DCist: New Circulator Route to Nationals Park in the Works

econosize

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:53:22 -0500

I have to disagree with the 30 bus haters. I take it crosstown (from upper northwest past archives) every day and I think it has gotten better since they did the overhaul this summer. The first month was hell, but now it is really consistent. In the morning my bus comes like clock work.

Kev29

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:51:33 -0500

Another waste of a bus is the Union Station bus that runs around the Navy Yard via Cap Hill. I have never seen more than 5 persons riding them. That's the N22 - which did that funky loop. Except on Nats game days - when it would eliminate the loop round the Barracks and just go straight to the stadium. Weird. Guessing a Circulator will just go straight to Nats Park all the time. Really is a nice way to get down there - and you can stop on Pennsylvania Ave or 8th for cheaper pre-game drinks.

cyrinaldi

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:50:03 -0500

i've ridden this bus about 3x. each time it would have been faster to hop. good when it's raining or you're trying to get to happy hour in painful heels.

EdTheRed

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:43:25 -0500

It's time for the Circulator It's time for the Circulator It's time for the Circulator Arrrrrrrgggggggghhhh!!!

alexalexalex

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:26:48 -0500

Gmail, I don't recall anyone claiming to be "authentic" for wanting regular bus service improved. It's usually a mistake assume others think the way you do.

Deep

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:17:40 -0500

Another waste of a bus is the Union Station bus that runs around the Navy Yard via Cap Hill. I have never seen more than 5 persons riding them. (In Jerry Seinfields' voice) and what is it with those Circulator seats. You can't fit in them? Who were they fashioned after? Kate Moss? Is this mike on?

Deep

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:16:29 -0500

Another waste of a bus is the Union Station bus that runs around the Navy Yard via Cap Hill. I have never seen more than 5 persons riding them. (In Jerry Senifields' voice) and what is it with those Circulator seats. You can't fit in them? Who were they fashioned after? Kate Moss?

gmail

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:14:09 -0500

As a lily white gentrifier who eats guilt for breakfast: all you Circ-haters need to shut the heck up and get out my hood. The circulator kicks ass. You're not hardcore or 'authentic' cause you ride a regular bus-- you're 25 cents poorer and late.

hillvada

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:52:02 -0500

If I am not mistaken, the cost of these busses is paid by the DC govt, not Metro. In addition, the service is actually provided by a contractor and the busses are housed somewhere in PG County (which seems rather inefficient to me). The SW Waterfront line seems to be a total bust. I see those busses at all times of the day and they are never full, or even close to full, or at many times, even have a single passenger riding in them. Right now the Waterfront is simply not a big enough draw for tourists to require a special bus line.

alexalexalex

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:45:49 -0500

I wish Metro would stop spending money on these special buses and make the regular bus routes better. People who are "afraid" of regular Metrobuses ought to stay out of the city. I don't know this for a fact, but I'm guessing that the Circulator buses cost a lot more per bus than standard Metrobuses... and their seating configuration gives them a lot less capacity (and forces you to sit facing people you don't necessarily want to be facing).

EvilOlive

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:11:58 -0500

hmph. X3 maybe?

nowisthetime

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:06:15 -0500

@ EdTheRed and no more caffeine: I always think that too!

alewis

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:03:08 -0500

@EvilOlive: No, the 96 turns around at Vermont Ave. It's not a big deal, just that where the 96 and 98 buses stop and turn around just seems rather arbitrary; there aren't really have any other connecting bus lines. And, if you were going to the Metro, I don't understand why you would have waited to get to the 10th entrance.

Moose

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:00:16 -0500

I've overheard the Circulator drivers explaining that they're supposed to go that slow, though not as to a reason why. I suspect it's to keep it touristy & 'non-threatening' and easy for the irregular bus riders to signal their stop in time. And to discourage regular bus riders from using it in lieu of other, more expensive routes.

badtzmaru

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:56:55 -0500

wow a bus line that runs somewhere nobody wants to go.

EvilOlive

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:47:23 -0500

@alewis--can you catch the 96 to 7th Street?

