WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — The DC Circulator bus service ends Tuesday meaning riders will need to find other means of public transportation and drivers will need to find a new job.
For 19 years, many Washingtonians have relied on the DC Circulator to get them from point A to point B.
“Every day I’m up here, traveling for self-employment and also to Union Station for meet and greet family members that come visit,” Joshua Fletcher said.
But after Tuesday the red buses won’t be on D.C. streets anymore.
“A big loss because now I gotta transfer even sometimes you don’t have another way, get on the train, get on the bus, you gotta transfer like two or three buses,” Fletcher said.
One driver told DC News Now he’s starting with Metro in the new year, but not every driver was able to secure a job there.
“I met a woman today, she has to apply for a job and be on unemployment and she’s an elderly woman. She’s been with the company for 17 years,” Elijah Drake said.
Drake is visiting his brother from New York but he’s a transit enthusiast.
“I sure am,” he laughed.
He’s spending his remaining time in D.C. riding every route that’s still operating.
“I’m riding this because it’s a moment of somber because I heard how many bus operators are losing their jobs and I just want to just give that last bit of support,” Drake said.
Metrobus route adjustments have been made to accommodate former Circulator riders which will remain in place through July when the Better Bus Network redesign is launched.
The D.C. Council passed a bill at the end of October to use money from selling Circulator buses and equipment to compensate former employees. Mayor Bowser vetoed it, but the Council overrode that veto.
