SANTA MONICA, CA - Big Blue Bus (BBB) will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, August 1st from 6-7:30pm at the Santa Monica Main Library's Multi-Purpose Room to present and discuss modifications to existing fares and fare media.
In 2015, BBB initiated a strategic campaign aimed at reducing cash boardings across its system by encouraging more customers to use prepaid fare media, TAP cards, and mobile ticketing in an effort to:
- Speed up travel time and reduce stop dwell time (the time the bus spends at a scheduled stop to board and alight customers).
- Provide customers more flexibility in the way they pay fares.
- Provide more efficiencies for counting cash revenue.
The next phase of BBB's cashless boarding strategy includes a proposal to adjust fares, including the following revisions:
- Reduction of the Regular one-way cash fare from $1.25 to $1.10 when a customer uses TAP to pay their fare;
- Introduction of a new Annual Pass for a sale price of $500, a $100 savings;
- Introduction of Blue to Business - BBB's Employer Annual Pass Program;
- Discontinuation of single-use tokens and introduction of a new TAP-enabled 1-Ride Pass as its replacement;
- No changes to Senior, Disabled and Medicare cash fares and passes;
- Requirement for Personal Care Assistants travelling with ACCESS certified riders to pay a fare, creating greater fare equity among all riders; and
- All other pass prices remain the same.
See details of this proposal at www.bigbluebus.com.
"Continuing our efforts to understand customer needs and attracting new customers will be critical to our success in providing outstanding service to the City and the Westside. Introducing Blue to Business and the affordability of an Annual Pass, in addition to discounting our cash fare when prepaid on TAP, provides more options to our customers to purchase and pay their fares and further enhance the travel experience on our system," said Ed King, Director of Transit Services.
Customers who are unable to attend the meeting and would like to submit feedback are encouraged to do so via GO by visiting www.smgov.net/go and selecting the "Fare Adjustment Feedback" category. BBB will review all comments submitted during the comment period until August 12, 2017. After the public hearing, adjustments to the proposal may be made based on public feedback prior to submitting to the City Council for consideration and approval.
Getting to the Hearing
Ride BBB Routes 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 18, Rapid 3, Rapid 7, or Rapid 10 or Metro Expo Line or Metro bus Routes 4, 20, 33, 534, 704, 720 or 733 to the meeting. If you need to drive, parking is available in the library garage (enter on 7th St. just north of Santa Monica Blvd.).
Accommodations
This venue is ADA-accessible. Disability and translation accommodation requests should be made at least three days prior to the meeting by calling 310.458.1975, ext. 5541. All written materials are available in alternate formats upon request.
About Big Blue Bus
Big Blue Bus operates a
fleet of 200 vehicles transporting more than 54,000 customers daily across a 58
square mile service area. Nationally recognized for its long-standing
commitment to a cleaner environment, the entire fleet operates on alternative
fuels, including renewable natural gas (RNG), a form of liquefied and
compressed natural gas (LNG/CNG), which helps cut emissions by up to 90
percent. Serving Santa Monica and the Los Angeles area since 1928, Big Blue Bus
has won numerous awards for its marketing, customer service, safety and
efficiency.