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{{Short description|Bus service serving Santa Monica and surrounding region in Los Angeles, California}}{{other uses of|Blue Bus}}{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}

factoids

| destinations = | stops = | hubs = | stations = | fleet = 195CA Santa Monica total daily}} ({{American transit ridershipdailycitation}}CA Santa Monica total annual}} ({{American transit ridershipannualcitation}}Compressed natural gas>CNG, Electric| operator = City of Santa Monica| ceo = Anuj Gupta (Interim)www.bigbluebus.com/|bigbluebus.com}}}}Big Blue Bus (stylized in lowercase) is a public transit agency that provides public bus services for the city of Santa Monica and the greater Westside region of Los Angeles County, California. The service, operated by the city of Santa Monica, was founded on April 14, 1928 and throughout its existence has used a blue color scheme for its buses, leading to the Big Blue Bus nickname that would later become the official name of the agency. In {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the system had a ridership of {{American transit ridership|CA Santa Monica total annual}}, or about {{American transit ridership|CA Santa Monica total daily}} per weekday as of {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}}. Big Blue Bus receives funding from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and offers connections to its Metro Bus and Metro Rail systems, but is operated independently from Metro.

History

(File:GMC New Look Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines.jpg|thumb|A now-retired GMC “New Look” bus in service for what was then-called the “Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines”.)The agency was founded on April 14, 1928 as the Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines and the agency picked a unique blue color scheme for its buses, later leading to the Big Blue Bus nickname.WEB,www.bigbluebus.com/About-BBB/Timeline/Historical-Info/Our-History.aspx, Our History – Big Blue Bus, www.bigbluebus.com, October 7, 2019, It holds the distinction of being the second oldest public transit bus system still operating in Los Angeles County; only the neighboring Culver CityBus (founded March 4, 1928) is older.WEB, Public Transit Ridership, Los Angeles County, California,www.laalmanac.com/transport/tr15.php, October 7, 2019, www.laalmanac.com, Santa Monica established the bus line in response to a fare increase on the Pacific Electric interurban trains between Santa Monica and Los Angeles.WEB, Hobbs, Charles P., September 6, 2011, Big Blue Bus Breakthrough {{!, More Than Red Cars – The Obscure, Offbeat and Half-Forgotten Transportation History of Southern California|url=http://morethanredcars.com/?p=213 |access-date=2020-12-14 |language=en-US }}While independent from other agencies in the Los Angeles area, the Big Blue Bus has always offered connections to the other systems, most notably near the intersections of Pico and Rimpau Boulevards in the Mid-City section of Los Angeles. The historic transfer point was established by Santa Monica, the Los Angeles Railway and Pacific Electric Railway and is known today as the Pico/Rimpau Transit Center and is used the Big Blue Bus and Metro Bus.In 1978, Santa Monica became the first transit operator in California to operate a bus with a wheelchair lift, the Grumman-Flxible Model 870. It was the third agency to order the bus after Atlanta’s MARTA, and Connecticut’s CT Transit. The Big Blue Bus was one of the last transit agencies using the iconic GMC New Look “fishbowl” bus, the last of which was retired in 2005.The Big Blue Bus has been honored with the American Public Transportation Association’s Outstanding Transportation System award in 1987, 1992, 1997, 2000 and 2011.WEB, October 4, 2011, 2011 APTA Awards Program,www.apta.com/wp-content/uploads/Resources/members/memberprogramsandservices/awards/Documents/APTA-Awards-Program-2011.pdf, 25–26,

Routes

Big Blue Bus operates 18 bus lines: 12 regular routes, 4 rapid routes, and 2 circulator routes. On weekends and holidays with weekend service, the agency operates 10 bus lines: 9 regular routes and 1 rapid route.WEB, Routes and Schedules - Big Blue Bus,www.bigbluebus.com/Routes-And-Schedules/, 2024-02-27, www.bigbluebus.com, The agency is currently undergoing a COA (Comprehensive Operational Analysis) which will inform service and route changes over the next five years. These aim to help the agency better connect with future Metro Rail extensions, most notably the D and K lines, adjust to new travel patterns, increase service frequency, and make service blocks compatible with a zero emissions bus fleet. WEB, Brighter Blue,storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/62ad3b005e914852b0f90d5b28ecf7e2,

