This is Just a Test, Pass it on Please

October 21, 2011 by Leave a comment

On November 9th the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Federal Communication Commission (FCC) will conduct the first national test of the Nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS) test. This test will kick off at 2:00 p.m. (EST). The test will be nationwide, running concurrently across all time zones.

This system test is the first of its kind. It is designed to broadcast a nationwide message to the American public. Nothing like it has been conducted in the history of the country. There have been tests in the past but none to all parts of the Nation at the same time. From the FEMA website, “although the EAS is frequently used by State and local governments to send weather alerts and other emergencies, there has never been a national activation of the system. The purpose of the November 9, 2011 Test is to assess the readiness and effectiveness of the current system and identify incremental improvements to better serve our communities in the preservation of life and property.”  The test will run concurrently on all radio and TV band and the message could run up to three (3) minutes. Historically, local emergency broadcast messages
ran anywhere from 30 seconds to 1 minute.

In order to miminize public anxiety due to lack of notification, the public is being asked to help pass on information and notification about the EAS Test (flashback to The War of the Worlds).  Please share this information with your family and friends.

Below are two websites that provide additional information regarding the EAS test.

http://www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/eas_info.shtm

https://nationaldialogue-emergencyalertsystem.ideascale.com/

 

Filed under Uncategorized

Work and Some Play

July 29, 2011 by Leave a comment

The DowntownDC BID is a proud participant in the DC Summer Youth Employment Program.  This year the BID is employing 9 high school and college level students.  They are responsible for a multitude of tasks ranging from public space to economic development to communications.  We will strive to teach them about the workplace, improve their skill sets, and most importantly how to lead, encourage and engage in their community.  They will be posting and blogging throughout the summer.  We hope you enjoy their stories.   -Karyn Le Blanc, Director of Communications

Productive is how we describe our busy days here at the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID). Each department is very busy, which allows us, the interns, to experience and assist with some of the workload handled by full-time BID employees. The BID is a private non-profit organization with a small staff, but each department is responsible for a multitude of assignments.

In addition to the work, we have attended numerous meetings and luncheons held by the organization’s directors and staff. This past week, we had the pleasure of being briefed by the directors of the Administration, Finance, and Operations (SAMs) Departments. It was very interesting and gave us an overview of the many functions of each department. We are also now able to visualize how much of an asset the DowntownDC BID is to the city.

The BID shows its appreciation of the SYEP interns by sometimes providing us with an appetizing lunch. This allows the BID staff and interns to interact on a more casual level and explore the things we have in common outside the professional workplace. This week’s lunch was at Brasserie Beck (1101 K Street), a delectable Belgian style restaurant located in the DowntownDC BID area. Personally, it was a new experience for me to eat Belgian cuisine. I loved the delicious food, staff, and conversation. The interns all agree that working for the BID is a welcoming experience.

Filed under Summer Youth Employment Program, Uncategorized

Counting for Downtown

July 15, 2011 by Leave a comment

DowntownDC BID Fabulous Summer Youth

This summer, the interns are walking around the BID area, in our typical Washington, DC summer weather. Armed with light uniforms they are learning a lot through this  hands on experience. This gives the interns a lot to ponder, when considering, whether to be a part of the SAM team permanently, perhaps sometime in the future. According to intern Derrick Jones, “It’s a lot of walking done in the hot sun, but I still enjoy working for the BID.” Overall it’s a great learning experience.

Taking inventory on sidewalk cafes

The sidewalk café survey is very beneficial for the general public and the Downtown  area. The colorful umbrellas and vivacious designs and individuals socializing outdoors  at sidewalk cafés, bring a sense vibrancy and life to the streets of DowntownDC. It exemplifies the urban changes coming about in the Downtown DC area.

Filed under General, Summer Youth Employment Program

Summer Youth Are Here

July 11, 2011 by Leave a comment

The DowntownDC BID is a proud participant in the DC Summer Youth Employment Program.  This year the BID is employing 9 high school and college level students.  They are responsible for a multitude of tasks ranging from public space to economic development to communications.  We will strive to teach them about the workplace, improve their skill sets, and most importantly how to lead, encourage and engage in their community.  They will be posting and blogging throughout the summer.  We hope you enjoy their stories.   -Karyn Le Blanc, Director of Communications

We, the summer youth employees at the DowntownDC BID, have now completed our second week in the DC Summer Youth Employment Program, and we are enjoying our experience thus far.

