DC Circulator
Encyclopedia
The DC Circulator is a bus
system in Washington, D.C.
The system is a public-private partnership
between the District of Columbia Department of Transportation
, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
, and DC Surface Transit, Inc., operated by First Transit
.
The concept of a separate downtown bus was included in a 1997 report by the National Capital Planning Commission
. The District's preexisting Metrobus
system was designed primarily to serve commuters on routes that travel through city neighborhoods to downtown. The DC Circulator buses are more akin to shuttles since they operate on a predictable fixed route and schedule, and run principally between main attractions and the city's most popular neighborhoods for visitors. The service has proven popular and has seen increasing year-on-year ridership since it began service in 2005.
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.
This line operates every day from 7:00AM to 9:00PM with additional night service between Whitehaven Street and 17th and K Street (Farragut North Metro station) Sunday through Thursday 9:00PM to 12:00AM and Friday and Saturdays 9:00PM to 2:00AM.
, and McPherson Square
via the 14th Street Corridor
. Service operates from 7:00AM – 12:00AM Sunday through Thursday and 7:00AM – 3:30AM Friday and Saturday. Part of this route replaced the discontinued WMATA 98 line.
primarily via M Street
through Georgetown and travels over the Key Bridge to Rosslyn. This services operates from 7:00AM to 12:00AM Sunday through Thursday, and from 7:00AM to 2:00AM Friday and Saturday. This route replaced the former Georgetown Metro Connection "blue bus."
and Navy Yard through Capitol Hill, operates weekdays between 6:00AM and 7:00PM from October 1 through March 31. Summer service operates weekdays between 6:00AM and 9:00PM and Saturday 7:00AM to 9:00PM, with extended service on Washington Nationals
game days. This route replaced the discontinued Metrobus N22 line.
east of the Anacostia River
via Barracks Row on Capitol Hill. Service operates weekdays between 6:00AM and 7:00PM from October 1 through March 31. Summer service operates weekdays between 6:00AM and 9:00PM and Saturday 7:00AM to 9:00PM.
in a loop along Constitution Avenue
, 1st Street NE/SE, Independence Avenue, and 17th Street NW/SW.
with the Southwest Waterfront
and operated primarily along 7th
and 9th streets, which have bus lane
s. This line operated everyday from 7:00AM to 9:00PM. The sevice was eliminated on September 25, 2011 due to low ridership. A new Metrobus Route 74 was opened on September 26, 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.
Earlier in 2011 DDOT discussed suspending this line until the redevelopment of the Southwest Waterfront is completed.
The fare may be paid in a variety of ways, including cash, SmarTrip
, or a ticket purchased at an on-street multi-space parking meter. The DC Circulator no longer issues or accepts paper transfers as of January 4, 2009. Riders must use a SmarTrip card to get a rail-to-bus discount or to transfer free from bus to bus.
The Van Hool
A330 buses that the Circulator runs were part of an order by AC Transit
of Oakland. These buses are built to their specifications, but had air conditioning added for use during DC's hot summers. The second set of buses, the 14 Van Hool A300K buses, went into service in April 2009. The third and most recent set of buses, the 6 Van Hool A300 buses (identical in size to the 2003-04 models), went into service in September 2010.
building. One woman was injured.
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
system in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
The system is a public-private partnership
Public-private partnership
Public–private partnership describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies...
between the District of Columbia Department of Transportation
District of Columbia Department of Transportation
The District of Columbia Department of Transportation is an agency of the government of the District of Columbia which manages and maintains publicly-owned transportation infrastructure in the District of Columbia...
, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is a tri-jurisdictional government agency that operates transit service in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess...
, and DC Surface Transit, Inc., operated by First Transit
First Transit
First Transit, a division of FirstGroup America, is a United States-based subsidiary of the United Kingdom-based FirstGroup. It provides contract public transit and paratransit services, transit management services and transit consulting throughout North America...
.
The concept of a separate downtown bus was included in a 1997 report by the National Capital Planning Commission
National Capital Planning Commission
The National Capital Planning Commission is a U.S. government agency that provides planning guidance for Washington, D.C. and the surrounding National Capital Region...