Local routes

Sunday schedules are operated on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.{| class=“wikitable sortable” style="font-size: 95%;” |!Route! colspan=“2” |Terminals! width=“250px” |Via! width=“220px” |Days of Operation#!Notes!1Westwood, Los Angeles>Westwood UCLAVenice, Los Angeles>Venice Grand Bl & Riviera Av|Santa Monica Bl, Main St|Daily|

• Operates alongside Metro bus 4 (24 hour service to DTLA)
• Serves Downtown Santa Monica station

!2|Westwood UCLASanta Monica, California>Santa Monica Main St & Olympic Dr|Wilshire Bl|Daily|

• Operates alongside Metro Bus 20 (24 hour service)
• Metro Rapid 720 see also: Metro Rapid
• Serves Downtown Santa Monica station

!3|Santa MonicaArizona Av & 5th StWestchester, Los Angeles>Los Angeles Aviation/LAX station|Lincoln Bl|Daily|

• Operates alongside Rapid 3
• Serves LAX City Bus Center

!5|Santa Monica Main St & Olympic DrPalms, Los Angeles>PalmsPalms station|Colorado Av, Olympic Bl, Motor Av|Weekdays|

• Operates hourly
• Serves Downtown Santa Monica station, 17th Street/SMC station, 26th Street/Bergamot station, Expo/Bundy station and Westfield Century City

!7|Santa Monica7th St & Olympic BlMid-Wilshire, Los Angeles>Mid-WilshireWilshire/Western station|Pico Bl|Daily|

• Operates alongside Rapid 7 & Express 7
• Serves Santa Monica College, Expo/Sepulveda station and Rimpau Transit Center
• Three trips westbound in the morning and three trips eastbound in the afternoon deviate from Pico Bl to serve Beverlywood

!8|Santa Monica7th St & Olympic Bl|WestwoodUCLA|Ocean Park Bl, National Bl, Westwood Bl|Daily|

• Serves Westwood/Rancho Park station

!9Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California>Pacific PalisadesSunset Bl & Marquez Av|Santa Monica Main St & Olympic Dr|Sunset Bl, Chatauqua Bl, 4th St|Daily|!14Brentwood, Los Angeles>Brentwood Bringham Av & Gorham AvWestchester, Los Angeles>Westchester Westchester/Veterans station|Bundy Dr, Centinela Av|Daily|

• Select trips extend from Brentwood north to Paul Revere Middle School
• Serves Expo/Bundy station and Santa Monica College Bundy Campus

!15|Brentwood Barrington Pl & Chayote StWest Los Angeles>West LA Expo/Bundy station {{Small|(Pico Bl & Bundy Dr)}}|Barrington Av|Weekdays|!16Playa del Rey, Los Angeles>Playa del Rey Culver Bl & Vista Del Mar|West LA Saltair Av & Wilshire Bl|Walgrove Av, 23rd St, 20th St|Weekdays|

• Serves 26th Street/Bergamot station, Expo/Bundy station and Westfield Century City

!17|Westwood UCLA {{Small|(At Macgowan Hall)}}Culver City, California>Culver City Culver City station|Sawtelle Bl, Palms Bl|Daily|

• Serves Expo/Sepulveda station and Palms station

!18|WestwoodUCLA {{Small|(At Gateway Plaza)}}Marina del Rey, California>Marina Del ReyVia Marina & Admiralty Wy|Montana Av, 4th St|Daily|

• Serves Downtown Santa Monica Station

!41! colspan=“2” |Santa Monica Santa Monica College|14th St, 20th St|Weekdays|

• Service operates in a clockwise loop and terminates at 14th St & Pico Bl
• Operates opposite of Line 42
• Serves 17th Street/SMC station style="background-color:D3D3D3”

!42Santa Monica Santa Monica College|20th St, 14th St|Weekdays|

• Service suspended until further notice
• Service operates in a counterclockwise loop and terminates at Santa Monica College (16th St & Pico Bl)
• Operates opposite of Line 41

!43|Santa Monica Santa Monica College|Santa MonicaSan Vicente Bl & 14th St|26th St, San Vicente Bl|Weekdays, peak hours|

• Select eastbound trips serve Paul Revere Middle School
• Serves 26th Street/Bergamot station style="background-color:D3D3D3”

