"Charm City Circulators" Get Taste of Federal Hill

Baltimore's "Charm City Circulator" free bus service is scheduled to open its new Purple Line into Federal Hill next month. Drivers on this route got a warm welcome today from Federal Hill merchants as they toured our neighborhood on one of the Circulator buses.

Several business owners boarded the Circulator at the five stops in our neighborhood to talk with the drivers, who will also serve as tour guides on the route. Businesses included: The Book Escape, Alliance Comics, Scarborough Fair Bed & Breakfast, SunTrust Bank, Jordan Faye Contemporary Gallery, School 33 Art Center, Mother's Federal Hill Grill, Amy's Boutique, Illusions Magic Bar & Lounge, Phina's for the Home, Lucinda Gallery, and Babe (a boutique). The drivers also received shopping bags filled with treats, coupons, discounts, maps, and brochures from many other local businesses.

Pictured above are Spencer Horsman (Illusions), Lisa Ponzolli (babe), and Carla Wing (Phina's).

Service for the new Federal Hill-Penn Station line was initially planned to extend south only to Montgomery St. But through the efforts of Federal Hill Main Street, the route was extended to Ostend St. so that the Circulators would travel through the entire central business district. Merchants and residents alike are looking forward to the free bus service, which has been a boon to businesses along the Orange Line (Hollins Market to Harbor East). The eco-friendly hybrid buses feature large windows, a quiet ride, and short waits (10 minutes) between buses.

"This was a great showing for Federal Hill," said Eric Masterton-Mott of Visit Baltimore, who planned the day for the Circulator operators.