City, transportation, tourism and business leaders have announced a new DC CIRCULATOR route (www.dccirculator.com) in Downtown. Officially named the National Gallery of Art/Smithsonian Loop, the route will operate around the National Mall, from 17th Street, NW to 4th Street, NW along Constitution Avenue, NW, and back around Independence Avenue, NW. The new route provides door-to-door service to individual museums, as well as easy access to the Washington Monument and the World War II Memorial.
As with the existing service, the new DC CIRCULATOR route will cost just $1 per trip, and riders can use SmartCards and Metrobus transfers as well as cash. However, the new route has its own schedule, with buses operating seven days a week, from 9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., coinciding with museum hours (hours on the existing routes are from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. daily).
Additionally, officials announced changes for the existing North/South and East/West CIRCULATOR Routes, for a total of 15 new bus stops.The CIRCULATOR launched on July 10, 2005 with East-West service along K Street, NW (from Union Station to Georgetown) and North-South service along 7th Street and 9th Street, NW. North-South service will now extend to the Southwest Waterfront, beginning at Water Street, SW on the southern end, and traveling north to O Street, NW. As a result, Shaw residents will have easy access to downtown, while workers in Southwest will also enjoy easy access to the central business and entertainment districts. Now, rather than fight for parking down on the Waterfront, one can simply hop the Circulator and effortlessly reach the D.C. Fish Market!
The new route, as well as changes to the existing service, undoubtedly will prove popular with city residents, business people, suburban visitors and tourists to the Nation’s Capital, particularly with the 2006 National Cherry Blossom Festival launching on Saturday, March 25.
- Important CIRCULATOR (info line: 202-962-1423) details include:
- Patrons pay $1 per ride on the bus.
- Use cash at front door (Exact change only).
- Tap your SmarTrip card on the fare machine.
- Transfer from Metrobus or between CIRCULATOR buses for free.
- Transfer from Metrorail and pay just $0.35.
- Purchase tickets at fare meter or multi-space parking meter on sidewalk. The machines accept change or credit cards (no dollar bills) and make change. Pay before you ride! Use change or credit card to buy your CIRCULATOR ticket from these multi-space meters located at selected Circulator stops.
- CIRCULATOR buses will run at 10-minute intervals.