SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Feb. 21, 2024) - The city of Santa Monica is reimagining Big Blue Bus, working with community partners to expand access to fast, frequent, and reliable transportation in Santa Monica and west Los Angeles.
Community members are invited to share feedback on Big Blue Bus service improvements at two public workshops in March as part of the city's Brighter Blue service planning initiative.
Through Brighter Blue, Big Blue Bus will establish a roadmap for implementing system enhancements over the next five years, taking into consideration the following factors:
- Impacts of COVID-19 on current travel patterns and service conditions
- Changes in the region and operating environment
- Big Blue Bus's ongoing transition to a zero-emission fleet
"It has been nearly 10 years since Big Blue Bus last conducted a planning effort of this scale, and our riders' needs have shifted drastically during this period," said Anuj Gupta, director of the Santa Monica Department of Transportation. "We encourage current and future riders to take part in this process as we seek to better align our system with post-pandemic travel behavior, promote greater connectivity with built and planned regional transportation projects, enhance first-last mile connections, and improve bus frequency and travel speeds."
Community members are invited to provide input at two public workshops:
Virtual Workshop
Wednesday, March 6
6-8 p.m.
In-Person Workshop
Thursday, March 7
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Santa Monica Main Library - Multipurpose Room
601 Santa Monica Blvd.
To attend a workshop, register at brigherbluebbb.com. Those unable to attend a workshop can also provide input via an online survey at sur-vey.typeform.com/brighterblue.
Getting to the in-person workshop
Big Blue Bus Routes 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 18, Rapid 7, and Rapid 10 serve the Santa Monica Main Library. If you must drive, parking is available in the library garage (enter on 7th Street, just north of Santa Monica Boulevard).
Accommodations
The Santa Monica Main Library 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. 2386. All written materials are available in alternate formats upon request.
For more information about Brighter Blue, please visit: brighterbluebbb.com
Media Contact
Robert McCall
310.458.1975 ext. 2386
robert.mccall@santamonica.gov
About Big Blue Bus
Big Blue Bus operates a fleet of 195 vehicles transporting passengers daily across a 58-square mile service area. Nationally recognized for its long-standing commitment to a cleaner environment, the agency plans to convert its entire fleet from natural gas to zero emissions by 2030. Currently, 10-percent of the fleet is battery electric. The rest of the fleet operates on other 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.
Connect with Big Blue Bus:
Facebook: SMBigBlueBus
X: @SMBigBlueBus
Instagram: @BigBlueBus