Big Blue Bus (BBB) is embarking on the Better Blue Bus Stops Project to improve bus stops in our service area. Everything from better lighting, seating, and shade to smoother, wider boarding areas is up for improvement. In the coming months, BBB staff will evaluate each stop and note deficiencies to see where we can improve the passenger experience. We will also be out in the field, asking riders how we can improve and what they value at the stops they frequent. With the help of federal grant money and programmed Santa Monica Department of Transportation funds, over one million dollars in improvements will occur over the next two years!
*Click the image below to access the dashboard with up to date bus stop information.
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Have additional feedback regarding Big Blue Bus Stops? Provide your feedback here.
Survey Results
The Better Blue Bus Stops Survey was available at the following events:
- Santa Monica College Resource Fair (9/12/23)
- Virginia Avenue Park Open House (9/27/23)
- UCLA Sustainable Transportation Fair (10/5/23)
- Stand down event at VA Medical Center (10/25/23)
- Intercept Surveys (11/8/23 & 11/10/23)
The survey was also available online until November 30, 2023. Participants who competed the survey had a chance to win a $50 gift card.
- 1085 Surveys were collected during the outreach period.
- 104 "Paper" surveys
- 57 Surveys in Spanish
"Overall, what are your feelings towards current BBB bus stop amenities?"
Average score: 3.4 out of 5
The following stop amenities were ranked by order of importance.
| Amenity |
Rank |
| Real Time Info |
1 |
| Better Lighting |
2 |
| Seating |
3 |
| Shelters |
4 |
| Sidewalk repairs |
5 |
| Shade trees |
6 |
| Trash cans |
7 |
| Other |
8 |
| "Other" included: Emergency button, cleanliness, wifi, air purification, art work, homeless concerns |
Amenity Enhancement Process
The Amenity Enhancement Process is the formula BBB staff uses to evaluate which stops present the most need and will be prioritized when determining stop enhancements. Each stop is given a composite score out of 100. The stop’s score is based on the location of the stop, its ridership, customer requests and environmental factors. The percent each factor has on the final score is shown below.
- Center enhancements around Equity Priority communities (55%)
- BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color)
- Low-income (200% of Federal Poverty)
- Car-free Households
- Limited English Proficiency
- Older Adults (65+)
- Disability Status
- CalFresh recipients
- Bus Stop Use (30%)
- Ridership
- Nearby Transfer opportunities
- Proximity to key destinations
- High-Patronaged attractions
- Healthcare facilities
- Job-Centers
- Grocery stores
- Customer Requests (10%)
- Customer and/or driver feedback and requests for amenities
- Results of surveys and in-person engagement
- Environmental Burden (5%)
- In a Disadvantaged Community? (75th percentile and greater, CalEnviroScreen)
421 out of a possible 928 active stops were referred to in the BBBS survey. These stops received additional points in the Amenity Enhancement Process.
Do you LOVE riding Big Blue Bus? Are you looking for an easy and tangible way to give back to your community? Big Blue Bus is looking for transit enthusiasts to take part in a pilot volunteer program to support the maintenance of our bus stops across Santa Monica. Help encourage your community to use sustainable transportation, while feeling a sense of empowerment and ownership in your local BBB bus stop. As a volunteer, you will report any vandalism or unsanitary conditions that require BBB staff support and will assist with light cleaning and maintenance of your bus stop. Volunteers will also receive exclusive perks and BBB swag!
If you, your business, or organization are interested in participating in this pilot program, follow the link below to learn more and sign up to become a City of Santa Monica volunteer!
Become a Volunteer