EvilOlive

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:44:41 -0500

from what i've gathered, the stops are supposed to be something like: -Adams Morgan/Woodley Park Metro -Adams Morgan around Columbia and 17th -Base of Mt Pleasant Street -Columbia Heights -Then it'll travel down 14th Street, stopping at U, P, and K Streets. Return and repeat.

alewis

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:39:39 -0500

Thanks for explaining that, inloganO. I would really like the 98 to go over two more blocks... that way I can catch that 70s line on 7th Street.

Hillman

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:34:31 -0500

Does anybody know the actual route of the new Circulator?

thatgirl

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:32:26 -0500

Damn you no more caffeine and EdTheRed, now that's all I'm going to think of when I see one.

inloganO

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:27:09 -0500

The problem with the 98 bus is that when it comes from Adams Morgan, the layover is at the 13th street entrance to the U Street Metro. So if you want to go from Adams Morgan to the 9:30 club you have to sit on the bus and wait for the next loop to begin. The need to have the layover near one of the turnarounds and not in the middle.

monkeyrotica

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:26:05 -0500

Well, you only get to do it once so you might as well have fun. "LOOK AT ME, MA! I'M KING OF THE WORLD! WHOOOOO! YOU-ESS-AY! YOU-ESS-AY! YOU-ESS...." [THUD]

no_more_caffeine

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:22:28 -0500

@EdTheRed, indeed.

IMGoph

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:17:58 -0500

thought the U street link (as it currently stands) goes up and turns around at the 9:30 club. that isn't far enough east on the U street corridor for you? i mean, any further east, and you've left u street entirely.

Reid

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:16:45 -0500

Whose big idea was it to remove the 30's buses? I totally agree, but it wasn't a quick change. They had a long study, and completely ignored us who thought it's stupid to break up the 30 series. I'm confident that the delays haven't improved at all since the changes (with the exception of the express bus that just skips around Georgetown). This is because WMATA is too focused on schedules, and not focused enough on headways. I don't care if the bus is on schedule. Just so long as the headways are consistent and they continue to roll out Nextbus. They're looking at the D series now, and I'm nervous they'll make similar recommendations. Frankly, I'd much rather WMATA save money on consultants and direct it towards getting the god damn K St. busway built. This could significantly speed up a whole bunch of crosstown lines.

EdTheRed

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:11:31 -0500

@monkey: I call that maneuver the "Teen Wolf Goes To Nationals Park" move.

monkeyrotica

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:04:28 -0500

I refuse to ride the bus unless the allow me to do so drunk while "surfing" on the roof under low-lying bridges.

Kev29

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:03:57 -0500

I just wish the Circulators didn't drive so damn slowly! They creep along so much slower compared to Metrobuses. I guess Circulator drivers are too cautious when it comes to speeding, flying through occupied crosswalks and running people over. P*ssies!

EdTheRed

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:58:50 -0500

Whenever I read about or see The Circulator, I get that old school joint by Cajmere (The Percolator) in my head: It's time for the Circulator It's time for the Circulator It's time for the Circulator It's time for the Circulator It's time for the Circulator It's time for the Circulator It's time for the Circulator

Deep

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:57:42 -0500

Hey Metro Hetro Authorities. If U can read this: Bring back the regular 30's buses. Why make The Archives the final stop? Whose big idea was it to remove the 30's buses? What happened to the shuttle buses that used to run from Columbia Heights to Upper Connecticut Avenue? What are U doing Metro. Fix those escalators.

inloganO

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:53:14 -0500

I just wish the Circulators didn't drive so damn slowly! They creep along so much slower compared to Metrobuses.

Kev29

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:46:01 -0500

Because they're different looking and 'sold' as tourist amenities they can attract a different ridership Yep - "different ridership" = white people who are normally scared of Metrobus. The N22 has worked fine for me every time I've taken it.

Moose

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:24:55 -0500

The point is getting more people on the buses who wouldn't otherwise use regular Metro buses. Because they're different looking and 'sold' as tourist amenities they can attract a different ridership (and assume they will keep their normal ridership as well).

no_more_caffeine

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:22:58 -0500

Every time I see a Circulator bus I want to hum the "It's time for the Percolator" song. Just sayin.

alewis

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:15:15 -0500

I can't wait for a new circulator route to replace the 98 bus. I just hope the new route goes far enough down U Street... It seems pointless that the current shuttle ends at U Street Metro. My only question though is if these new routes are essentially just going to replace existing Metrobus routes (like the N22), instead of expanding them, what's the point of making it a circulator bus?