New express line services downtown Santa
Monica and Pico Boulevard.
Additional service enhancements include Santa
Monica College’s “Any Line Any Time” program.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus has
added several new significant enhancements to its
service, including a new rapid bus service connecting
downtown Santa Monica and the Rimpau Transit Center
along Pico Boulevard called Rapid 7. The new rapid
service represents one of the fastest and easiest ways
for passengers to get to such popular Westside
destinations as the Third Street Promenade, Santa
Monica College and the Westside Pavilion.
The new Rapid 7 service replaces the former Super 7
service.
"This new enhanced service along one of our most
popular routes will be a great benefit to riders who
want to quickly access the downtown Santa Monica area
and destinations along the Pico Boulevard corridor,"
said Dan Dawson, customer relations manager for the
Big Blue Bus.
"Our Rapid 3 service down the Lincoln Boulevard
corridor has been a huge success with the public, and
we hope people will really enjoy the faster and
improved service this line offers, not to mention the
cost savings and environmental benefits people will
get from taking transit instead of driving."
Details of the new service include:
Riders save approximately 15 percent of ride time
over previous Super 7 service.
Rapid 7 uses the newest high tech buses
available, which include signal priority to move
through traffic faster, digital interior signs,
quieter engines and also low-floors for faster
boarding.
Rapid 7 operates more frequently than the Super
7, with some buses running at 10 minute intervals.
Rapid 7 uses the same stops as the Super 7 with
the exception of the stop on Pico at 20th Street.
Rapid 7 serves the Third Street Promenade, Santa
Monica Pier, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa
Monica High School, Santa Monica College, the Westside
Pavilion and the Rimpau Transit Center.
Rapid 7 service runs Monday through Friday during
peak hours.
Rapid 7 fares are 75 cents for regular boarding,
50 cents for Student Punch Card boardings and 25 cents
for senior/disabled/Medicare passengers.
All Rapid 7 buses are powered by cleaner burning
liquefied natural gas (LNG), which reduces CO2 by 80
percent compared to diesel buses.
From the Rimpau Transit Center heading west, Rapid 7
service operates from 5:57 a.m. until 9:47 a.m., takes
a midday break and then runs again from 12:48 p.m.
until 6:33 p.m.
From 6th Street at Broadway heading east, Rapid 7
service operates from 6 a.m. until 8:54 a.m., takes a
midday break and then runs again from 11:50 a.m. until
6:02 p.m.
Other Big Blue Bus service enhancements include:
New Line 1 "Campus Connector" - In addition to
servicing stops along its regular route, Line 1 has a
new branch called the "Campus Connector" that connects
the UCLA and Santa Monica College campuses via 20th
Street to Pico Boulevard.
Line 14 - Additional trips have been added to
increase the frequency of this popular line.
Sunset Ride - A stop has been added to the Sunset
Ride route on Pico Boulevard between 27th Street &
28th Street, and a 15-minute schedule is back in
effect to help transport Santa Monica College
students, staff and neighbors during the school
year.
Line 5 & Line 13 - There are minor schedule
adjustments on both weeknights and weekend nights.
The Big Blue Bus has also launched its "Any Line Any
Time" program, which allows Santa Monica College
students and staff to ride any Big Blue Bus line, any
time for free thanks to a new underwriting agreement
initiated by the college and its Associated Students.
"Student ridership is very important to us," said
Dawson. "SMC students and staff now take over a
million trips a year on the Big Blue Bus, and with
this new exciting program, we expect that number to
rise dramatically, which will get even more cars off
residential streets and help reduce air pollution in
the city."
For more information or questions regarding the new
Rapid Blue 7 service and other improvements, call Big
Blue Bus customer service at (310) 451-5444 or visit
www.bigbluebus.com.
For media inquiries, please contact Francine Pares at
949-481-7559 or fpares@intelibrand.com.
# # #
About the Big Blue Bus
The Big Blue Bus operates a fleet of over 200 energy
efficient vehicles, transporting more than 80,000
passengers a day across a nearly 52-square mile
service area. Nationally recognized for its long-
standing commitment to a cleaner environment, the
entire fleet operates on alternative fuels, including
liquefied natural gas (LNG), which helps cut emissions
by over 80 percent. Serving Santa Monica and the Los
Angeles area since 1928, the Big Blue Bus has an 86
percent on-time performance record and has won
numerous national awards for its customer service,
safety and efficiency.
