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.

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 traveling 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 traveling 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 101–126Broadway 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 HospitalRail: Metro Bus: Gold, Pink, Blue, Orange, Navy, Brown, Yellow, 40, 54, 56, 65, 105, 120, 154November 1, 2011 Orange: Harbor East to Hollins Market 201–228Pratt/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 ArenaRail: Light Rail, Metro, MARC Camden Line Bus: Navy, Lime, Brown, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Lime, 40, 51, 56, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 78, 94, 95, 103, 105, 115, 120, 150, 154, 160January 11, 2010 Purple: Federal Hill to 33rd Street via Penn Station 301–327Charles 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 CenterRail: Light Rail, Metro, MARC Penn Line Bus: Brown, Navy, Yellow, Silver, Green, Lime, Pink, Blue, Orange, Red, Purple, 21, 22, 40, 51, 52, 53, 56, 65, 67, 71, 78, 80, 91, 94, 95, 103, 105, 115, 120, 150, 154, 160June 4, 2010 (33rd Street Expansion October 5, 2015) Banner: Inner Harbor to Fort McHenry 401–420 Charles Street Light Street Key Highway Fort AvenueFort McHenry Museum of Industry Visionary Arts Museum Maryland Science Center Baltimore Visitors CenterBus: Navy, Brown, Silver, Green, Yellow, 51, 54, 71, 76, 91, 94, 95, 154June 4, 2012Cherry: 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: Light Rail Bus: Navy, Brown, Silver, Green, Yellow, 26, 51, 54, 69, 70, 71, 76, 91, 94, 95, 154June 23, 2024

Water taxi harbor connector routes Destinations Bus connection Frequency Year begin Maritime Park to Tide Point Canton Waterfront Park to Tide PointCCC: Green MTA: 13Maritime Park to Tide Point 15 minutes Canton Waterfront Park to Tide Point 30 minutes2011Harbor East to Harbor ViewCCC: Banner, GreenHarbor East to Harbor View TBD2012 (TBD)

Bus fleet roster Year Photo Manufacturer Model Length Fuel or propulsion Powertrain Fleet series(qty.) NotesActive Roster2011-12OBIOrion VII 07.501 EPA10 HEV "BRT"Diesel-electric hybridCummins ISB6.7BAE1201–1212(12) Arrived November 2011 Replaced 0901-0913 1209-1212 wrapped in "Banner Route" decals 1204 & 1206 Retired2019-21Nova BusLFS TL40102ADieselCummins L9Allison B3400xFE1910218-1910223, 1910234-1910239(12) 6 buses from NovaBus entering into service as of February 2020. 6 additional buses from NovaBus to enter service in Fall 2020.2025GilligLow FloorDieselCummins L9Allison??Retired Roster 2009 DesignLine ECOSaver IV HybridCapstone C30BRI AC motor 0901–0913(13) Retired in spring 2012 due to reliability issues2011 Van Hool A300L DieselCummins ISL9Voith 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.2012 Van Hool A300L DieselCummins ISL9Voith 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.

References

External links https://transportation.baltimorecity.gov/charm-city-circulator http://godowntownbaltimore.com/ http://baltimorecity.gov/