DOWNTOWN — Loyal riders of the Big Blue Bus will notice some changes beginning this Sunday, officials said.
But don’t expect anything major.
“While we continue to analyze performance from the last service change [in August 2011], there will be no substantial adjustments this time around,” said Ed King, director of the BBB. “We look forward to spending the next several months focusing on improving delivery of our current services.”
As the spring semester starts at Santa Monica College, BBB staff will monitor the traditional increase in student ridership during the first few weeks of the semester to ensure there are enough buses on the road to transport riders, especially along the busy local Route 7, Rapid 7 and Sunset Ride services.
Transit staff and safety officers will also be on-site near the main SMC campus and John Adams Middle School to help facilitate the flow of traffic and protect pedestrians, BBB officials said.
BBB riders should be aware of the following, going into effect Sunday:
• Route 4: The weekday schedule remains the same. There will be some schedule changes on weekends and holidays. Trips to Downtown that change into Route 8 trips to UCLA will now do so from Broadway at Fourth Street (instead of Broadway at Second Street).
• Rapid 7: In response to rider demand, new stops will be added on Pico Boulevard at Avenue of the Stars in both directions. There will be no schedule changes.
• Route 8: There will be minor schedule changes. Also service will end on Sixth Street at Broadway (there will still be service to stops on Broadway at Fourth Street and on Second Street at Colorado Avenue).
• Rapid 10: There will be minor schedule changes.
Changes proposed at community meetings in March and September of 2011 regarding Route 5, Route 12 and Super 12 are still being considered, but none of them are likely to begin prior to August 2012.
Riders with questions or feedback about the changes should contact BBB customer service at (310) 451-5444 or bus-info@smgov.net.
The BBB is a service of City Hall, operating a fleet of over 200 energy-efficient vehicles that transport more than 70,000 riders daily across nearly 52-square mile service area.
Changes to service are made three times a year: in February, June and August.
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