Council passes emergency legislation to protect DC Circulator workers

WASHINGTON — D.C. officials are pushing to help neighbors whose jobs are being phased out. DC Council passed emergency legislation on Tuesday to protect DC Circulator workers. The Circulator bus service began being phased out on Oct. 1. Now, 270 workers are facing unemployment. 

Councilmembers Charles Allen and Brianne Nadeau are calling on the DC Department of Transportation and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to require a better plan for the transition, and support for workers.

"Council agreed to phase out Circulator based on assurances WMATA bus service would expand and make up for the lost routes.  In Wards 1 and 3 we’re losing an important crosstown connector between Columbia Heights, Adams Morgan and Woodley Park Metro not covered by any other transit service." Nadeau said in a statement. "Unfortunately, there is nothing to replace this service in the temporary plan approved by the WMATA board nor is there to be any consideration right now for that service in the bus network redesign about to be approved."

The legislation requires DDOT and WMATA to work together to ensure its bus network redesign fills the gaps left by the Circulator's phase-out, and supports Circulator workers left jobless. 

"They deserve better," Nadeau said.