In 1998 the DowntownDC BID assembled a planning group with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) and the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA), to develop a new transit system for Downtown based on a long-range plan of NCPC.
In July 2005, the DC Circulator started service with 29 new buses on two routes linking Union Station with the Washington Convention Center and Georgetown via K Street, as well as connecting the Convention Center to the SW waterfront through Downtown and past the National Mall.
Since then, the DC Circulator and its routes have undergone changes and expansions, and its popularity continues to grow. In 2011, the DowntownDC BID worked closely with DDOT and WMATA on a 10-year plan to further expand the service, including adding service to the National Mall, currently scheduled to begin in 2015.
The service operates seven days a week providing fast and inexpensive transportation to city museums, entertainment venues, memorials, restaurants, retail stores, hotels, offices and residences. Metro customers can use their transfers and Smart Cards to pay the $1 fare.
The Circulator is distinguished from other surface public transportation by its inexpensive fares, frequent service, distinctive vehicle design, alternative fare payment options and varied ingress and egress options.
For more information on the DC Circulator, please visit www.dccirculator.com