The Charm City Circulator (CCC) is expanding its circumference and improving capacity to serve its riders.
Mayor Brandon Scott and Corren Johnson, director of the Department of Transportation, announced the service improvements will be implemented on June 23. Changes include a new route serving the Cherry Hill neighborhood, and changes to the northern and southern ends of the Purple Route.
Purple Route changes will connect residents to a hospital system and food hub at the northern end. The Cherry Hill Route has been a long-sought after connection considered an important step in service equity for Baltimore City.
“Many residents and businesses alike see the route as an opportunity for enhanced connectivity, greater economic mobility, and a more reliable commute,” read the mayor’s press release. “The expanded network will allow ease of access to job opportunities, entertainment, and all Downtown Baltimore has to offer.”
The Cherry Hill Route will operate between the Inner Harbor and Cherry Hill in southwest Baltimore. The Circulator will make stops in Federal Hill, Riverside, McHenry Row, Baltimore Peninsula, Middle Branch Park, MedStar Harbor Hospital, and the Cherry Hill Light Rail Station, and will run every 20 minutes.
The addition of the Cherry Hill route will mean the Purple Route will no longer travel south of Montgomery Street. Another change on the north end of the Purple Route is that service will extend east along 33rd Street to Greenmount Avenue. The extension of service means there will be stops for riders at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital and Giant Food.
Charm City Circulator route frequency will be as follows: the Cherry Route will operate on a 20-minute frequency; the Purple Route will operate on a 13-minute frequency; the Orange Route will operate on a 10-minute frequency; the Green Route will operate on a 20-minute frequency; and the Banner Route will operate on a 40-minute frequency.
The Transit Development Plan (TDP) process took place from 2021 through 2022 and helped make the service improvements possible. The TDP’s goal was to improve the equity of service for residents and create a roadmap for the Circulator’s future. No buses need to be added to the existing 23-bus fleet, and costs are within the CCC’s existing budget.
IN GENERAL SOUNDS GOOD. I SEE ONE GLARING FLAW. THE CITY’S BRAND NEW MIDDLE BRANCH FITNESS AND WELLNESS CENTER IN CHERRY HILL IS NOT ON IT’S ROUTE! SEEMS LIKE A HUGE OMISSION.