As interns, we have had the opportunity to do work that relates to some of our college majors as well as gain professional workplace experience. We have all been assigned to different departments here at the DowntownDC BID and assist with various tasks.

David McCray, Ivory Gaines, Davion Rawlings and Derrick Jones accompany the Downtown Safety/Hospitality and Maintenance (SAMs) employees with maintaining a litter free and welcoming environment.  They are responsible for the removal of trash and graffiti off the streets in the BID area, along with offering useful information to DowntownDC BID members and the general public.

GerNika Tyler assists the Events staff with administrative work, such as creating excel spread sheets and organizing important meetings.  The Event staff at the DowntownDC BID is responsible for the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Arts On Foot and the Holiday Market.

Andraya Proctor works with the Communications Department and is responsible for tasks such as coming up with story ideas for the Downtown Update e-newsletter and now publisher of the SYEP blog for the BID.

In addition, Constantine Dixon is helping the Economic Development team build a spreadsheet with up to date information on H Street housing and property development.

Kathleen O’Keefe works with the Infrastructure and Sustainability department on tasks such as surveying, planning and promoting for the ecoDistrict.

William Omorogieva’s work entails submitting service request for the DowntownDC BID area and creating an extensive spreadsheet of all the contacts for the company.

It has been an amazing experience thus far, tune in for more updates!

-Andraya Proctor
SYEP Blog Contributor and Publisher

Filed under General, Summer Youth Employment Program

We’re so Sorry, Uncle Alpert but…

April 6, 2011 by Leave a comment

We Haven’t Heard a Thing to Convince us to Raise DC Circulator Rates…

The District Department of Transportation’s (DDOT) recent final draft of the 10-year Circulator plan includes a recommendation to increase the system’s fare from a flat and easy-to-pay $1.00 to a $1.50 SmarTrip and $2.00 cash fare. 

On April 1, Mayor Gray released his proposed budget, which included increasing the Circulator fare to $1.70 for SmarTrip and $2.00 cash. Current MetroBus fares for local bus service are $1.50 for SmarTrip and $1.70 for cash.

These proposed changes represent a 100% increase in fares.  Fares should be set in coordination with the overall transportation system’s goals, not as a means to close gaps. DC transportation system goals should embrace economic vitality for the city.

Greater Greater Washington  recently posted support of the plan.  The Washington Post ‘s Dr. Gridlock provided a summary of the recently unveiled 10-year plan.  We disagree raising the fare to $2 just when it is about to expand and go east of the river is the right direction.  Increasing ridership makes more sense for the system and for the future of the system.  Why raise the rate just as the service expands to east of the river?  If we all agree the DC Circulator serves a greater purpose for job access and economic growth than why not support increasing its ridership instead of increasing the fare. 

Shouldn’t DC raise the Circulator fare?  One dollar seems awfully cheap.
Don’t forget the purpose of the Circulator.  The Circulator isn’t the same as any old bus, it’s a transit service that provides all-day, high frequency service aimed to promote hop-on, hop-off trips.  Ease of payment is a crucial element to this kind of service.

Is a dollar somehow easier?
I don’t know about you, but I rarely have exact Metrobus fare ($1.70 cash) in my pocket.  I do, however, frequently have a dollar bill.  That’s the virtue of the dollar fare – ease of payment.

DC has a serious budget deficit – Circulator fares ought to increase to help pay.
Transit fares ought to be set in concordance with our overall transit policy, not taken in isolation and raised on an ad-hoc basis to plug holes in budgets.  The Circulator’s core identity is about ease of use.  That includes fare payment.  Bus fareboxes do not make change, therefore riders need exact change to ride.

Come on – we need the revenue.
Well, don’t be so sure that increasing the fare will increase revenue. 

Prior to becoming a Circulator route, the Georgetown Blue Bus operated with a $1.50 fare.  Later, they decided to lower the fare to an even $1.00 – ridership surged.   More riders taking advantage of the affordable and easy-to-pay fare more than covered the lower price.  Fare policy should be structured to encourage ridership, not to close budget gaps.

