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Press Releases

Big Blue Bus Fall Service Changes begin August 24, 2014
August 14, 2014

 

Route 3 is being restructured into two routes and 15 other routes are changing. 

SANTA MONICA, CA – It’s that time again: students start classes, commuters head back to the office after summer vacations and Big Blue Bus (BBB) adjusts its schedules and routes for these annual changes in ridership demand. This year, the fall service change will begin Sunday, August 24.  BBB is making many changes, including a major service modification on Route 3 and other smaller changes on 15 different routes that include new schedules on Route 1 and increased service on Rapid 3 (serving Lincoln Blvd.) and Rapid 7 (serving Pico Blvd.) to accommodate heavy demand when Santa Monica College students return to class.

BBB’s Route 3, currently traveling all the way from the Metro Green Line Aviation Station to UCLA, through downtown Santa Monica, will be split into two separate routes. The southern portion, from the Green Line Station to Downtown Santa Monica will remain “Route 3” and the portion from Santa Monica to UCLA is named “Route 3M” to designate the service along Montana Ave.

“Changes to Route 3 stem from significant on-time challenges with this long route that travels through five major traffic bottlenecks. The 95-minute service time is twice the average of BBB’s other routes,” says Edward F. King, Director of Transit Services. “This simply is not acceptable from a customer service and service quality standpoint,” continued Mr. King. “By splitting the routes into two separate services, BBB is able to make operational changes to increase driver recovery time and reliefs that will significantly improve the service performance for customers. However, there are always trade-offs. Eighty percent of customers will only experience positive changes, but customers currently traveling through downtown Santa Monica will have to connect to a second bus and cash paying customers will have to pay a second fare.” Big Blue Bus is encouraging these customers to buy pre-paid day-passes or monthly passes which will work out to cost less than the $1 per ride fare.

There are many additional changes and the following routes have schedule and stop adjustments: Route 1, Rapid 3, Route 4, Route 5, return of Route 6 after Summer Break, Route 7, Rapid 7, Route 8, Route 9, Rapid 10, Route 12, Route 14, Rapid 20, and Route 41. Please see “Fall Service Change” information and details online at www.BigBlueBus.com/ServiceChanges  

In addition to service changes happening now, Santa Monica residents and all Big Blue Bus customers are encouraged to learn about BBB’s proposed Expo Service plan for redesigned transit service integration with the Expo light rail coming to Santa Monica in early 2016. Customers can review the plan and give feedback at: http://expo.bigbluebus.com/survey/.

 

About the Big Blue Bus

The Big Blue Bus operates a fleet of over 200 vehicles transporting more than 61,000 passengers daily across a 51-square mile service area. Nationally recognized for its long-standing commitment to a cleaner environment, the entire fleet operates on alternative fuels, including liquefied and compressed natural gas (LNG/CNG), which helps to cut emissions by over 80 percent. Serving Santa Monica and the Los Angeles area since 1928, the Big Blue Bus has won numerous awards for its customer service, safety and efficiency.