Big Blue Bus is installing solar-powered LED signs that will show arrival times at 10 large bus shelters in Santa Monica and 166 bus stops in Los Angeles by mid-2019.
The 176 shelters and stops comprise 76 percent of BBB ridership. BBB will also add push-button activated LED lights to 14 small bus shelters in Santa Monica to improve safety.
In addition to retrofitting 190 high-volume bus stops, BBB has equipped 19 of its newest buses with free Wi-Fi and a wireless connection will be standard on all new buses.
The new features were informed by the results of an online survey that more than 555 BBB customers participated in. Riders voted for upgrades at their preferred bus stop locations and gave feedback on safety and performance.
“Through our community engagement efforts, our customers helped us prioritize investments, which included Wi-Fi, improved bus stop safety through lighting and the addition of real-time information,” said Ed King, director of transit services. “We aim to enhance the customer experience by taking the guesswork out of riding transit.”
The real-time signs will include a push button that when activated will play an audio recording of arrival times and also display information about detours and bus stop closures.
madeleine@smdp.com