But we can’t afford to subsidize a bus that’s got a cheaper fare than Metrobus.
Here’s the thing – the Circulator is actually less subsidized than Metrobus.  The Circulator is cheaper to operate than Metro.  It doesn’t have the same kind of overhead expenses as Metro.  The Circulator’s operating costs are lower and the subsidy per passenger is lower – all while providing a higher level of service than most Metrobus routes offer. 

Bottom line – the District gets more out of transit funding that goes into Circulator than it does for transit funding that goes to Metrobus.

What about equity concerns?  Only rich people ride the Circulator.
Actually, that’s not true.  25% of riders earn less than $20,000 a year, and 47% earn less than $40,000.

Aren’t they all tourists? 
No. Seventy-nine percent of riders are from DC.  Ten percent are from Maryland, 3% from Virginia.  Only 7% combined are from outside the region.

It’s true that serving tourists was an initial goal for the service, but the Circulator has shown a serious demand for high frequency, easy-to-understand bus service in DC.

Yeah, but the Circulator only serves the wealthy areas of the city.
I know some people feel this way, but the rider demographics do not support this statement.  The Circulator isn’t set up to serve specific areas of the city, it’s set up to connect activity centers that support a high level of transit service all day long.

DDOT recently completed a draft plan to guide the growth of the Circulator over the next 10 years, including new routes that will touch every ward in the city.  The primary focus of this plan is to connect activity centers.  DDOT will be accepting comments

on the 10 year plan until April 8th.

However, people that aren’t yet served by the Circulator are bound to be disappointed when they finally get a red Circulator bus outside their door – only to discover that the fare has doubled.  That’s not a smart way to market transit.  

Why don’t we just spend this money on Metrobus?
Because DC should pursue excellent transportation services in order to build a multi-modal, multi-faceted transportation network.  The Circulator fills a niche that does not exist in DC.  Specifically, the Circulator provides:

  • A higher level or service – as 10 minute frequency all-day long.
  • A different focus – connecting activity centers via simple, easy to understand routes and an easy to use system – including fare payment.
  • An efficient use of DC transit dollars – the Circulator is cheaper to operate and requires less subsidy than Metrobus.

Let’s also remember that Mayor Gray’s proposed budget doesn’t just increase the fare – it doubles the cash fare to $2.00.  Even the SmarTrip fare (proposed at $1.70) is more expensive than Metrobus.  Consumers have a way of responding to higher prices as recently demonstrated in recent DC history. DC increased the taxes on cigarettes in order to raise more revenue – except that the cigarette tax then exceeded the rate of neighboring jurisdictions, and total revenues actually decreased.

Each of these characteristics is crucial to the transit need that the Circulator fills, as well as increasing total transit ridership in the city.

Is filling that need really a necessity?
Yes, it is. As we all know, DC is not a cheap place to live. Access to jobs via affordable public transit is a necessity in DC. Combating the cost of living in DC is a critical need to retain our current population and attracting new residents. The lower transportation costs in DC make up for the higher housing costs, and then some. The Circulator helps make living in DC more affordable, and living car-free possible. 

But isn’t the Circulator undercutting Metrobus with cheaper fares?
No, not really.  The Circulator routes are all designed so that they do not exactly mirror existing transit services – each route offers something new to that corridor, whether it’s express service along 14th Street, high frequency service from Union Station to Georgetown, or creating a connection that never existed before – each service is not a direct competitor with Metrobus or Metrorail. 

On the routes where the Circulator does parallel Metrobus, however, those WMATA routes have actually gained ridership, not lost it.  One theory for this is that the Circulator has been able to convince people to take the bus – therefore they’ll hop on whatever bus comes next.  This is a positive development for the city’s overall transit network.  These kinds of robust networks and connections make using transit easy. 

Okay – you’ve convinced me.  So what should we do?
DC should look to increase ridership instead of cutting fares.  Keep the fares at $1.00 for both cash and SmarTrip riders. 

To grow ridership, DDOT should aim to improve performance on existing routes by providing runningway enhancements (anything from signal priority to dedicated transit lanes – giving transit the edge in moving people not just vehicles) to give crowded buses priority over single-passenger vehicles. 

DDOT should also look at eliminating redundant bus stops in order to speed up service along certain routes – riders of the Woodley Park-Adams Morgan service love their limited stop trips up 14th Street.

Who can I contact?

The budget is now in the hands of the DC Council.  Contact your Councilmember and let them know you support the Circulator system, but oppose increasing the fare. 

