Charm City Circulator

Charm City Circulator

Designline Eco Saver IV #0912
Slogan	Fast. Friendly. FREE!
Parent	Baltimore City Department of Transportation
Locale	Baltimore, Maryland
Service area	Downtown Baltimore
Routes	3 (1 planned 2012)
Stops	80
Fleet	26 see fleet roster below
Fuel type	Electric Turbine, Diesel, Diesel-electric Hybrid
Operator	Veolia
Web site	charmcitycirculator.com

The Charm City Circulator is a privately funded, public transit shuttle bus service giving riders free connection to historic sites, parking, and businesses throughout downtown Baltimore for free. The newest system in Maryland was established in 2008, but did not begin service until January 11, 2010 because of funding issues. The system currently operates three routes on major streets throughout downtown. The system also connect to water taxi and MTA Maryland.

History

The Charm City Circulator (a.k.a.) CCC or Downtown 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 funds caused routes to be planned separately. 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 4th, 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, Aliceanna 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 sometime in early 2012. The new route branded the "Star Spangle Route" will relieve congestion and make it easier for visitors to get to/from the famous landmark as well just in time for the War of 1812 bicentennial celebration.

Routes

Route	Numbered Stops	Tourist Connection	MTA Connection	Began Service
Green	101-125	Baltimore Juvenile Detention Center, City Hall, Baltimore City Police Hdqtrs., Port Discovery, Reginald F. Lewis Museum, Harbor East, Broadway Market, Fells Point, Washington Hill, Johns Hopkins Hospital	Rail: (M) Bus: 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 19, 20, 23, 30, qb40, qb46, qb47, qb48, 91, 104, 120, 150, 160, 410, 411, 420	November 1, 2011
Orange	201-228	Hollins Market, B&O Railroad Museum, UMB BioPark, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Camden Yards, Covention Center, The Gallery/Harborplace, National Aquarium in Baltimore, Harbor East, Little Italy, Jewish Museum of Maryland, Holocaust Memorial, Fallon Federal Building, 1st Mariner Arena	Rail: (L), (M), (MARC/Camden Line) Bus: 1, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 17, 19, 20, 27, 30, 35, qb46, qb48, 61, 64, 120, 160, 310, 320, 410, 411, 420	January 11, 2010
Purple	301-327	Federal Hill, Cross Street Market, Maryland Science Center, The Gallery/Harborplace, 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, 15, 19, 20, 21, 23, 30, 35, 36, qb40, qb46, qb48, 61, 64, 91, 120, 150, 160, 310, 320, 410, 411, 420	June 4, 2010

• Legend = (L): Light Rail, (M): Metro Subway

Fleet Roster

Year	Picture	Manufacturer	Model	Length (ft.)	Propulsion	Engine/Transmission	Fleet/(Qty.)	Notes
2009		DCo	EcoSaver IV	30	Electric Turbine	Capstone C30 BRI AC motor	0901-0913 (13)	To be retired in early 2012 due to reliability issues [1][2]
2011		ABC Van Hool	A300L	40	Diesel	Cummins ISL9 Voith D864.5	1101-1105 (5)	Supplement order for the (2009-series) Bus #1105 has three doors except two doors
		OBI [3][4][5]	07.501 3G BRT HEV	40	Diesel-electric Hybrid	Cummins ISB6 BAE Systems HybriDrive	1201-1208 (8)	Currently replacing (2009-series)
<<< Future Order >>>
2012		OBI	07.501 3G BRT	40	Diesel	Cummins ISL Allison B400R	1209-1221 (13)	To replace (2009-series) Due to arrive in late-2011 or early-2012

• All current and future buses in fleet are alternative or clean-fuel vehicles under the Cleaner, Greener Baltimore Initiative's plan.
• Charm City Circulator (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.

References

1. ^ "For the Charm City Circulator, 'growing pains are inevitable'". Baltimore Business Journal. August 26, 2010. http://http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2010/08/23/daily30.html. Retrieved October 9, 2011. 
2. ^ "Circulator marks a year on the streets". Baltimore Sun. January 11, 2011. http://http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-01-11/news/bs-md-charm-city-circulator-20110111_1_charm-city-circulator-orange-route-purple-route. Retrieved October 9, 2011. 
3. ^ "Circulator marks a year on the streets". Baltimore Sun. January 11, 2011. http://http://http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-01-11/news/bs-md-charm-city-circulator-20110111_1_charm-city-circulator-orange-route-purple-route. Retrieved October 9, 2011. 
4. ^ "Preview!: Charm City Circulator (City of Baltimore) 2011 Orion VII NG BRT #1202". WMATAvids. September 25, 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLmE3zMhbjs/2011-14-11. Retrieved October 14, 2011. 
5. ^ "Daimler showcases Orion buses with added features, technology". metro-magazine. October 5, 2011. http://www.metro-magazine.com/News/Story/2011/10/Daimler-showcases-Orion-Buses-with-added-features-technology.aspx/2011-14-11. Retrieved October 14, 2011. 

External links

• http://www.charmcitycirculator.com/
• http://godowntownbaltimore.com/
• http://baltimorecity.gov/