!44|Santa Monica17th Street/SMC station|West LA Santa Monica College Bundy Campus|Bundy Dr, Ocean Park Bl, 17th St|School days|

• Service currently suspended, slated to return in Fall 2024
• Connects 17th Street/Santa Monica College station, Santa Monica College Main Campus, and Santa Monica College Bundy Campus
• Limited service when Santa Monica College is not in session

Rapid & Express routes {| class“wikitable sortable” style@font-size: 95%;” |

!Route! colspan=“2” |Terminals!Via!Days of Operation!Notes!Rapid 3|Santa Monica Arizona Av & 5th St|Los AngelesAviation/LAX station|Lincoln Bl|Weekdays, peak hours|

• Operates alongside Line 3
• See also: Metro Rapid
• Serves LAX City Bus Center

!Rapid 7|Santa Monica7th St & Olympic Bl|Mid-WilshireWilshire/Western station|Pico Bl|Weekdays|

• Operates alongside Line 7 & Express 7
• See also: Metro Rapid
• Serves Santa Monica College, Expo/Sepulveda station and Rimpau Transit Center style="background-color:D3D3D3”

!Express 7|Santa Monica7th St & Olympic Bl|Mid-WilshireWilshire/Western station|Pico Bl|Weekdays|

• Service suspended until further notice
• Operates alongside Line 7 & Rapid 7
• Makes five intermediate stops at major transfer points: Downtown Santa Monica station, Santa Monica College, Expo/Sepulveda station, Pico/Rimpau Transit Center, Pico & Crenshaw

!Express 9|Pacific Palisades Sunset Bl & Marquez Av|Santa Monica 4th & ColoradoPacific Coast Highway (disambiguation)>Pacific Coast Highway|School days|

• To and from Palisades Charter High School

!Rapid 10|Santa MonicaBroadway & 5th St|Downtown LAMain St & Alameda St|In Santa Monica: Santa Monica Bl, Bundy DrExpress Portion: I-10In Downtown LA: Grand Av/Olive St, Figueroa St/Flower St, Temple St|Weekday, peak hours|

• See also: Metro Rapid
• Operates into Downtown LA in the AM rush and into Downtown Santa Monica in the PM rush
• Serves Expo/Bundy station

!Rapid 12|Westwood UCLA {{Small|(At Gateway Plaza)}}|Culver CityOverland Av & Venice Bl|Westwood Bl, Overland Av|Daily|

• See also: Metro Rapid
• Evening peak hour trips are sometimes platooned

Bus fleet

Big Blue Bus currently maintains a fleet of 195 buses of various lengths including 29’, 40’, and 60’ articulated, with 35-footers set to be delivered in 2025. In 2018, Big Blue Bus received its last ever internal combustion vehicle. 19 buses out of its total fleet are currently battery-electric.WEB, Big Blue Bus Receives $22.9 Million State Grant for Fleet Electrification, Workforce Development, and Customer Experience Enhancements - Big Blue Bus,www.bigbluebus.com/Newsroom/Press/Big-Blue-Bus-Receives-$22-9-Million-State-Grant-for-Fleet-Electrification,-Workforce-Development,-and-Customer-Experience-Enhancements.aspx?type=Press, 2023-09-08, www.bigbluebus.com, All buses feature destination signs. Newer buses (units 1801 and later) feature white LED destination signs, while older units feature a variety of other colors. The fleet is currently being equipped with passenger information displaysWEB, We’re Upgrading Our Fleet Communications System - Big Blue Bus,www.bigbluebus.com/Newsroom/News/We-re-Upgrading-Our-Fleet-Communications-System.aspx?type=News, 2023-12-05, www.bigbluebus.com, in place of the older dot-light signs. These are part of a fleet-wide communications system replacement with Clever Devices systems. The new passenger displays currently feature a three-day weather forecast, upcoming stops with time to arrival, and the line’s final destination. As part of this upgrade, electric buses also gain access to Clever’s EV fleet integration software during the agency’s transition to a zero-emissions fleet. This also enables vehicles to generate more frequent and accurate GPS data for tracking purposes, such as the Transit app. Buses 1808 and newer currently offer complementary onboard Wi-Fi.WEB, FREE Wi-Fi Now Available On Select Buses - Big Blue Bus,www.bigbluebus.com/Newsroom/News/FREE-Wi-Fi-Now-Available-on-Select-Buses.aspx?type=News, However, as part of the system upgrade program, older buses are also being equipped with Wi-Fi.Big Blue Bus has evaluated two main options for zero-emissions propulsion of its buses in an effort to decarbonize its fleet by 2030. Both hydrogen fuel cell and battery-electric buses have been considered.WEB, Zero-Emission Bus Rollout Plan,ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/Santa%20Monica%20BBB_ROP_ADA08052020.pdf, live,web.archive.org/web/20220203223100/https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/Santa%20Monica%20BBB_ROP_ADA08052020.pdf, 3 February 2022, California Air Resources Board, The agency has determined that battery-electric buses can replace their CNG buses at current service levels with a 1:1 replacement ratio. Big Blue Bus is installing charging for 100+ buses at its depot using a canopy with overhead reel dispensers, a project set to be complete by the end of 2024. 2010 and 2011 El Dorado EZR II- BRT 32’ CNG models are in need of replacement and are set to be replaced with 15 35-foot Gillig Low Floor Plus EV models.WEB, Santa Monica City Council: Approval of Agreement with Gillig LLC to Purchase Fifteen 35-foot Battery Electric Buses,santamonicacityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?ID=5304&highlightTerms=Gillig, Moreover, Big Blue Bus’ 2011 NABI LFW 40’ and NABI BRT 60’ units are nearing the end of their life expectancy and have already passed federal minimums by age.WEB, Bus Testing Procedures- GovInfo,www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2006-title49-vol7/pdf/CFR-2006-title49-vol7-part665-subpartC.pdf,

