Via DDOT.

Six new Circulator routes and four extensions of existing ones will come online in the next decade under a plan released this week by the D.C. Department of Transportation.

The plan is a finalized version of one released in September, which identified seven new routes. The National Mall route, which will connect Union Station to the monuments and memorials, is scheduled to begin passenger service in 2015.

With the new routes also comes a planned fare hike, from $1 to $1.50 with SmarTrip and $2 with cash. “Fare policy, and the fiscal needs of the system, must be considered in the broader discussion of the Circulator’s original core goals: improving the quality of the surface transit experience in order to stimulate non-bus riders to use a bus for short trips; demonstrating to other transit operators that a focus on improving the rider’s transit experience builds ridership and popularity of bus service; and to contribute to reducing congestion and pollution,” the DDOT report states. “Ultimately the District may decide that maintaining a low fare, and accepting a lower than ideal fare recovery ratio, is an acceptable tradeoff in the pursuit of the Circulator’s core goals but this will in turn require a greater financial commitment in providing the service.”

See the plan here.

Phase I (FY 2015 – 2017)

  • New Route: National Mall
  • New Route: National Cathedral – McPherson Square Metro
  • Extension: Georgetown – Union Station Extension to National Cathedral
  • Extension: Union Station – Navy Yard Extension to Southwest Waterfront
  • Extension: Dupont – Georgetown – Rosslyn Extension to U St/Howard University
  • Extension: Potomac Ave Metro – Skyland Extension to Congress Heights

    Phase II (FY 2018 – 2020)

  • New Route: Convention Center – Southwest Waterfront Service
  • New Route: Serving NoMa (corridor pending further study)
  • No extensions identified for this phase

    Phase III (FY 2021 – 2024)

  • New Route: Dupont – Southwest Waterfront
  • New Route: Columbia Heights – Washington Hospital Center – Brookland – NoMa
  • No extensions identified for this phase

    • Via DDOT.

    Filed Under: circulator, ddot,