 

Live a little, be a gypsy, get around,
Get your feet up off the ground,
Live a little, get around… (Paul McCartney & Wings)

Filed under Uncategorized

Gerry’s Blog – Revenue Estimate Summary

March 29, 2011 by 1 Comment

Gerry Widdicombe is the Director of Economic Development at the DowntownDC BID. With the BID for 10 years, he is responsible for conducting economic research and analysis on Downtown DC, facilitating public and private partnerships and to shepherd the BID’s efforts to strengthen and diversify the Downtown economy.

The city is just about to start the “budget season” as the Mayor is putting his final changes on his budget proposal that will be presented to the Council on Friday, April 1st. 

 As the DowntownDC BID follows economic development and the impact to the city very closely I felt it would be useful to start blogging about the current state of the downtown and provide a better understanding of the numbers as we see them.  I plan to post weekly blogs assessing the economic state of downtown.  Let me know your thoughts on the issues.  We are very much interested in continued dialogue on the state of downtown.

First, can the Mayor’s budget submission date be changed to April 2nd.  April 1st is “April Fools Day” NOT “Budget Submission Date”.  Let the fools have their day, and the budget its own day.

But really, let’s look at the recent revenue estimates of February 28th.  The revenue estimate went up $105 million.  Further examination, shows that the gross and net increase in property tax revenue forecast was $112 million—more than the entire $105 increase.  And, the Washington Business Journal quoted CFO Gandhi as saying the commercial property taxes were increased $163 million—more than the entire $112 million increase in total property taxes (WBJ 3/4/11).

So, commercial property tax revenue estimate was increased $163 million.  Thus, residential property tax revenue estimate was decreased $51 million—ouch.  Unless you study economics, it is difficult to break the numbers down so my first recommendation would be for the city to break out both commercial and residential property tax revenues so the public can see what sources are responsible for the city’s revenues and revenue growth.  To continue – overall, real property taxes are 32% of the budget.  My calculations put commercial taxes at $1.0 billion to $1.15 billion and residential at $550 million to $700 million.  These are big numbers, particularly given how low DC’s residential property tax rate is compared to neighboring jurisdictions.  And, aren’t residential property taxes supposed to pay for schools?

 Now let’s take a look at other major revenue categories:

  • Gross general sales taxes were up $11.5 million to $1.06 billion, and are projected to be 5% higher than FY11 and 7.4% higher than FY10.  Given that Snowmaggedon killed hotel and restaurant sales for a week (or 2%, 1 week out of 52), this seems reasonable.   Jason Werth should ask for a bonus as the sales taxes from the ballpark were increased $73,000—just kidding, but I calculate that $73,000 is what Jason is paid every 5.7 innings.  Just think if DC could tax his income for the 81 games he played in DC (oh, yeah, thanks, Congress).
  • Individual income taxes (24% of the budget) was increased by $39 million to $1.296 billion, reasonable given that new residents are moving into new apartment buildings all over the city.
  • Business income taxes (6.6% of the budget) were decreased $40 million to $356 million. Maybe folks do not like DC’s 9.975% business tax rate?
  • Net gross receipts taxes (4.7% of the budget) were decreased by $8 million to $250 million.  Insurance Premiums were decreased $9 million to $50 million.  How come Insurance Premiums gets a special category and hotel property taxes do not (I calculate hotel property taxes at $150 million to $180 million per year)? 
  • Deed recordation and transfer taxes (4.1% of the budget) were increased $53 million to $220 million.  This may be low as commercial property sales picked accelerated greatly at the end of last year and in the first quarter of this year.  The recent sale of Market Square’s two office buildings for $615 million has netted the city $18 million.
  • Other (7% of the budget) was decreased $25 million to $377 million.  Fines and forfeits down $5 million, fee for services was up $5 million and miscellaneous down $25 million.

 So, the revenue summary is:  Commercial property tax revenue estimates are up $163 million, residential property tax revenue estimates are down $51 million, net sales taxes up $13 million, individual income taxes up $39 million, business income taxes down $40 million, gross receipts down $8 million, deed taxes up $53 million, and other down $25 million. 