Active fleet {| class“wikitable sortable” style@width:95%;font-size:90%;”

!Manufacturer!Model!Length (ft)!Fleet Numbers!Thumbnail!Year!Fuel!Engine!Transmission!NotesGilligBRT40|1300||2012CNG|Cummins Westport ISL G|Voith D864.5||1301-1344||2013|Cummins Westport ISL G|Voith D864.5||1345-1357||2014|Cummins Westport ISL G|Voith D864.5||1500-1510center|130x130px)|2015|Cummins Westport ISL G|Allison B400R|New Flyer Xcelsior>New Flyer|XN60|60|1560-1566center|130x130px)|2015|Cummins Westport ISL G|Allison B500R|

• Used primarily on Rapid services

Gillig BRT|29|1600-1603center|130x130px)|2015|Cummins Westport ISL G|Allison B400R||40|1701-1725||2016-2017|Cummins Westport ISL G NZ|Allison B400R||29|1801-1807||2018|Cummins Westport L9N|Allison B400R|40|1808-1826||2018|Cummins Westport L9N|Allison B400R|Low Floor Plus|1827||2018ElectricCummins BESDirect drive

• Unit 1827 is a Gillig prototype and features the old livery and interior design
• Units 2101-2118 and newer feature the redesigned livery with dark blue on the bottom third and light blue on the top. Up until these buses, the primary livery consisted of a bottom and top section connected by a downwards facing curve, but these buses now have a straight line separating the bottom and top two thirds
• Units 2101-2118 feature power-assisted wheelchair securement devices and later units removed all but one of the forward-facing rows in the low-floor section in favor of the bus in favor of sideways seating and increased standing room

|2101-2118center|173x173px)|2021ENCE-Z Rider II BRT32|2900-2904center|130x130px)|2010CNG|Cummins Westport ISL G|Allison B300R

• Originally powered with a gasoline electric hybrid system. Later converted to CNG.
• Soon to be retired and replaced by Gillig 35-footers
• Regularly suffer mechanical issues during revenue service leading to 40-foot buses to be occasionally used on 30-foot routes

|2905-2914||2012|Cummins Westport ISL G|Allison B300RNABI|LFW|40|3868-3876center|130x130px)|2011|Cummins Westport ISL G|Allison B400R|BRT60|5300-5310center|130x130px)||Cummins Westport ISL G|Allison B500R|

• Used primarily on Rapid services

|5311-5320|||Cummins Westport ISL G|Allison B500R|

• Used primarily on Rapid services

Awaiting Delivery {| class“wikitable“|+

!Manufacturer!Model!Length (ft)!Year!Quantity (Fleet Numbers)!Fuel!Powertrain!Notes|Gillig|Low Floor Plus|35|2025|15 (2401–2415)|Electric|Cummins Accelera|

