The District of Columbia Department of Transportation , the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority , and DC Surface Transit operate the service in a public - private partnership with First Transit .
Service has been proposed that the District of Columbia Department of Transportation operate the Circulator directly .
The District of Columbia Department of Transportation , the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority , and DC Surface Transit operate the service in a public - private partnership with First Transit , although it has been proposed that the District of Columbia Department of Transportation operate the Circulator directly .