The city Department of Transportation has put out formal notice of proposed changes to the Charm City Circulator – most significantly, the extension of the Purple Route to Charles Village and the elimination of the Banner Route through South Baltimore and Locust Point.

The changes are scheduled to take effect on July 20.

The free buses are a popular service downtown, but (as noted here and here in The Brew) have suffered from a $11.6 million accumulated deficit and a fleet of poorly performing buses.

Federal funding for the Banner Route from downtown to Fort McHenry has ended (it was tied to the Star-Spangled Centennial celebration), and service is scheduled to cease on July 20.

At the same time, DOT plans to extend the Purple Line from Penn Station to 33rd Street in Charles Village, serving the Station North and Old Goucher neighborhoods as well as the Homewood campus of Johns Hopkins University.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake had promised the lengthened route three years ago.

Both the extension and the two other Circulator routes (Orange and Green) will operate during more limited hours:

• Monday through Thursday: 7:00 a.m – 8:00 p.m.

• Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 midnight

• Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 midnight

• Sunday: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

The Orange Route line will be modified and the following stops will be eliminated: 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 226, 227. These new stops will be added: Fayette Street at Poppleton, Fayette Street at Fremont, Fleet Street at Exeter, and Central Avenue at Bank.

The Green Route will be modified and the following stops will be eliminated: 101,104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 116, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126.

The following Green Route stops will be added: Fayette Street at Colvin, Fayette Street at Holliday, Fayette Street at St. Paul, Baltimore Street at Calvert, Fleet Street at Exeter, Fleet Street at Caroline, Fayette Street at Wolfe (eastbound), Washington Street at Jefferson, and Madison Street at Wolfe.

The public is encouraged to provide feedback and comments on the proposed changes, says DOT, and there will be one or more public hearings.

The comment period is open through July 8.

Citizens can email their thoughts to info@charmcitycirculator.com (using ‘CCC Proposed Changes July 2015’ as the subject).

“All public comments,” the DOT notice adds, “will be considered by the responsible administrator prior to taking final action on the proposed service adjustments.”