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End of the road for DC Circulator – WTOP News

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End of the road for DC Circulator – WTOP News


It was last July when the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced that it was the end of the road for the DC Circulator. Dec. 31 will be the bus service’s last stop.

After nearly two decades it’s the end of the road for the D.C. Circulator
(WTOP/Jimmy Alexander)

WTOP/Jimmy Alexander

John Hawkins says his 15 years driving for the DC Circulator has been a blessing.
(WTOP/Jimmy Alexander)

WTOP/Jimmy Alexander

Driver Jerry Benjamin may start driving a school bus for Prince George’s County.
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It was last July when the District Department of Transportation announced that it was the end of the road for the D.C. Circulator. Tuesday, Dec. 31 will be the bus service’s last stop.

The District Department of Transportation has worked with other transit partners — including Metrobus, Metrorail and Capital Bikeshare — to ensure riders have options.

What about the options for the bus drivers? WTOP spoke to some of them at Union Station, who have worked for the D.C. Circulator for close to two decades.

Jerry Benjamin has 30 years as a bus driver under his belt. Before he spent 17 years working for the Circulator, he drove for Greyhound.

“I love to drive. I think I was born to drive,” said Benjamin.

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Benjamin told WTOP that he loved meeting people from all walks of life.

While losing a job is always tough, it’s not the hardest thing his family has been dealing with.

“My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she just had both her breasts removed. So I’m going through a lot,” Benjamin said. “I’m just trying to maintain and trying to get in front of my bills.”

At 61, Benjamin laughed as he sat in the driver’s seat talking about how hard it is to start from the bottom at a new job.

One of the skills Benjamin said he has may help him at his possible new job as a school bus driver for Prince George’s County.

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“I know how to diffuse situations. It’s like, if a passenger is having a bad day, and gets on here and I talk to him or something like that, by the time I finish with them, they’re like, ‘All right, thank you. Have a good day,’” Benjamin said.

Another driver that has spent 15 years driving for the Circulator is 66-year-old John Hawkins.

“It’s been a great job,” Hawkins said. “So this has been a blessing to me.”

Hawkins told WTOP he has no plans for the next two months career-wise other than taking a couple of classes in security.

“I’m going to rest and relax in between the classes,” laughed Hawkins.

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According to Hawkins, most of his coworkers have transitioned to Metro, Dash, The Ride On and Prince George’s County Public Schools.

When asked what he will miss most about driving for the D.C. Circulator, Hawkins smiled and replied: “My passengers, believe it or not. The quietness of the Circulator.”

“We get them there safely and have a good time.”

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Washington, D.C

DC snow: Several inches possible Sunday into Monday

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DC snow: Several inches possible Sunday into Monday


Snow lovers, get ready! There is potential for snow showers on Friday across parts of the Washington, D.C. region. However, the greater chance of accumulating snow comes Sunday into Monday, with several inches possible.

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FOX 5’s Taylor Grenda says Friday’s snow flurries are likely to move into the region during the middle of the day. “We have the chance for some snow showers developing tomorrow,” she said. “Most of that will be mid-to-late afternoon, so there’s an ongoing threat for that to produce maybe a coating in some spots. Not a huge, huge threat.”

The bigger threat comes at the end of the weekend. 

“Late Sunday evening, we’re going to see some snow showers start to develop,” she said. “As it shapes up right now, it looks like we’re going to get several inches of snowfall possible here across the DMV. That rain-snow line is just so close, as we typically see here across the area. But we’ll at least have the chance for some snow to impact the Monday morning commute.”

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DC snow forecast: Several inches possible Sunday into Monday; flurries likely Friday

Grenda says it looks like the snow will stick around for a good part of Monday morning before gradually clearing out throughout the day.

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FOX 5’s Mike Thomas says, according to the latest models, there is a good chance parts of the area could see around two inches of accumulating snow due to the storm.

The timing of the snowfall could possibly impact the Monday morning drive to work and school and could potentially lead to some closings and delays.

Stay with the FOX 5 Weather Team for the latest forecast updates.

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The Source: The FOX 5 Weather Team provided information for this report

NewsWeatherWashington, D.C.MarylandVirginiaSevere Weather



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Washington, D.C

DC enhancing security ahead of major events after 15 killed in New Orleans

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DC enhancing security ahead of major events after 15 killed in New Orleans


The Nation’s Capital will soon be hosting two significant events that draw large crowds: next week’s state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter, followed by Donald Trump’s second inauguration as President of the United States.

After an incident being investigated as a terrorist attack in New Orleans Wednesday, extra precautions, some visible and some not, are going into place in D.C.

At 7th and F Streets Northwest outside Capital One Arena Wednesday night, vehicle barriers blocked access to F Street.

The area was busy with people attending the Washington Wizards game. Normally, the street is closed to vehicle traffic by the presence of one or more police cruisers.

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There was also a heavier than usual presence of Metro Transit Police officers around the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro stop adjacent to the arena. The agency posted on social media that it has heightened security across the transit system.

Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith spoke with reporters at a 5K race event earlier in the day.

“Any time there is an incident such as what happened in New Orleans, we always heighten our security, and here in the District, we will continue to do the same today and throughout the rest of the week,” she said.

The Chief was asked how the horrific event in New Orleans affects security preparations for two upcoming events, which will bring crowds to the District.

“We’ve been preparing for large crowds. That’s what we specialize here in in the District of Columbia,” she said. “The Metropolitan Police Department will continue to work very closely with our local and state partners to see if there are any critical threats to the District, and if there are, we will posture ourselves accordingly.”

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People’s eyes sometimes glaze over when they hear “See something, say something,” but community concern can and has helped prevent attacks both in the U.S. and overseas.



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Washington, D.C

DC to increase security following New Orleans terrorist attack

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DC to increase security following New Orleans terrorist attack


Washington DC is slated to host three major events in January; January 6th, Jimmy Carter’s funeral, and Donald Trump’s inauguration. Following the terrorist attack in New Orleans DC police plan to heighten security and increase police presence.



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