routes 98, N22 being replaced by DC Circulator, March 27, 2009, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority,www.wmata.com/about/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=2518, December 20, 2009,

Rosslyn – Georgetown – Dupont {{color box|#05a8eb}}

This line operates from Dupont Circle primarily via M Street through Georgetown and travels over the Key Bridge to Rosslyn. This route replaced the former Georgetown Metro Connection “blue bus.“WEB,ddot.dc.gov/DC/DDOT/About+DDOT/News+Room/ci.DC+Circulator+Expansion+Continues.print, DC Circulator Expansion Continues, DDOT,ddot.dc.gov/DC/DDOT/About+DDOT/News+Room/ci.DC+Circulator+Expansion+Continues.print," title="web.archive.org/web/20120228225845ddot.dc.gov/DC/DDOT/About+DDOT/News+Room/ci.DC+Circulator+Expansion+Continues.print,">web.archive.org/web/20120228225845ddot.dc.gov/DC/DDOT/About+DDOT/News+Room/ci.DC+Circulator+Expansion+Continues.print, February 28, 2012, dead, May 14, 2018,

Eastern Market – L’Enfant Plaza {{color box|#2a5cb5}}

This line connects Eastern Market and L’Enfant Plaza through Navy Yard & the DC Wharf District.WEB,www.dccirculator.com/2018servicechanges/, DC Circulator Final 2018 Service Changes, DDOT, June 24, 2018, June 23, 2018,

Congress Heights – Union Station via Barracks Row {{color box|#ef8422}}

This line operates from the Congress Heights and Union Station east of the Anacostia River via Barracks Row on Capitol Hill. This route replaced the discontinued Metrobus 94 line.WEB,www.dccirculator.com/2018servicechanges/, DC Circulator Final 2018 Service Changes, DDOT, June 24, 2018, June 23, 2018,

National Mall Route {{color box|#ef0000}}

This 15-stop loop line operates from Union Station to most of the major attractions on or near the Mall, including ones that are at some distance from Metro stations, such as the Lincoln, Jefferson, World War II, FDR, and Martin Luther King. Jr. memorials.WEB, DC Circulator National Mall Route Service Map,nationalmall.dccirculator.com/#route-anchor, DC Circulator, May 14, 2018,

Seasonal Routes

Zoo Express Line

This line operates from Woodley Park station to Smithsonian National Zoo during the summer season. The service first run operated between May 4, 2019 and September 30, 2019. DC Circulator plans on operating the line again during summer seasons.WEB, Convenient Bus Rides to the National Zoo in DC,www.dccirculator.com/explore/zoo-express-bus/, dccirculator.com, 25 July 2019,

Former routes

Smithsonian – National Gallery of Art {{color box|#9a679a}}

Until 2011 this line ran only on summer weekends, serving the National Mall in a loop along Constitution Avenue, 1st Street NE/SE, Independence Avenue, and 17th Street NW/SW. The line was replaced by the more extensive National Mall route in June 2015.

Convention Center – SW Waterfront {{color box|#ed272d}}

A north-south line connected the Washington Convention Center with the Southwest Waterfront and operated primarily along 7th and 9th streets, which have bus lanes. The service was eliminated on September 25, 2011 due to low ridership. A new Metrobus route, 74, was opened on September 23, 2011 along the 7th Street corridor between the Washington Convention Center and the Waterfront neighborhood, replacing the Circulator line and the eliminated portion of Metrobus Routes 70 and 71 from Pennsylvania Avenue to the South. The 74 bus costs more to ride and offers less frequent service, but the District officials said the ridership on the Circulator was too low to continue it.

Potomac Ave Metro – Skyland via Barracks Row {{color box|#ef8422}}

This line operated from the Potomac Avenue Metro station and Skyland Town Center east of the Anacostia River via Barracks Row on Capitol Hill. It was replaced by the Congress Heights – Union Station route on June 24, 2018 replacing Metrobus Route 94.

Union Station – Navy Yard Metro {{color box|#2a5cb5}}

This line connected Union Station and Navy Yard through Capitol Hill, with extended service on Washington Nationals game days. This route was replaced by the Eastern Market – L’Enfant Plaza route on June 24, 2018. Also this route replaced the discontinued Metrobus N22 line.

Fleet{|class“wikitable”

! Photo! Builder andmodel! Model year! Length! Numbers(Total)! Fuel type! Notes! align=center | (File:DC Circulator 2009 Van Hool A300K.jpg|150px) Van HoolA300K 2009 {{convertftabbr=on|sigfig=4}} 1130-1143(14 buses) Diesel|

• Entered in service in April 2009.
• All units except 1135 have been repainted to the Comet livery as of May 2023

! align=center | (File:DC Circulator 2014 NF Xcelsior XDE40.jpg|150px) ‘’’New Flyer Industries’’’New Flyer Xcelsior>Xcelsior XDE40 2014–15 {{convertftabbr=on|sigfig=4}} 2001-2018(18 buses) Diesel hybrid|

• First buses to originally feature the Comet livery
• Entered service on June 14, 2015

! align=center | (File:DC Circulator 2016 NF Xcelsior XD40.jpg|150px) New FlyerXcelsior XD40HTTPS://WWW.NEWFLYER.COM/RSS/848-DC-GOVERNMENT-AWARDS-NEW-FLYER-A-CONTRACT-FOR-26-CLEAN-DIESEL-BUSES >TITLE=DC GOVERNMENT AWARDS NEW FLYER A CONTRACT FOR 26 CLEAN DIESEL BUSES WEBSITE=NEWFLYER.COM ACCESS-DATE=AUGUST 1, 2017, 2016 2101-2126(26 buses) Diesel|

• Entered service in late July 2017.

! align=center | (File:DC Circulator 2017 Prottera Catalyst BE40 E2.jpg|150px) ‘’’Proterra, Inc.’’’Proterra Catalyst>Catalyst BE40 E2HTTP://LIMS.DCCOUNCIL.US/LEGISLATION/CA22-0144?FROMSEARCHRESULTS=TRUE >TITLE=PROPOSED TASK ORDER COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH PROTERRA, INC. WEBSITE=DCCOUNCIL.US ACCESS-DATE=JULY 18, 2017, 2017 3001-3014(14 buses) Battery electric|

• First DC Circulator all-electric buses
• Entered service on May 1, 2018.

“>

Retired Fleet {|class“wikitable sortable”

! Year! Builder and model! Number ofvehicles! Year Retired! Picture! Notes| 2003–04| Van HoolA330| 29 2018100px)|

• Part of an order by AC Transit of Oakland, CA. These buses are built to their specifications, but had air conditioning added.
• 1108 was in the Comet livery.
• All units retired as of September 2017.

| 2010| Van HoolA300L| 6100px)|

• Entered in service in September 2010.
• All units retired as of December 31, 2018.
• Most units transferred to various First Transit-operated university bus systems.

See also

• Public-private partnerships in the United States

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

• {{official sitewww.dccirculator.com/}}
• Circulator Map

{{Transit In DC}}{{RATP Group}}