June 18, 2018

Dc Circulator Service changes

by Samantha Huff

Effective June 24, 2018, the DC Circulator is implementing major service changes including two route realignments, increased service hours on select routes and a revised fare payment option. 

Service changes include reconfiguration of the current Union Station – Navy Yard (US-NY) and Potomac Avenue – Skyland via Barracks Row routes (PS), adding permanent late-night service between McPherson Square and Union Station, and discontinuing the DC Circulator-exclusive paper fare passes.

The route realignments will create new one-seat connections currently unavailable by Metrorail or Metrobus. Additionally, these changes will better align DDOT’s resources with growing activity centers such as Congress Heights and Southwest Waterfront, and improve the reliability of DC Circulator service.

Route Realignments

1. NEW! Eastern Market – L’Enfant Plaza (EMLP)
   • New service connecting Eastern Market Metro to L’Enfant Plaza Metro via Barracks Row, Navy Yard Metro, M Street SE/SW, and Waterfront Metro.
   • Metrobus routes continue to serve eliminated stops along Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Riders connecting from Union Station to Eastern Market can use the new Congress Heights – Union Station route.
2. NEW! Congress Heights – Union Station (CHUS)
   • New service connecting Union Station and Congress Heights Metro via Barracks Row and
     Historic Anacostia.
   • Metrobus will provide additional Route 92 service for riders along Good Hope Road and additional U8/W4 service along Alabama Avenue from Congress Heights to Skyland Town Center.

Learn more about WMATA’s Metrobus service changes here.

Service Hour Adjustments

1. The NEW Eastern Market – L’Enfant Plaza and the NEW Congress Heights – Union Station routes will run weekdays from 6 am – 9 pm and weekends 7 am – 9 pm.
   • Eliminates winter vs summer hours schedule variants on the former US-NY route and PS Route.
2. The Georgetown – Union Station route will continue year-round late-night service between McPherson Square and Union Station from 9 pm to 3 am on Fridays and Saturdays.
   • Now permanent, after its temporary implementation during WMATA’s Safe Track project.

Fare Payment Option Revision

• The DC Circulator-exclusive paper bus passes will be discontinued.
• No new passes will be sold after June 23, 2018.
• Current paper pass holders can redeem their passes until September 30, 2018. After this date, these passes will not be accepted.
• Riders will still have the option to purchase the SmarTrip®-based 7-Day Regional Bus Pass sold by WMATA, and all other DC Circulator payment methods will remain unchanged.
• No change is proposed to the base fare of $1 per trip.