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MAX BRT

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MAX BRT

MAX BRT

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More than half of the fleet’s 49 vehicles are ready for retirement after ten year’s service. 13 New XDE40s are ready to replace the oldest of those.

Later on? Electric buses will be coming, by the sound of it.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2015/05/13/new-dc-circulator-buses-will-have-usb-ports-and-better-air-conditioning/

"In the long run, the DC Circulator will transition to fully electric buses, Handsfield says. They are more expensive, but they make up their cost in fuel savings, he says.

“They are better for the environment and quiet enough that you can hear what the person next to you is saying,” he says.

So what’s the downside? The electric buses can only go about 80 miles on a full charge, while diesel buses can travel roughly 350 miles on a full tank, says David Warren, director of sustainable transportation at New Flyer, which makes both kinds of buses. As a result, electric buses have to “power up” between routes, pausing to charge at electric gantries, which look like low-slung street lights.

Before electric buses can be deployed for the Circulator fleet, D.C. has to set up mobile charging stations and a garage for overnight charging, Handsfield says.

“It’s a logistical challenge, but we think it’s worth it,” he says.

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WMATAC40LF

WMATAC40LF

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DC Circulator has finally retired its oldest Van Hools. They were becoming very unreliable (in part because of poor maintenance done by private company who runs the system). The 26 replacement buses are 2017 XD40s numbered 2101-2126. They have the standard Cummins L9 and Allison B400R, and also feature a BRT roofline.

Later this year 14 Proterra Catalyst BE40 buses will be delivered (as expansion units). 

 

IMG_0770.JPG

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DCTransitFilms

DCTransitFilms

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Not gonna hold y'all, I kinda forget DC Circulator exists lol.

Anyways, despite the strike, there's also plans for DC Circulator to build a new garage in Cheverly, Maryland. The mayors won't like it though:

https://www.cheverly-md.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif401/f/news/6.10.21_1201_claybrick_road_-packet.pdfhttps://www.cheverly-md.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif401/f/news/6.10.21_1201_claybrick_road_-packet.pdf

https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/investigations/cheverly-fairmount-heights-seat-pleasant-opposes-dc-bus-yard/65-dc97bdae-1bba-4d16-8b2d-469f821f4425

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New Yorker 2001

New Yorker 2001

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On 10/13/2023 at 12:04 PM, DCTransitFilms said:

what route

 

On 10/4/2023 at 1:54 PM, BusTraveler96 said:

Spotted a 2022 DC Circulator bus in Rosslyn, VA today. Bus #3101 is currently being used as a training bus to and from DC.

Welp, it seems that the DC Circulator as a whole may soon go out of business as the DC city government is trying to close a 700 million budget gap. They are going to vote on it soon as to whether or not to cease operations and basically to have WMATA Metrobus take over parts of the service.

This may also be why the rest of the Proterra ZX5 order for 2022 was cancelled (besides Proterra going belly up). Will be interesting to see what they do with the fleet and routes though. If WMATA does take over the system and merge it with it's own, I could see their 2014-2015 New Flyer XDE40 Hybrids getting renumbered to #7273-7290, their 2017 XD40s being renumbered to the lower #4400s and their Proterra fleet mostly staying the same (#3101 being renumbered to #3015 or something). The remaining Van Hools would just probably be retired.

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BusTraveler96

BusTraveler96

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8 minutes ago, New Yorker 2001 said:

 

Welp, it seems that the DC Circulator as a whole may soon go out of business as the DC city government is trying to close a 700 million budget gap. They are going to vote on it soon as to whether or not to cease operations and basically to have WMATA Metrobus take over parts of the service.

This may also be why the rest of the Proterra ZX5 order for 2022 was cancelled (besides Proterra going belly up). Will be interesting to see what they do with the fleet and routes though. If WMATA does take over the system and merge it with it's own, I could see their 2014-2015 New Flyer XDE40 Hybrids getting renumbered to #7273-7290, their 2017 XD40s being renumbered to the lower #4400s and their Proterra fleet mostly staying the same (#3101 being renumbered to #3015 or something). The remaining Van Hools would just probably be retired.

Here's the link:

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/transportation/dc-circulator-bus-what-to-know-about-the-mayors-shutdown-proposal/3586729/

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DCTransitFilms

DCTransitFilms

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32 minutes ago, New Yorker 2001 said:

 

Welp, it seems that the DC Circulator as a whole may soon go out of business as the DC city government is trying to close a 700 million budget gap. They are going to vote on it soon as to whether or not to cease operations and basically to have WMATA Metrobus take over parts of the service.

This may also be why the rest of the Proterra ZX5 order for 2022 was cancelled (besides Proterra going belly up). Will be interesting to see what they do with the fleet and routes though. If WMATA does take over the system and merge it with it's own, I could see their 2014-2015 New Flyer XDE40 Hybrids getting renumbered to #7273-7290, their 2017 XD40s being renumbered to the lower #4400s and their Proterra fleet mostly staying the same (#3101 being renumbered to #3015 or something). The remaining Van Hools would just probably be retired.

other than the National Mall route all other services have WMATA service as an alternative. I do think WMATA would take them over though as WMATA was a partner for DC Circulator.

Georgetown – Union Station is covered by the 31/33 and D4. Could be renamed to something in the 30s.

Congress Heights – Union Station via Barracks Row are covered by the 90s line mostly. Could be renamed to something in the 90s.

Eastern Market – L’Enfant Plaza covered by the 52, P6, and V4. 

Woodley Park – Adams Morgan – McPherson Square is mostly covered by the 52/54, H2/H4. Could be renamed to something in the 50s.

Rosslyn – Georgetown – Dupont is mostly covered by the 31/33, 38B and D6. Could be renamed into the 38A.

 

I do think DC Circulator would survive though because of the National Mall Route.

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New Yorker 2001

New Yorker 2001

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On 4/9/2024 at 8:19 AM, DCTransitFilms said:

other than the National Mall route all other services have WMATA service as an alternative. I do think WMATA would take them over though as WMATA was a partner for DC Circulator.

Georgetown – Union Station is covered by the 31/33 and D4. Could be renamed to something in the 30s.

Congress Heights – Union Station via Barracks Row are covered by the 90s line mostly. Could be renamed to something in the 90s.

Eastern Market – L’Enfant Plaza covered by the 52, P6, and V4. 

Woodley Park – Adams Morgan – McPherson Square is mostly covered by the 52/54, H2/H4. Could be renamed to something in the 50s.

Rosslyn – Georgetown – Dupont is mostly covered by the 31/33, 38B and D6. Could be renamed into the 38A.

 

I do think DC Circulator would survive though because of the National Mall Route.

Yeah, the Rosslyn line could easily be renamed to 38A.

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