Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus has announced its August Service Change will begin Sunday, August 25 and Monday, August 26.
The transit authority said it had taken feedback from bus users and implemented changes that would provide additional service on some of BBB’s busiest routes with only minor schedule updates on various routes.
Routes 1, 2, 3, 8, 12 and Rapid 12
New transit hub: Ackerman Terminal is closed for construction so BBB will use a new transit hub located on Charles E. Young Dr. and Manning Ave.
Weekdays from 8pm to 7am and all day on weekends: Buses heading towards campus will detour onto Charles E. Young Dr. You can disembark at the stop on Westwood Plaza (outside of the Jules Stein Eye Center) or on Charles E. Young Dr. (in front of P2).
For riders leaving campus: please note that BBB is no longer able to serve the stop on southbound Westwood Blvd. at the Medical Center. You can catch a bus from Charles E. Young Dr. (in front of P2) or at any BBB stop on Hilgard Ave., Le Conte Ave, or on southbound Westwood Blvd. at Weyburn Ave.
Rapid 12 weekdays: If you are heading towards campus, buses will follow the same detour and serve all stops noted above. For riders leaving campus: please note that BBB is no longer able to serve the stop on southbound Westwood Blvd. at the Medical Center. You can catch a bus from Charles E. Young Dr. (in front of P2) or on southbound Westwood Blvd. at Weyburn Ave.
Please note: All weekday trips from 7am to 8pm will continue regular service to Hilgard Terminal.
Route 1, 2, 3 and 5
Schedule changes: Cancellation of various weekday morning trips (due to low ridership).
Route 3
Until Sunday, 9/1/13: Additional evening trips Thursday through Sunday only from Santa Monica to the Metro Green Line Station.
Rapid 3
More service: New mid-day trips added.
Route 6
Schedule changes:
— Cancellation of 6:25 pm trip from Palms to SMC and 1:20pm trip from SMC to Palms (due to low ridership).
— Service will operate during fall and spring semesters; no service during SMC breaks.
Route 7 & Sunset Ride
Limited time service: Extra service will run the first four weeks of the SMC fall semester.
Route 7 & Rapid 7 (June Service Change reminder)
Service increase: Frequency increased to every 12 minutes from every 15 minutes.
Route 8
New terminus: Service will begin/end on 7th St. at Broadway (outside of the fire house).
Schedule change: Weekday frequency decreased to every 20 minutes from 9:30am until 3:00pm (due to low ridership). The span of weekday service will continue to be from 6:08 am until approximately 11:30 pm.
Route 9
Route change: Once construction of the new turnaround is completed, buses will resume end of line service on Marquez Ave. at Sunset Blvd. (i.e. buses will no longer travel westbound on Marquez Ave.).
Rapid 10
Schedule changes:
Santa Monica College Express: The 6:31am trip from Union Station to SMC will now operate as a regular Rapid 10 trip only when SMC is in session. SMC-bound riders should disembark on Bundy Dr. at Pico Blvd., and then transfer to a westbound Route 7 or Rapid 7 bus. Riders not headed to SMC are advised to take the 6:36am trip (five minutes later) when SMC is not in session.
First weekday trip at 5:35 am departing from 4th Street at Santa Monica Blvd. will now leave five minutes earlier at 5:30 am to facilitate connections in Downtown Los Angeles.
Rapid 12
Schedule changes: Cancellation of three afternoon trips from UCLA to Expo and one afternoon trip from Expo to UCLA (due to low ridership).
Sunset Ride
Route change: Service between SMC’s Bundy Campus and Main Campus only for the next two years due to the temporary closure of SMC’s Academy of Entertainment and Technology campus.
New Route: Buses will travel regular route from SMC Bundy Campus to eastbound Pico Blvd., then turn right on 20th St. and head back to Bundy Campus. Buses will no longer operate:
— North of 20th St. at Pico Blvd.
— Eastbound Colorado Ave.
— Southbound Stewart St.
— Westbound Pico Blvd.
For more information, call 310.451.5444 or visit bigbluebus.com.
