(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has launched a 6 month planning effort to guide the expansion of the DC Circulator over the next five to ten years. This comprehensive study will enlist the help of riders and other stakeholders to evaluate the current system and identify future corridors for new service.

“The Circulator is very successful and the feedback from riders is overwhelmingly positive,” said DDOT Director Gabe Klein. “We want to build on that success, but we want to do it right and we want to do it in a transparent manner so everyone knows where the Circulator is going in the years to come.”

Since its launch in 2005, the DC Circulator has grown substantially, now operating 43 buses on five routes and carrying four million passengers a year. By connecting District neighborhoods and providing high quality, high frequency service, the Circulator has contributed to the success of a reinvigorated downtown. One of the early goals of the Circulator was to efficiently move workers, residents, and visitors around the downtown area and the Monumental Core. Now, as population and employment centers throughout the District grow, DDOT anticipates expanding the Circulator to serve additional wards. As the system matures, DDOT will continuously strive to balance the desire for new service with its commitment to provide service that is frequent, comfortable, and easy to use.

Policymakers, city staff, and the community will have several opportunities to learn about current transit conditions and help define the unmet needs through an ongoing public involvement process. Through November 2010, the project team will engage residents, civic and business leaders, transportation agencies, and planners to identify transportation needs, opportunities, and challenges.

The first Community Advisory Panel workshop was held on July 12. Fifteen people participated in the workshop, representing residents and businesses in all eight wards. Members of the panel had the opportunity to provide input on the future goals of the DC Circulator. Their input will be used by DDOT and its partners to create a planning framework for the system. The panel will continue to meet and participate in the planning process.

The public is also encouraged to provide input by visiting www.DCCirculator.com, where they can participate in an online survey and sign up to receive email notifications about public meetings and other opportunities to get involved.

The project team includes DDOT, DC Surface Transit, Inc., the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), the National Park Service, the DC Office of Planning, and the Council of the District of Columbia Public Works Committee. A consultant team comprised of KFH Group, FourSquare Integrated Planning, WB&A, and Sharp & Company will support the planning process.