D.C. residents can keep a closer eye on the D.C. Circulator with a new Web site the D.C. Department of Transportation has rolled out.
Circulatordashboard.dc.gov allows residents to follow the progression of the 49 buses that span the six routes and carry more than 4 million passengers a year. The Circulator Dashboard offers data and information on 23 items such as safety and ridership as well as finance and customer service.
The site also will help DDOT map out how to expand the system, which was created in 2005 with two lines.
DDOT spokesman John Lisle said the Web site is intended to inform residents about the progress of the bus system over the next three to 10 years and to be more open about the inner workings of the system.
“I think the main thing from a standpoint of citizens is that this is a service that they pay for,” he said. “We’re really improving our transparency but also being more accountable to taxpayers and showing them here is how we’re using your money in regards to the Circulator.”
DDOT began a six-month study this summer to figure out where to add more routes, Lisle said.
The Web site features benchmarks that trace the modifications to the system, tying in information from the study. Lisle said the study will create a plan and help set goals and benchmarks for the service.
“As a consumer, I’d rather have more information about the services that I’m paying for and the services that I’m using,” he said.
Visitors can download data for analysis, compare popular routes and view rider numbers, but must install Microsoft Silverlight, a free software download. He said the program is Macintosh-compatible but will not work on the iPhone.
