Charm City Circulator

Last updated
Charm City Circulator
Charm City Circulayor Logo 1.svg
CCC Orion VII 1206 Purple.jpg
A 2011-model OBI Orion VII 07.501 EPA10 HEV "BRT"
Parent Baltimore City Department of Transportation
Commenced operationJanuary 11, 2010
Locale Baltimore, Maryland
Service area Downtown Baltimore
Service type Downtown circulator bus service
RoutesBus: 5
Water Taxi: 3
StopsBus: 101
Water Taxi: 3
Fleet26
See fleet roster below
Fuel type Clean diesel, Hybrid
Website Official website

The Charm City Circulator (or Baltimore Circulator) is a public transit downtown circulator shuttle service giving riders connection to historic sites, parking, and businesses throughout downtown Baltimore for free. The newest transit system in Maryland was established in 2008, but did not begin inaugural service until January 11, 2010 because of funding issues. The system operates five routes on major streets throughout downtown. The system also connects to the city's water taxi and MTA Maryland.

Contents

History

The Charm City Circulator started as a plan by former mayor Sheila Dixon to make Baltimore an eco-friendly city and utilize transport throughout Downtown without the patron spending a dime. The plan was to launch three routes connecting across the inner-city, but delays in bus delivery caused routes to be implemented over 18 months rather than all at once. Service is seven days-a-week, with ten-minute intervals between buses. On January 11, 2010; the Orange Route became the pilot service for the Charm City Circulator travelling east-west via Pratt Street/Lombard Street, Central Avenue, and Baltimore Street. As soon as three months after service of the first line begin, the "CCC" reached the 100,000 riders milestone. Nearly six months later on June 4, the Purple Route began service travelling north-south via Charles Street & St. Paul/Light Streets. The much anticipated Green Route recently began service just outside downtown connecting City Hall to Johns Hopkins Medical Center via Broadway, Fleet Street, and President Street. On August 15, 2011, the city of Baltimore received $1.6 million in federal funds to expand service to Fort McHenry in early 2012. The "Banner Route" or Blue Route was intended to relieve congestion and make it easier for visitors to get to/from the famous landmark in time for the War of 1812 bicentennial celebration.

Bus routes

RouteNumbered stopsMajor streetsTourist connectionMTA connectionBegan service
Green: Johns Hopkins to City Hall via Fells Point101–126
  • Rail: (M)
  • Bus: 5, 7, 8, 10, 13, 15, 19, 20, 23, 26, 31, qb40, qb46, qb47, qb48, 91, 104, 105, 110, 115, 119, 120, 150, 160, 410, 411, 420
November 1, 2011
Orange: Harbor East to Hollins Market201–228
  • Rail: (L), (M), (MARC/Camden Line)
  • Bus: 1, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 17, 19, 20, 27, 31, 35, qb46, qb48, 61, 64, 110, 119, 120, 160, 310, 320, 410, 411, 420
January 11, 2010
Purple: Federal Hill to 33rd Street via Penn Station301–327
  • Rail: (L), (M), (MARC/Penn Line)
  • Bus: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 31, 35, 36, qb40, qb46, qb48, 61, 64, 91, 103, 105, 110, 115, 119, 120, 150, 160, 164, 310, 320, 410, 411, 420
June 4, 2010 (33rd Street Expansion October 5, 2015)
Banner: Inner Harbor to Fort McHenry401–420
  • Bus: 1, 3, 7, 10, 11, 19, 31, 35, 61, 64, 103, 119, 164
June 4, 2012
Cherry: Inner Harbor to Cherry Hill
  • Rail: (L)
  • Bus:
June 23, 2024 [1] [2] [3]
Legend = (L): Light Rail, (M): Metro Subway

Water taxi harbor connector routes

DestinationsBus connectionFrequencyYear begin
  • Maritime Park to Tide Point
  • Canton Waterfront Park to Tide Point
  • CCC: Green
  • MTA: 13
  • Maritime Park to Tide Point
    • 15 minutes
  • Canton Waterfront Park to Tide Point
    • 30 minutes
2011
  • Harbor East to Harbor View
  • CCC: Banner, Green
2012 (TBD)[ needs update ]

Bus fleet roster

YearPhotoManufacturerModelLengthFuel or propulsionPowertrainFleet series
(qty.)
Notes
Active Roster
2011-12 CCC Orion VII 1206 Purple.jpg OBI
[4] [5] [6]
Orion VII 07.501 EPA10 HEV "BRT" 40 feet (12 m) Diesel-electric hybrid Cummins ISB6.7 BAE Systems HybriDrive system 1201–1212
(12)
  • Arrived November 2011
  • Replaced 0901-0913
  • 1209-1212 wrapped in "Banner Route" decals
  • 1204 & 1206 Retired
2019-21 Nova Bus [7] LFS TL40102A Diesel Cummins L9 Allison B3400xFE 1910218-1910223, 1910234-1910239(12)
  • 6 buses from NovaBus entering into service as of February 2020.
  • 6 additional buses from NovaBus to enter service in Fall 2020. [7]
Retired Roster
2009 CCC Designline 0913.jpg DesignLine ECOSaver IV30 feet (9.1 m) Hybrid Capstone C30 BRI AC motor 0901–0913
(13)
  • Retired in spring 2012 due to reliability issues [8] [9]
2011 CCC Vanhool A300.jpg Van Hool A300L40 feet (12 m) Diesel Cummins ISL9 Voith D864.5 1101–1105
(5)
  • Bus #1105 has three doors
  • Engine compartment placed in left-center of vehicle
  • As of 2020, all Van Hool buses are retired.
2011 Van Hool A300L40 feet (12 m) Diesel Cummins ISL9 Voith D864.5 1106 (1)
  • Purchased as a Second-Hand unit in 2019. Retired in 2020.

References

  1. "New Charm City Circulator route between Inner Harbor and Cherry Hill to start June 23". Baltimore Sun. 2024-05-22. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  2. Zawodny, Daniel (2024-05-22). "Next stop, Cherry Hill, for Baltimore's free Circulator bus service". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  3. "Charm City circulator expands to Cherry Hill bringing bus service and equity". WYPR. 2024-05-22. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  4. "Circulator marks a year on the streets". Baltimore Sun. January 11, 2011. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  5. "Preview!: Charm City Circulator (City of Baltimore) 2011 Orion VII NG BRT #1202". WMATAvids. September 25, 2011. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
  6. "Daimler showcases Orion buses with added features, technology". metro-magazine. October 5, 2011. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 Campbell, Colin. "Baltimore's Charm City Circulator adding six new buses next week to remedy persistent service issues". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
  8. "For the Charm City Circulator, 'growing pains are inevitable'". Baltimore Business Journal. August 26, 2010. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  9. "Circulator marks a year on the streets". Baltimore Sun. January 11, 2011. Retrieved October 9, 2011.