DC Circulator drivers rally at Mayor Bowser's office as phase-out moves closer

WASHINGTON — DC Circulator drivers want more clarity from District leadership as the phase-out of the commuter service moves closer. A new adjusted schedule will take effect on Oct. 1, as the process to eliminate the service begins. 

Those who use the Circulator will have to find a new way to commute. The change is also impacting workers, who may soon be out of a job. That's why the union that represents the drivers will be rallying outside the Wilson Building on Monday morning.

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 members are calling on Mayor Muriel Bowser to meet with them so they are not left in the dark. Some had hoped they would be able to make an easy transition to Metrobus, but they say that has not been the case. 

Workers want to be able to transfer from the Circulator to the Metro system without a drastic reduction in benefits. And the clock is ticking. The phased-out elimination of the Circulator begins next month. The Circulator will be fully eliminated by the end of the year.

It's part of cuts made in the District's Fiscal Year 2025 Budget at Financial Plan. Some of the impacted routes include the termination of the Rosslyn-Dupont Circle line, and the elimination of late-night service on the Woodley Park-Adams Morgan and Georgetown-Union Station routes.

We spoke with one Circulator driver who also happens to ride the bus. Natarsha Guest spoke with us outside of her work hours. She said she thought a recent contract negotiation would give her five more years of work. 

"Metro has made us apply as new hires. With the new hires, we cannot go over with our seniority, neither do we get our pay. We take anywhere from an $8 to $12 pay cut, most of us. Also, one of my co-workers, she had to cancel her surgery which is October, because again she's not going to have insurance if she's going to be laid off in September," Guest said.

Workers also complained that the fareboxes didn't work correctly to account for profitability and ridership.

We have reached out to Bowser's office for comment, and are still waiting to hear back. We will update this story once we do.