Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) met with Big Blue Bus Director of Transit Services, Ed King, on July 18 in Santa Monica to discuss Big Blue Bus' (BBB) Expo Integration Plan.
While taking a tour of the Downtown Santa Monica Expo Line Station, King briefed Senator Boxer on the BBB service integration plan named, "Evolution of Blue." The new plan will inaugurate six new routes, 53,000 new annual revenue service hours, install over 230 new stops and expand the BBB fleet. These improvements are necessary to ensure that BBB provides first-last mile connectivity to the seven new Expo Line stations in its service area. King adds, "The Senator was very interested in learning how the new Big Blue Bus service was going to integrate with the Expo Line and how the first-last mile connections were being made."
Senator Boxer also reviewed a newly wrapped Big Blue Bus promoting BBB's clean fuel campaign message and highlighting the fact that all BBB buses are now fueled with Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) called Redeem™. Redeem™ is rated 90% cleaner than diesel and is considered the cleanest transportation fuel available. Redeem™ is non-fracked methane harvested from organic waste in landfills.
Senator Boxer called on Santa Monica to support her proposal named Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act, S.1647. DRIVE is a six-year Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill which would increase funding above current levels and would help address the nation's massive infrastructure investment backlog.
About Big Blue Bus
Big Blue Bus operates a fleet of almost 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 cut emissions by over 80 percent. Serving Santa Monica and the Los Angeles area since 1928, Big Blue Bus has won numerous awards for its customer service, safety and efficiency.
