Circulator records millionth passenger
The Charm City Circulator has given a ride to its millionth passenger, reaching the seven-figure mark in less than a year since its launch last January, the Baltimore Department of Transportation said.
According to the department, the free shuttle bus service reached that milestone Tuesday -- far earlier than projected. The city said ridership over the past month has averaged more than 4,840 a day on the Circulator's two lines -- the east-west Orange Route and the north-south Purple Route.
Service on the Orange Route began Jan. 11, while the Purple Route was introduced June 7.
Comments
Imagine, then, if they charged a measly $1 for a ride. They'd have $1m to spend on improving the lousy MTA lines...
Posted by: sean | November 17, 2010 2:55 PM
What was the projected milestone to reach the millionth passenger?
Circulator has gotten better as construction has cleared up - probably runs as promised about 75% of the time. The problem is when it's off...it's WAAAAYYYYY off.
Posted by: scottbbfm | November 17, 2010 3:28 PM
Sean,
the Circulator is a city thing, the MTA is a state thing.
And if they charged a fee they'd get substantially less ridership.
If they keep up the current pace they will cross 2 million in June 2011.
Posted by: mike | November 17, 2010 3:49 PM
It has indeed gotten better, though I think that's due more to the upgrades they made on the buses, as well as the cooler weather- haven't seen any broken down for a while now. Still, no better than they handled the summer, I wonder how the batteries will do in the winter?
So when is the Green line coming? Is there any projected date?
Posted by: Occasional Rider | November 17, 2010 5:51 PM
True. I realized that as soon as I posted my comment. So if they charged only $1, they'd now have, say, $500,000 to use on badly-needed road repairs. MTA buses are $1.60, and they are ALWAYS packed. Why, just this morning, two fully-loaded Route 19 buses zoomed past my stop without even slowing down...
Still, yes, it's great to have a free downtown travel option. Just thinkin', is all...
Posted by: Sean | November 18, 2010 10:26 AM