New Circulator Route Will Begin Running on June 23, 2024
BALTIMORE, MD (Wednesday, May 22, 2024) – Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Department of Transportation Director Corren Johnson announced expanded service improvements to the Charm City Circulator (CCC), the City of Baltimore’s fare-free bus service providing transit in the downtown area and beyond, will be implemented on June 23, 2024. The service enhancements include a long-anticipated new CCC route, which will serve the Cherry Hill neighborhood, as well as changes to the northern and southern ends of the Purple Route.
The new northern end of the Purple Route extension will connect residents to a hospital system and food hub. The addition of the Cherry Hill Route is a service connection lauded by community and transit advocates as an important step in service equity for Baltimore City. Many residents and businesses alike see the route as an opportunity for enhanced connectivity, greater economic mobility, and a more reliable commute. The expanded network will allow ease of access to job opportunities, entertainment, and all Downtown Baltimore has to offer.
The new Cherry Route will operate between the Inner Harbor and Cherry Hill in southwest Baltimore. Destinations along this new route include Federal Hill, Riverside, McHenry Row, Baltimore Peninsula, Middle Branch Park, MedStar Harbor Hospital, and the Cherry Hill Light Rail Station. Circulator buses along this route will run on a 20-minute frequency.
In addition to the new Cherry Route, the alignment along the Purple Route will be modified. Because the Cherry Route will serve the Federal Hill neighborhood, the Purple Route will no longer travel south of Montgomery Street. Additionally, on the north end of the Purple Route, service will be extended east along 33rd Street to Greenmount Avenue. Additional destinations served along the Purple Route’s new extension include MedStar Union Memorial Hospital and Giant Food.
The Cherry Route will operate on a 20-minute frequency; the Purple Route will operate on a 13-minute frequency; the Orange Route will operate on a 10-minute frequency; the Green Route will operate on a 20-minute frequency; and the Banner Route will operate on a 40-minute frequency.
These service improvements were derived through the Transit Development Plan (TDP) process, which took place throughout 2021 and 2022. The TDP aims to create a roadmap for the Circulator’s future and improve the equity of service. These changes utilize the Circulator’s existing 23-bus fleet and are within the CCC’s existing budget.
The Baltimore City Department of Transportation continues to coordinate with partner agencies and other stakeholders to determine implementation timelines and feasibility of additional changes laid out in the Transit Development Plan.
A service map reflecting the changes that take effect on June 23 is shown below.
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