Santa Monica’s dedicated transportation system will be taking the next step in rider safety this weekend, as Big Blue Bus is set to introduce its fleet of safety officers onto high-traffic routes and specific bus stops.
Officers will begin duty on Sunday after the Transit Safety Officer program was passed unanimously by Santa Monica City Council on Jan. 23, and officials with the transportation program are excited for the new endeavor.
“We are introducing the Transit Safety Officer program to maintain our high standards for system comfort and safety, and ensure our service remains approachable and accessible for riders,” said Big Blue Bus Transit Safety and Training Manager Liseth Guizar. “The officers will be essential in addressing passenger concerns, and easing travel and fare payments.”
The safety officers, contracted from California-based company Good Guard Inc., will be unarmed and identifiable by their black uniforms. The group is specifically trained in assisting riders with navigating the regional bus and rail network, addressing safety and maintenance concerns reported by passengers, and improving overall conditions for bus riders. Good Guard Inc. was awarded a five-year contract from Big Blue Bus, and the company has already worked with the City of Santa Monica patrolling parking structures for roughly a year.
“Big Blue Bus has long maintained an exceptionally clean, safe and secure system,” Santa Monica Department of Transportation Director Anuj Gupta said of the endeavor. “We are introducing transit safety officers as another component of our multilayered approach to safety and customer experience, and to provide greater support to our dedicated riders and employees.”
Guizar explained to Council during the Jan. 23 meeting that the goal is “to get as much coverage throughout the system as possible” based on security incident data received from operators, citing the Route 3 bus to and from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) via Lincoln Blvd. as a high-incident epicenter. She added that guards would follow a predetermined path set out each day based on incident reports, more than likely changing buses and routes. Currently, peak weekdays have up to 124 buses on the road at any one time, with 64 on the weekends.
For coverage, Monday through Friday will have four guards for each of two eight-hour shifts, and the weekend will have one eight-hour shift with four guards deployed due to reduced service. Guizar told Council that number is all they have funding for at the moment, and are “hoping that it will make a difference.”
“We’re hoping that it’s also going to increase the perception of safety for our passengers, because we also do get, as I’m sure you get, complaints from the public about disturbances on the buses.” Guizar added at the Jan. 23 meeting. “We get those as well, and so we’re hoping that this is going to alleviate some of those concerns.”
This shift comes as Big Blue Bus offered the public a chance to share feedback on service improvements during a virtual workshop on Wednesday and an in-person workshop at the Santa Monica Main Library’s multipurpose room on Thursday. The organization’s Brighter Blue service planning initiative plans to “establish a roadmap for implementing system enhancements over the next five years,” taking into account changes in the region and operation environment as well as Big Blue Bus’ ongoing transition to a zero-emission fleet.