. The District's preexisting Metrobus
Metrobus
Metrobus may refer to:* MCW Metrobus, a bus model manufactured by MCW in the 1970s and 1980s* Metrobus a bus operator in south-east England* M-é-t-r-o-b-u-s, the bus and metro operator Tramway de Rouen in Rouen, France...
system was designed primarily to serve commuters on routes that travel through city neighborhoods to downtown. The DC Circulator buses are more akin to shuttles since they operate on a predictable fixed route and schedule, and run principally between main attractions and the city's most popular neighborhoods for visitors. The service has proven popular and has seen increasing year-on-year ridership since it began service in 2005.
Georgetown - Union Station
The east-west line connects GeorgetownGeorgetown, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown is a neighborhood located in northwest Washington, D.C., situated along the Potomac River. Founded in 1751, the port of Georgetown predated the establishment of the federal district and the City of Washington by 40 years...
with Union Station
Union Station (Washington, D.C.)
Washington Union Station is a train station and leisure destination visited by 32 million people each year in the center of Washington, D.C. The train station is served by Amtrak, MARC and Virginia Railway Express commuter rail services as well as by Washington Metro subway trains and local buses...
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.
This line operates every day from 7:00AM to 9:00PM with additional night service between Whitehaven Street and 17th and K Street (Farragut North Metro station) Sunday through Thursday 9:00PM to 12:00AM and Friday and Saturdays 9:00PM to 2:00AM.
Woodley Park - Adams Morgan - McPherson Square Metro
This line operates between Woodley Park, Adams MorganAdams Morgan
Adams Morgan is a culturally diverse neighborhood in Northwest Washington, D.C., centered at the intersection of 18th Street and Columbia Road. Adams Morgan is considered the center of Washington's Hispanic immigrant community, and is a major night life area with many bars and restaurants,...
, and McPherson Square
McPherson Square
McPherson Square is a square in downtown Washington, D.C.. It is bound by K Street Northwest to the north, Vermont Avenue NW on the East, Eye Street NW on the south, and 15th Street NW on the West; it is one block northeast of Lafayette Park. It is served by the McPherson Square station of the...
via the 14th Street Corridor
14th Street Northwest and Southwest (Washington, D.C.)
Fourteenth Street is a street in Northwest and Southwest Washington, D.C., located 1¼ mi. west of the U.S. Capitol. It runs from the 14th Street Bridge north to Eastern Avenue....
. Service operates from 7:00AM – 12:00AM Sunday through Thursday and 7:00AM – 3:30AM Friday and Saturday. Part of this route replaced the discontinued WMATA 98 line.
Rosslyn - Georgetown - Dupont
This line operates from Dupont CircleDupont Circle
Dupont Circle is a traffic circle, park, neighborhood, and historic district in Northwest Washington, D.C. The traffic circle is located at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue NW, Connecticut Avenue NW, New Hampshire Avenue NW, P Street NW, and 19th Street NW...
primarily via M Street
M Street (Washington, D.C.)
The name "M Street" refers to two major roads in the United States capital of Washington, D.C. Because of the Cartesian-coordinate-based street-naming system in Washington, the name M Street can be used to refer to any east-west street located twelve blocks north or south of the dome of the United...
through Georgetown and travels over the Key Bridge to Rosslyn. This services operates from 7:00AM to 12:00AM Sunday through Thursday, and from 7:00AM to 2:00AM Friday and Saturday. This route replaced the former Georgetown Metro Connection "blue bus."
Union Station - Navy Yard Metro
This line connects Union StationUnion Station (Washington, D.C.)
Washington Union Station is a train station and leisure destination visited by 32 million people each year in the center of Washington, D.C. The train station is served by Amtrak, MARC and Virginia Railway Express commuter rail services as well as by Washington Metro subway trains and local buses...
and Navy Yard through Capitol Hill, operates weekdays between 6:00AM and 7:00PM from October 1 through March 31. Summer service operates weekdays between 6:00AM and 9:00PM and Saturday 7:00AM to 9:00PM, with extended service on Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
game days. This route replaced the discontinued Metrobus N22 line.
Potomac Ave Metro - Skyland via Barracks Row
This line operates from the Potomac Avenue Metro Station and Skyland Town CenterSkyland, Washington, D.C.
