Mar 23, 2023 - News

Mayor Bowser proposes bus service cuts

A DC Circulator bus on the road.

Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

Mayor Bowser wants to cut DC Circulator service in half to save money.

What’s happening: The plan is part of the mayor’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year, pending the D.C. Council’s approval.

State of play: The cuts would get rid of three of the Circulator’s six routes — Rosslyn to Dupont Circle, Eastern Market to L’Enfant Plaza, and Woodley Park to McPherson Square Metro.

  • The remaining three routes would continue to take riders between Georgetown and Union Station, Congress Heights and Union Station, and around the National Mall.

Between the lines: City administrator Kevin Donahue told reporters that electrifying the buses is increasing costs.

  • He said the routes on the chopping block have low ridership compared to WMATA bus routes and would save the city millions of dollars.

Zoom out: The mayor noted that the proposed service cut comes as the D.C. Council considers other transit investments, like making Metrobus free.

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