 Next blog, we are going to look at the possibility revenue forecasts may be increased in the next revenue forecast.  Talk to you next week… Gerry

Filed under Economic Development, General

Hello Metro? Smart Repair Vital for Job Access and Continued Economic Growth Throughout the Region

March 10, 2011 by Leave a comment

TESTIMONY OF ANNE-MARIE BAIRSTOW, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DC BID COUNCIL
WMATA OVERSIGHT HEARING, MARCH 9, 2011

Good morning Councilmember Wells and members of the Committee on Public Works and Transportation. Thank you for the opportunity to testify this morning. My name is Anne-Marie Bairstow, and I am the Executive Director of a relatively new organization call the DC BID Council, an association of the business improvement districts (BIDs) in Washington DC. Through the BID Council, the directors of the 8 DC BIDs meet regularly to share information and problem solve on areas of common interest.  While the BIDs represent diverse areas with different needs, we all agree on the need to maintain late night Metrorail service.  Late night Metrorail is essential for the employees, residents, patrons and visitors in and around the commercial areas Washington DC that are represented by BIDs.

Late night crowds at Verizon Center

All of the BIDs are working to transform our neighborhoods into vibrant places to work, play and live.

Transit is an essential part of that mix, as the areas we represent don’t have the road or parking capacity to handle all the jobs and residents that exist and are planned.  Another important part of the mix for attractive and dynamic neighborhoods are evening venues including restaurants, bars, theatres, cinemas, sports arenas and concert venues.  Having these “third” places help us encourage visitors to stay in the city when they come to visit the monuments and memorials and to attract residents, both new and longtime, to live in the city.  These evening venues rely on late night Metrorail service to get both their patrons and employees home.

I also want to point out that the city collects a 10% tax on all drinks and food sold in restaurants bars and clubs.  In the late 1990’s when the Metrorail still closed at midnight, there was a sports bar outside what was then called the MCI Center.  On event nights, that bar would see its sales drop by 90% after midnight as people rushed out to catch this last train. This was before the Gallery Place theatres and bowling alley, before the Harman Center, before all the new restaurants along 7th Street.

Before considering the rollback of these hours, WMATA and its member jurisdictions needs to think about the economic impact of closing earlier, not just on Gallery Place and downtown, but on developing areas like Mount Vernon Triangle and Capitol Riverfront, and other ‘destination’ areas throughout the region including Clarendon, Bethesda, Wheaton, Old Town Alexandria, and the new developments at White Flint and Potomac Yard.  All of these areas will be impacted by the decision to close Metrorail earlier.

We understand that the Metrorail system will require significant maintenance in order to keep up its safety and reliability over the next decade, and we are sympathetic to the fact that much of that work cannot be done while the subway system is operating.  We recommend that instead of closing down the entire system at midnight, that sections of the system be closed when maintenance requires, the way that weekend shutdowns occasionally occur for maintenance needs.

The Washington DC region has come a long way from the “federal government company town” reputation that it used to hold. Now, the restaurant scene is being compared to New York, the technology and biotechnology sectors are growing, as are the universities in the region.  Having a transit system that essentially shuts down at midnight sets us back from further becoming the world class city and Metropolitan region that we want to be.

Filed under Economic Development, Infrastructure and Transportation, Uncategorized

$5 Pushed me Over the Edge – in a Good Way

March 8, 2011 by Leave a comment

Posted by Karyn G. Le Blanc – Director of Communications at the DowntownDC BID

Yesterday was the first time I used a Capital Bikeshare bicycle. This might surprise some considering that I worked on the marketing and roll-out of the program in my former position at DDOT (Director of Communications), but it is the truth. The catalyst for this final initiation into the CaBi experience was a morning news report stating gas prices will soon hit $5/gallon.

Ironically, I was one of the first people to sign up for Capital Bikeshare. Why did I not use it? A sense I would not be in control, transportation for my children, laziness, out of shape and it was just too darn cold are many of my reasons. Excuses say you? That may be, but they were legitimate enough for me to stay chained to my mini van. But everyone has a breaking point, and mine is $5/gallon for gas.

So how did it go you ask? It went just fine. Transit and biking go hand-in-hand. I took care of the “transportation for my children” excuse…, oops, I mean reason, and rode with my 4-year-old on the Metro Bus (54) down 14th Street and dropped him off at school. Next, I walked over to the CaBi stand at 14th and Harvard, stuck in my membership key, which actually worked even though it had lain dormant for six months, waited for the green light, pulled out the bike, put on my helmet and I was off.

