 | |
 A DC Circulator bus atEastern Market in June 2018. | |
| Founded | July 2005[1] |
|---|---|
| Defunct | December 31, 2024 |
| Service area | Downtown Washington, D.C. |
| Service type | Downtown circulator |
| Routes | 6 + 1 seasonal |
| Stops | 139 |
| Fleet | 81 |
| Annual ridership | 1,236,100 (2024)[2] |
| Fuel type | Diesel,Diesel-electric Hybrid,Electric bus |
| Operator | RATP Dev |
| Partners |
|
| Website | dccirculator |
TheDC Circulator was abus system inWashington, D.C. TheDistrict of Columbia Department of Transportation operated the service in apublic–private partnership withRATP Dev.[3][4]
The DC Circulator buses were similar toshuttle buses since they operated 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 decreased thereafter. In 2024, the system had a ridership of 1,236,100.
The fare per ride was $1.00.[5] The subsidy per rider was unusually high; in 2016, it averaged $3.32.[1]
In July 2024, the Washington, D.C.Department of Transportation announced that the system's services would be reduced beginning in October 2024, and phased out entirely by the end of the year.[6][7] The last day of service for the DC Circulator was on December 31, 2024.[8]
The concept of a separate downtown bus was included in a 1997 report by theNational Capital Planning Commission (NCPC). The report called for "a simple, inexpensive, and easily navigable surface transit system that complementsMetrobus andMetrorail."[1] The next year, representatives of the Commission, theDistrict of Columbia Department of Transportation, theWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and theDowntown D.C.business improvement district met to plan what would become the Circulator.[9]
After selectingFirst Transit as the system operator, the DC Circulator started service in July 2005 with two routes: one alongK Street fromUnion Station toGeorgetown, and a second from theWalter E. Washington Convention Center to theSouthwest Waterfront.[9]
Additional routes were later added to serve theNational Mall (2006), the14th Street Corridor (2009), theWashington Navy Yard (2009),Rosslyn toDupont Circle (2010), and theSkyland Town Center development in Southeast Washington (2011).[1] The two lines that served the National Mall and the Southwest Waterfront were discontinued in 2011 due to low ridership and redundant service.[10][11] The National Mall route was reinstated on June 15, 2015. The route is operated in collaboration with theNational Park Service.[12]
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 theU Street Corridor, portions ofUpper Northwest, and neighborhoods east of theAnacostia River.[1]
In 2018,RATP Dev replaced First Transit as the operator of the Circulator.[13]
From February 2019 until October 2019, DC Circulator rides were free under Mayor Bowser Fair Shot initiative.[14][15] However the $1 fare was reinstated due to increased ridership. However some city officials looked into reinstating the free rides.[16][17] Rides were free again due to theCOVID-19 pandemic until the $1 fare was reinstated again on October 1, 2021.
On July 29, 2024, theDistrict Department of Transportation announced that the service would be drawn down throughout the remainder of the year, and eventually discontinued on December 31.[18] Reductions including the discontinuation of most late-night services, elimination of the Rosslyn – Dupont Circle route, and increased headways, are planned to begin on October 1. The announcement cited decreasing ridership and transportation budget cuts as the reasons for ending the service.[6]
On October 1, 2024, theRosslyn –Dupont Circle route was discontinued entirely, and late night service on theWoodley Park –Adams Morgan and Georgetown – Union Station routes were discontinued. Additionally, all routes were now scheduled to operate every 20 minutes.[19]WMATA responded to the route discontinuation by increasing weekend frequencies on the Ballston—Farragut Square Line (designated as route 38B) which operates a similar route to the discontinued Circulator route.[20]
On December 15, 2024, WMATA implemented multiple bus service adjustments, including the introduction of a new route, to prepare for the elimination of the Circulator routes. A new daily bus route called the Anacostia – Stanton Road Line (route C25) was created to provide service to Stanton Road and Pomeroy Road fromAnacostia Station[21] every half hour. This new service was intended to provide coverage to areas serviced by the Congress Heights – Union Station route that were not previously serviced by any existing Metrobus routes. The routing of theWisconsin Avenue Line was adjusted to move the northbound terminal of the 33 route fromFederal Triangle toUnion Station,[21] providing a similar routing to the Circulator's Georgetown – Union Station route. Service was increased on the14th Street Line (routes 52 and 54) along14th Street between Colorado Avenue andMetro Center Station to compensate for the elimination of theEastern Market –L'Enfant Plaza route.[22]
December 31, 2024 was the last day that the DC Circulator ran service before ending all service.[23]
The DC Circulator had five lines operating at 20-minute intervals at the time of closure.[24][7]
This east-west line connectedGeorgetown withWashington Union Station and operated primarily alongWisconsin Avenue,K Street, andMassachusetts Avenue. Eastbound, the bus started on Wisconsin Avenue at Whitehaven Street in Georgetown. Westbound, the route started in the bus level of the Union Station parking garage.[24] Service was replaced by an extended WMATARoute 33. Since the Better Bus network implementation it is now theD80.
