Charm City Circulator

Charm City Circulator
	A 2011-model OBI Orion VII 07.501 EPA10 HEV "BRT"
Parent	Baltimore City Department of Transportation
Commenced operation	January 11, 2010
Locale	Baltimore, Maryland
Service area	Downtown Baltimore
Service type	Downtown circulator bus service
Routes	Bus: 5 ; Water Taxi: 3
Stops	Bus: 101; Water Taxi: 3
Fleet	26; See fleet roster below
Fuel type	Clean diesel, Hybrid
Website	Official website

The Charm City Circulator (CCC or Downtown Circulator) is a privately funded, 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.

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

Route	Numbered stops	Major streets	Tourist connection	MTA connection	Began service
Green: Johns Hopkins to City Hall via Fells Point	101–126	Broadway Fleet Street	Baltimore Juvenile Detention Center City Hall Baltimore City Police HQ Port Discovery Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture Harbor East Maritime Park Broadway Market Fells Point Washington Hill Johns Hopkins Hospital	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 Market	201–228	Pratt/Lombard Streets Baltimore Street	Hollins Market B&O Railroad Museum UMB BioPark Veterans Affairs Medical Center Camden Yards Convention Center The Gallery/Harborplace National Aquarium in Baltimore Harbor East Little Italy Jewish Museum of Maryland Holocaust Memorial Fallon Federal Building Royal Farms Arena	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 Station	301–327	Charles Street St. Paul/Light Streets	Federal Hill Cross Street Market Maryland Science Center The Gallery/Harborplace Mercy Medical Center Washington Monument Mount Vernon Baltimore Penn Station Spotlighters Theatre Peabody Institute Preston Gardens Mitchell Courthouse Charles Center	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 McHenry	401–420	Charles Street Light Street Key Highway Fort Avenue	Fort McHenry Museum of Industry Visionary Arts Museum Maryland Science Center Baltimore Visitors Center	Bus: 1, 3, 7, 10, 11, 19, 31, 35, 61, 64, 103, 119, 164	June 4, 2012
Cherry: Inner Harbor to Cherry Hill		Charles Street Light Street Fort Avenue Cromwell Street Cherry Hill Road	MedStar Harbor Hospital Middle Branch Park Port Covington McHenry Row Riverside Park Federal Hill Cross Street Market Maryland Science Center Baltimore Visitors Center	Rail: (L) Bus:	June 23, 2024^[1]^[2]^[3]
Legend = (L): Light Rail, (M): Metro Subway

Water taxi harbor connector routes

Destinations	Bus connection	Frequency	Year 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	Harbor East to Harbor View TBD^{[needs update]}	2012 (TBD)^{[needs update]}

Bus fleet roster

Year	Manufacturer	Model	Length	Fuel or propulsion	Powertrain		Fleet series (qty.)	Notes
Active Roster
2011-12	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	40 feet (12 m)	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	DesignLine	ECOSaver IV	30 feet (9.1 m)	Hybrid	Capstone C30	BRI AC motor	0901–0913 (13)	Retired in spring 2012 due to reliability issues^[8]^[9]
2011	Van Hool	A300L	40 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	A300L	40 feet (12 m)	Diesel	Cummins ISL9	Voith D864.5	1106 (1)	Purchased as a Second-Hand unit in 2019. Retired in 2020.

All current and future buses in fleet are hybrid or clean-diesel vehicles under the Cleaner, Greener Baltimore Initiative's plan.
Charm City Circulator (formerly operated by Veolia) bus yard located at 1400 Cherry Hill Road. Two blocks from Cherry Hill light rail stop and connection to MTA bus routes 27, 29, and 51.
As of February 2020, the Charm City Circulator is putting new buses into service manufactured by NovaBus, according to the Baltimore Sun, the City of Baltimore plans to order new buses to fully replace the Orion buses that was put into service in 2012.^[7]

References

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

External links

[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.

[:0-7] 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.

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