I was a little uneasy at first and admittedly skittish, but I enjoyed it. I arrived at 13th and H Sts, NW, parked the bike at a location conveniently located near the office and walked the one block to work.

I started with my position here in January 2011. I parked in the garage or wasted gas driving around looking for a parking spot if the garage was already full. Inevitably, that strategy usually resulted in me seeing a flapping pink and white ticket stuck under my windshield wiper blade at the end of the day. Between January 3rd and today, I spent nearly $400 in parking garage fees and parking ticket fines.

How much did yesterday cost me? Nothing. The DowntownDC BID supports smart transit practices and has a reimbursement program for its employees (duh! moment).  Even if I did not have the benefit the bus fare was $3 round trip.  I rode under a half hour on Capital Bikeshare so it was free. Definitely cheaper than gas and parking fees. 

I happened to receive an e-mail from the folks at goDCog.com asking for help in promoting their upcoming employee benefit program. My story just seemed to really mesh with the goDCgo.com mission. So here is the promotion -  The people at goDCgo.com are hosting  a workshop on employer benefits and bike branding to help businesses promote a smart and balanced transportation program.  Click here for more information on the goDCgo Spring 2011 Event.  Trust me, you won’t regret learning more about employee transit benefits and the folks at goDCgo.com are just plain great!

Today I reluctantly had to drive my car.  I have an evening event, my children will be with a sitter and I need to pick them up.  The great thing about living in DC is I have a myriad of transportation choices and I can customize and balance my own needs.  Tomorrow I am back on the bus/bike route. 

Paying $5/gallon for gas just seems obnoxious, whatever the justification, be it market pricing or results from recent world events.  So what am I going to do with my savings? I made an appointment with a personal trainer and joined the gym. An investment in myself and improving my environment seems like a much better use of my money.

Filed under General, Infrastructure and Transportation, Sustainability

Rail~volution is Coming to the DC Region

March 4, 2011 by 1 Comment

Since 1995 smart growth experts, planners and supporters have been gathering at a yearly conference to participate in workshops and discussions on how to incorporate smart transportation planning into urban development.  Since that time, Rail~Volution has grown to include not only transportation planners but leaders in real estate, business, economic development and government.

This year, Rail~Volution is coming to Washington, D.C.  It will be held October 16-19 at the Marriott Wardman Park.  Over 1500 attendees will embark on a 4-day journey where they will not only meet and discuss but will participate in hands-on workshops, travel around and visit neighborhoods and areas implementing smart growth practices, share lessons learned and best practices.

What does DC and the region have to show?  While the agenda is still being finalized, workshops for participants currently being looked at are tours of the H Street and Benning Road corridor, Tyson’s Corner, Crystal City, Arlington and other neighborhoods in DC and neighboring MD and VA counties – neighborhoods that are currently incorporating smart growth practices in their planning and development recognizing that smart urban planning is here to stay.   DC is building a 37-mile streetcar system, providing a live stage to discuss the ways that transit can revolutionize urban transportation and development.  Workshop attendees will be encouraged to submit ideas and recommendations and become a part of the planning process.  Seminars on  exploring financing and funding opportunities may be on the agenda with people sharing ideas and strategies, and so much more…

The 2011 conference in Washington, DC is a perfect opportunity to showcase local development and all the exciting changes in DC and the metropolitan region.  It will provide an opportunity for conference participants to meet with their representatives on the Hill to educate and solicit on the importance of urban development.

 The ideas generated at this conference could change the world.  Don’t you want to be a part of that?  Bring your ideas, thoughts and plans and SAVE THE DATE.  Registration information and a new website with links to partners passionate about this topic will be launched in the coming months.  All you have to do now is go to your calendar and SAVE THE DATE – October 16-19.

The Rail~volution website and Facebook are under construction but you can follow on Twitter now for up-to-date news and information @Railvolution.

Filed under Events, General, Infrastructure and Transportation, Sustainability

No DC Circulator? Really? Really.

February 24, 2011 by Leave a comment

The Future of the DC Circulator
DC’s most popular transit system

Recent rumblings that the Gray administration is continuing ongoing discussions to possibly discontinue funding for the DC Circulator transit system to reduce the FY 12 budget prompted the DowntownDC BID to ask DC Surface Transit, Inc. (DCST) to write about the vital role the DC Circulator provides in mobility and accessibility for District residents and workers.  DCST is a nonprofit organization created by local business improvement districts (BIDs) and other entities to promote affordable and convenient surface transit.