This line operated betweenWoodley Park,Adams Morgan, andMcPherson Square via the14th Street Corridor.[24] Part of this route replaced the discontinued Metrobus 98 route.[25] Service was replaced by additional WMATARoute 54 service.
This line connectedEastern Market andL'Enfant Plaza throughNavy Yard & the DC Wharf District.[26] Service will be replaced in WMATA's Better Bus Network Redesign.
This line operated from theCongress Heights andUnion Station east of theAnacostia River viaBarracks Row onCapitol Hill.[24] This route replaced the discontinued Metrobus 94 line.[27] Service was replaced by WMATA Route C25 service.
This 15-stop loop line operated fromUnion Station to most of the major attractions on or near the Mall, including ones that are at some distance from Metro stations, such as theLincoln,Jefferson,World War II,FDR, andMartin Luther King. Jr. memorials.[28]
This line operated fromDupont Circle primarily viaM Street through Georgetown and travels over theKey Bridge toRosslyn.[24] This route replaced the former Georgetown Metro Connection "blue bus."[29] This service was discontinued on October 1, 2024 and replaced by additional WMATA 38B service.[7]
Until 2011 this line ran only on summer weekends, serving theNational Mall in a loop alongConstitution Avenue, 1st Street NE/SE,Independence Avenue, and 17th Street NW/SW.[11] The line was replaced by the more extensive National Mall route in June 2015.[12]
A north-south line connected theWashington Convention Center with theSouthwest Waterfront and operated primarily along7th and 9th streets, which havebus 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.[10]
This line operated from thePotomac Avenue Metro station andSkyland Town Center east of theAnacostia River viaBarracks Row onCapitol Hill.[24] It was replaced by the Congress Heights – Union Station route on June 24, 2018 replacing Metrobus Route 94.
This line connectedUnion Station andNavy Yard throughCapitol Hill, with extended service onWashington Nationals game days.[24] 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.
This seasonal line operated fromWoodley Park station toSmithsonian National Zoo during the 2019 summer season. The service first ran between May 4, 2019 and September 30, 2019. DC Circulator planned on operating the line again during later summer seasons.[30]
| Photo | Builder and model | Model year | Length | Numbers (Total) | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Van Hool A300K | 2009 | 30 ft (9.144 m) | 1130-1143 (14 buses) | Cummins ISB | Voith D854.5 |
|
| New Flyer Xcelsior XDE40 | 2014–15 | 40 ft (12.19 m) | 2001-2018 (18 buses) | Cummins ISB6.7 | BAE Systems HybriDrive HDS200 |
|
 | New Flyer Xcelsior XD40[31] | 2016 | 2101-2126 (26 buses) | Cummins ISL9 | Allison B400R |
| |
 | Proterra Catalyst BE40 E2[32] | 2017 | 3001-3014 (14 buses) |
| |||
| Proterra ZX5 | 2022 | 3101 (1 bus) |
|
| Year | Builder and model | Number of vehicles | Year Retired | Picture | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | Van Hool A330 | 29 | 2018 |  |
|
| 2010 | Van Hool A300L | 6 |  |
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| Agencies | |
|---|---|
| Washington Metro | |
| Commuter rail | |
| Inter-city rail | |
| Bus | |
| Bus rapid transit | |
| DC Streetcar | |
| Aviation | |
| Former services | |
| Future projects | |