• Set to replace ElDorado 32-footers from 2010 through 2012 which are at end of useful lives

Future and Electrification

Following the success of Big Blue Bus’ pilot with a prototype Gillig/Cummins BEB (unit 1827), the agency committed to only purchasing zero-emission vehicles moving forward. Big Blue Bus charges its electric fleet with 100 percent renewable energy. The second batch of battery-electric buses are expected in 2025. The agency has set itself a 2030 deadline for full conversion to zero-emissions operation, which as of February 2023, it has determined it can achieve with exclusively battery-electric buses.The agency is slated to replace vehicles as they reach the end of their useful service lives. Next to be replaced are El Dorado 32’ BRT models, with delivery of replacement Gillig 35’ Low Floor EVs slated for 2025. The agency’s fleet of remaining NABI vehicles is the next group of buses to be replaced.Due to dynamic service changes, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ridership changes, amongst other factors, the agency is pursuing a more dynamic fleet replacement timeline than that which was outlined in their original CARB document.

Incidents

On November 20, 2012, a Big Blue Bus turned left in front of an oncoming motorcyclist, which resulted in the 25-year-old man’s death. The accident occurred at approximately 10:33 a.m. at the triangular intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Marquez in the Pacific Palisades. Only buses are allowed to make the left turn, a maneuver that has been determined to be too dangerous for other vehicles.On June 7, 2013, Bus 4057 of Big Blue Bus was among several vehicles fired at during a thirteen-minute killing spree that left six people dead, including the gunman, and four others wounded. Three women suffered minor injuries aboard the bus, one from shrapnel-type injuries and the other two from injuries unrelated to the gunfire.NEWS,www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57588276/santa-monica-shootings-leave-multiple-victims-gunman-dead/, Injured victims of Santa Monica shooting, Cbsnews.com, June 10, 2013, Approximately two dozen people were inside the bus at the time of the shooting. The attack on Bus 4057 marked the first time a Big Blue Bus came under attack by a gunman in its 85-year service.WEB,www.smgov.net/uploadedFiles/Departments/OEM/Video_Archive/Santa%20Monica%20Shooting%20Experience%20verFeb%202014.pdf, “City of Santa Monica: July 7th, 2013 Shooting Incident After-Action Report”, October 7, 2019,

In popular culture

Speed“>

Speed

Two humorous slogans Santa Monica Bank used on Big Blue Buses appeared in the film Speed.NEWS,articles.latimes.com/1999/dec/01/local/me-39410, Bus Line’s One-Liners to Stop, Pool, Bob, 1999-12-01, Los Angeles Times, 2018-02-02, en-US, 0458-3035, The bus operator in the movie is called the Santa Monica Intercity Bus Lines, a fictionalized version of the Big Blue Bus’s official name, the Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines.

Raymond Chandler

In Raymond Chandler’s novel Farewell, My Lovely, first published in 1940, he writes as protagonist Philip Marlowe, describing a scene in Bay City (Chandler’s version of the City of Santa Monica): Curb Your Enthusiasm“>

Curb Your Enthusiasm

In the Curb Your Enthusiasm episode “Namaste” (season 9, episode 7), Larry David is forced to catch a bus, an activity he is not accustomed to. The endeavor ends with Larry being kicked off the bus.The bus station is the Montana/San-Vincente station in Brentwood which serves lines 14 and 18.WEB,www.theringer.com/tv/2017/11/13/16643556/curb-your-enthusiasm-season-9-episode-7, Who Won ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ Week 7?, Miles, Surrey, November 13, 2017, The Ringer, October 7, 2019,

The Doors

The lyric from The Doors song “The End” “The blue bus is calling us” is sometimes said to refer to the Big Blue Buses but according Ray Manzarek this is apocryphal.WEB, SongFacts: “The End” by The Doors,www.songfacts.com/facts/the-doors/the-end,

References

{{Reflist}}

Further reading

Ayer, Bob. History of Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus. Santa Monica, CA: City of Santa Monica, 1992.

External links

{{Commons category-inline}}

• {{Official websitewww.bigbluebus.com/ }}
• Google Map of Routes (last updated 2007)

{{Southern California Transit}}{{Greater Los Angeles Area Public Transit}}{{USBRT}}{{Authority control}}