While the DowntownDC BID fully understands Mayor Gray and the DC Council’s urgent need to streamline the city’s budget, the DC Circulator provides access to jobs and supports Downtown’s economic vibrancy, and attempts to eliminate it raises questions about the city’s economic recovery strategy.  Let us know what you think.

_________________________________________________________

[A posting by the DC Surface Transit, Inc.]

A quick history of DCST

In 1998, the DowntownDC BID assembled a planning group with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to develop a new transit system for Downtown based on a long-range NCPC plan.

A partnership between the Downtown, Georgetown and Golden Triangle BIDs, the Washington, DC Convention and Tourism Corporation (now Destination DC), DDOT and NCPC established DCST, a new entity dedicated to ensuring the success of the DC Circulator.

DCST is governed by a volunteer board of directors and engages a small support staff to market and promote the Circulator and advises DDOT on the system’s management.  The net result of this “first of its kind” collaboration established a standard of excellence for the service that promotes patronage among residents, workers and visitors.

The Circulator is distinguished from other surface public transportation by its inexpensive fares, frequent service, distinctive vehicle design, alternative fare payment options and varied ingress and egress options.

DC Circulator

Job Accessibility for DC Residents

The value of the DC Circulator to the city’s economic recovery strategy is providing access to jobs.  The Circulator is attractive to riders in large part due to its affordability and convenience.  Residents simply get more bus service for their money, and unlike other bus systems, the Circulator boasts a “one seat” ride, often eliminating the need for transfers.

The demographics of the Circulator ridership reveal the importance of this transit service to low income residents in DC.  Twenty-five percent (25%) of DC residents riding the Circulator earn below $20K, and an additional 22% earn under $40K. Alternative modes of transportation are more costly and less convenient.

The 2010 Census provided new residency numbers, with DC boasting more than 600,000 people.  The population increase speaks to the significant improvements in quality of life and livability of DC.  Well thought out, dependable, affordable and convenient transportation makes a city more attractive and is critical to public investment.  The DC Circulator is just such an investment.

DC Circulator 10-Year plan

DDOT is completing a 10-year planning process for the future of the service.  The 10-year plan has been vetted at numerous citywide meetings.  The final draft report will be the result of comprehensive studies, research, data gathering and valuable recommendations received from the community throughout the process.
The 10-year plan was prompted by the success and popularity of the service and a request by City Council members and neighborhood officials to look into the feasibility of expanding the service to additional neighborhoods, with an emphasis on “East of the River” locations in Wards 7 and 8.  The DC Circulator is a top choice among DC residents for transit.  Eighty percent (80%) of Circulator riders are DC residents, substantiating the need for additional transportation options. A major Circulator goal is to improve access and mobility for DC residents and businesses.

The DC Council Committee on Public Works and Transportation, chaired by Councilmember Tommy Wells (Ward 6), will hold its DDOT oversight hearing on Monday, February 28th at 10:00 am in Room 420 of the John A. Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW). This is an opportunity for business owners or residents to express their opinion about the benefits of the DC Circulator.

Additional Information on the DC Circulator

In July 2005, the DC Circulator started service with 29 new buses on two routes linking Union Station to the Washington Convention Center and Georgetown via K Street, as well as connecting the Convention Center to the SW waterfront through Downtown and past the National Mall. The service operates seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., providing fast and inexpensive transportation to city museums, entertainment venues, memorials, restaurants, retail stores, hotels, offices and residences. Metro customers can use their transfers and Smart Cards to pay the $1 fare.

Now more than a decade later the DC Circulator serves as a link to other parts of the city and provides affordable access for all DC residents and visitors.  The draft 10-year plan recommends that the Circulator be expanded to connect people to more jobs and provide access to cultural, entertainment and business destinations within the city’s central core and DC neighborhoods. Two new routes were added in March 2009, increasing ridership numbers from 283,192 to 438,769—to an additional 150,000 riders. The five Circulator routes promote ease of movement in our world-class capital city and complements Metro’s transit services throughout the region.  For ridership numbers and other statistics on the DC Circulator click here circulatordashboard.dc.gov.

The service has reached 10 million riders since its launch.

Visit www.dccirculator.com for route and service information.

Filed under Economic Development, General, Infrastructure and Transportation

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