Circulator Bus Route Changes Coming In October

In October, riders who use D.C. Circulator buses will lose some service but also gain some.

The following changes will take effect on Sunday, October 4, 2009:

Union Station – Georgetown route

Service will be discontinued on Wisconsin Avenue NW, north of M Street. The new Georgetown routing will be Washington Circle to K Street, NW (below the Whitehurst Freeway), right on Wisconsin Avenue, right on M Street, NW, right on Pennsylvania Avenue, returning to Washington Circle and downtown.

The following stops will no longer be served by Circulator:

Whitehaven Street, NW & Wisconsin Ave Wisconsin Ave & 34 Street, NW Wisconsin Ave & Q Street, NW Wisconsin Ave & P Street, NW Wisconsin Ave & O Street, NW Wisconsin Ave & Dumbarton Street, NW Wisconsin Ave & N Street, NW

Additionally, all stops on the north side of M Street, NW will no longer be served because the Circulator will only operate eastbound on M Street.

Stops will be added to the Circulator traveling westbound on K Street, NW at K Street & 30 Street, and K Street & Wisconsin Avenue. The stop at Wisconsin Avenue & M Street (in front of Nathan’s Restaurant) will move onto Wisconsin Avenue instead of on M Street.

Smithsonian-National Mall Loop

Currently this route operates on weekends only. All service will be discontinued on this route during the fall and winter months. The last day of weekend service will be October 4, 2009. Service will resume on April 3, 2010.

Union Station – Navy Yard Metro route

Service will be modified slightly near Union Station. Buses traveling to Navy Yard Metro will exit the Union Station parking garage, travel around Columbus Circle and stop at Delaware Avenue, NE. From there the buses will turn right on 1st Street, NE, right on D Street, NE, and left onto Louisiana Avenue, returning to their regular route.

Buses traveling to Union Station will turn left at Louisiana Avenue onto North Capitol Street, right onto E Street, NE, right onto Columbus Circle and stop at Delaware Avenue NE, and return to the Union Station parking garage.

In addition, newly added stops will be served at Louisiana and D Streets, NE in both directions.

Woodley Park/Adams Morgan-McPherson Square Metro route

Stops will be added in both directions on Columbia Road, NW at Ontario Road. DDOT received nearly 100 requests to add a stop at this heavily-used location to better serve residents of Mount Pleasant and Adams Morgan. This route will remain a limited stop, express route otherwise.

Rebecca Blatt reports...