Skyland is a neighborhood in Southeast Washington, D.C. It is bounded by Good Hope Road to the northeast, Alabama Avenue to the southeast, and Fort Stanton Park to the south and west...
east of the Anacostia River
Anacostia River
The Anacostia River is a river in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States. It flows from Prince George's County in Maryland into Washington, D.C., where it joins with the Washington Channel to empty into the Potomac River at Buzzard Point. It is approximately long...
via Barracks Row on Capitol Hill. Service operates weekdays between 6:00AM and 7:00PM from October 1 through March 31. Summer service operates weekdays between 6:00AM and 9:00PM and Saturday 7:00AM to 9:00PM.
Smithsonian-National Gallery of Art
Until 2011 a line ran only on summer weekends, serving the National MallNational Mall
The National Mall is an open-area national park in downtown Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The National Mall is a unit of the National Park Service , and is administered by the National Mall and Memorial Parks unit...
in a loop along Constitution Avenue
Constitution Avenue
In Washington, D.C., Constitution Avenue is a major east-west street running just north of the United States Capitol in the city's Northwest and Northeast quadrants...
, 1st Street NE/SE, Independence Avenue, and 17th Street NW/SW.
Convention Center - SW Waterfront
A north-south line connected the Washington Convention CenterWashington Convention Center
The Walter E. Washington Convention Center is a convention center located in Washington, D.C. owned and operated by the Washington Convention and Sports Authority . Designed by Atlanta-based architecture firm Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates, the convention center is located in a...
with the Southwest Waterfront
Southwest Waterfront
Southwest Waterfront is a residential neighborhood in Southwest Washington, D.C.. Southwest is the smallest of Washington's four quadrants, and Southwest Waterfront is one of only two residential neighborhoods in the quadrant; the other is Bellevue, which, being east of the Anacostia River, is...
and operated primarily along 7th
7th Street (Washington, D.C.)
There are four north-south arteries in Washington, D.C. named Seventh Street that are differentiated by the quadrants of the city in which they are located. Historically, 7th Street has been a main north-south road in Washington, being the main route for travelers and farmers coming into the city...
and 9th streets, which have bus lane
Bus lane
A bus lane or bus only lane is a lane restricted to buses, and generally used to speed up public transport that would be otherwise held up by traffic congestion...
s. This line operated everyday from 7:00AM to 9:00PM. The sevice was eliminated on September 25, 2011 due to low ridership. A new Metrobus Route 74 was opened on September 26, 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.
Earlier in 2011 DDOT discussed suspending this line until the redevelopment of the Southwest Waterfront is completed.
Fares
The current DC Circulator fare structure is as follows:- Regular Fare: $1.00
- Senior and Disabled: $0.50
- DC Elementary through High School Students: Free (with Student farecard)
- Children Under Five: Free
The fare may be paid in a variety of ways, including cash, SmarTrip
SmarTrip
SmarTrip is a plastic contact-less stored-value smart card used for payment within the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority system in Washington, D.C...
, or a ticket purchased at an on-street multi-space parking meter. The DC Circulator no longer issues or accepts paper transfers as of January 4, 2009. Riders must use a SmarTrip card to get a rail-to-bus discount or to transfer free from bus to bus.
Fleet
- 2004 Van Hool A330 (1101–1129)
- 2009 Van Hool A300K (1130–1143)
- 2010 Van Hool A300L (1144–1149)
The Van Hool
Van Hool
Van Hool NV is a Belgian coachbuilder and manufacturer of buses, coaches, trolleybuses, and trailers.The company was founded in 1947 by Bernard van Hool in Koningshooikt, nearby Lier, Belgium. In the early years, the company introduced serial production and exported their products all over Europe...
A330 buses that the Circulator runs were part of an order by AC Transit
AC Transit
AC Transit is an Oakland-based regional public transit agency serving the western half of Alameda County and parts of western Contra Costa County in the western, Bay-side area of the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area...
of Oakland. These buses are built to their specifications, but had air conditioning added for use during DC's hot summers. The second set of buses, the 14 Van Hool A300K buses, went into service in April 2009. The third and most recent set of buses, the 6 Van Hool A300 buses (identical in size to the 2003-04 models), went into service in September 2010.
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 UniversityGeorgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
building. One woman was injured.