| Big Blue Bus | |
| Parent: | City of Santa Monica, Department of Transportation |
| Founded: | 1928 (as Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines) |
| Headquarters: | Santa Monica, California |
| Locale: | Santa Monica, Westwood, and Venice, California |
| Routes: | 17[1] |
| Fleet: | 195 |
| Ridership: | |
| Annual Ridership: | |
| Fuel Type: | CNG, Electric |
| Ceo: | Anuj Gupta |
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, the system had a ridership of, or about per weekday as of . 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.
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.[2] 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.[3]
Santa Monica established the bus line in response to a fare increase on the Pacific Electric interurban trains between Santa Monica and Los Angeles.[4]
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.[5]
Big Blue Bus operates 18 bus lines: 12 regular routes, 2 rapid routes, and 1 circulator route. On weekends and holidays with weekend service, the agency operates 10 bus lines: 9 regular routes and 1 rapid route.
In 2024, the agency underwent 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. [6]
Sunday schedules are operated on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
| Route | Terminals | Via | Days of Operation | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Westwood UCLA | Venice Grand Bl & Riviera Av | Santa Monica Bl, Main St | Daily |
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| 2 | Westwood UCLA | Santa Monica Main St & Olympic Dr | Wilshire Bl | Daily |
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| 3 | Santa Monica Arizona Av & 5th St | Westchester LAX/Metro Transit Center | Lincoln Bl | Daily | ||
| 5 | Santa Monica Santa Monica College | Palms Palms station | Olympic Bl, Motor Av | Weekdays |
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| 7 | Santa Monica 7th St & Olympic Bl | Mid-Wilshire Wilshire/Western station | Pico Bl | Daily |
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| 8 | Santa Monica 7th St & Olympic Bl | Westwood UCLA | Ocean Park Bl | Daily |
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| 9 | Pacific Palisades Sunset Bl & Marquez Av | Santa Monica Main St & Olympic Dr | Sunset Bl, Chatauqua Bl, 4th St | Daily |
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| 14 | Brentwood Bringham Av & Gorham Av | Culver City Mall Culver City Transit Center | Bundy Dr, Centinela Av | Daily |
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| 15 | Brentwood Barrington Pl & Chayote St | West LA Expo/Bundy station | Barrington Av | Weekdays | ||
| 16 | Playa del Rey Culver Bl & Vista Del Mar | West LA Saltair Av & Wilshire Bl | Walgrove Av, 23rd St, 20th St | Weekdays |
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| 17 | Westwood UCLA | Culver City Culver City station | Sawtelle Bl, Palms Bl | Daily |
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| 18 | Westwood UCLA | Marina Del Rey Via Marina & Admiralty Wy | Montana Av, 4th St | Daily |
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| 41 | Santa Monica Santa Monica College | 14th St, 20th St | Weekdays |
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| 43 | Santa Monica Santa Monica College | Santa Monica San Vicente Bl & 14th St | 26th St, San Vicente Bl | Weekdays, peak hours |
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| 44 | Santa Monica 17th Street/SMC station | West LA Santa Monica College Bundy Campus | Bundy Dr, Ocean Park Bl, 17th St | SMC School Days |
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| Route | Terminals | Via | Days of Operation | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express 9 | Pacific Palisades Sunset Bl & Marquez Av | Santa Monica 4th & Colorado | Pacific Coast Highway | School days |
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| Rapid 10 | Santa Monica Broadway & 5th St | Downtown LA Main St & Alameda St | In Santa Monica: Santa Monica Bl, Bundy Dr Express Portion: I-10 In Downtown LA: Grand Av/Olive St, Figueroa St/Flower St, Temple St | Weekday, peak hours |
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| Rapid 12 | Westwood UCLA | Culver City Overland Av & Venice Bl | Westwood Bl, Overland Av | Daily |
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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.[9] 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. In 2024, the fleet was equipped with passenger information displays[10] in place of the older dot-light signs. These are part of a fleet-wide communications system replacement with Clever Devices systems. The 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 1808-1827 and 2101-2118 came standard with free passenger Wi-Fi; this was added to the rest of the fleet with the installation of the new fleet comms systems.
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.[11] 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 set to be replaced with 15 35-foot Gillig Low Floor Plus EV models.[12] Moreover, Big Blue Bus' 2011 NABI LFW 40' and NABI BRT 60' units have already exceeded their design life.[13] The agency has subsequently delayed its fleet electrification deadline to 2031.[14]
| Fleet numbers | Thumbnail | Make/Model | Year | Engine | Transmission | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300 | GilligBRT CNG 40' | 2012 | Cummins Westport ISL-G | Voith D864.5 | ||
| 1301-1344 | GilligBRT CNG 40' | 2013 | Cummins Westport ISL-G | Voith D864.5 | ||
| 1345-1357 | GilligBRT CNG 40' | 2014 | Cummins Westport ISL-G | Voith D864.5 | ||
| 1500-1510 | GilligBRT CNG 40' | 2015 | Cummins Westport ISL-G | Allison B400R | ||
| 1560-1566 | New Flyer XN60 | 2015 | Cummins Westport ISL-G | Allison B500R | ||
| 1600-1603 | GilligBRT CNG 29' | 2016 | Cummins Westport ISL-G | Allison B300R | ||
| 1701-1705 | GilligBRT CNG 40' | 2016 | Cummins Westport ISL-G | Allison B400R | ||
| 1706-1725 | GilligBRT CNG 40' | 2017 | Cummins Westport ISL-G NZ | Allison B400R | ||
| 1801-1807 | GilligBRT CNG 29' | 2018 | Cummins Westport L9N | Allison B300R | ||
| 1808-1826 | GilligBRT CNG 40' | 2018 | Cummins Westport L9N | Allison B400R | ||
| 1827 | GilligLow Floor Plus 40' | 2018 | Cummins BES | Direct drive | ||
| 2101-2118 | GilligLow Floor Plus 40' | 2021 | Cummins BES | Direct drive | ||
| 2501-2515 | GilligLow Floor Plus 35' | 2025 | Cummins BES | Direct drive | ||
| 3868-3876 | NABI40-LFW CNG | 2011 | Cummins Westport ISL G | Allison B400R | ||
| 5300-5310 | NABI60-BRT CNG | 2010 | Cummins Westport ISL-G | Allison B500R | ||
| 5311-5320 | NABI60-BRT CNG | 2011 | Cummins Westport ISL-G | Allison B500R |
| Gillig | Low Floor Plus | 40 | 2027 | 30 (2701–2730) | Electric |
| ENC | E-Z Rider II BRT | 30 | 2900-2914 |
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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. The agency has delayed its fleet electrification commitment to 2031.
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.[16] 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.[17] 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.[18]
On the morning of January 7th, 2025, service on Route 9 was discontinued due to the Palisades Fire. Service was truncated to San Vicente with a modified schedule and restored Tuesday, January 21st, 2025.[19] Express service remains discontinued.
See main article: Speed (1994 film). Two humorous slogans Santa Monica Bank used on Big Blue Buses appeared in the film Speed.[20] 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.
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):
"Outside the narrow street fumed, the sidewalks swarmed with fat stomachs. Across the street a bingo parlor was going full blast and beside it a couple of sailors with girls were coming out of a photographer's shop where they had probably been having their photos taken riding on camels. The voice of the hot dog merchant split the dusk like an axe. A big blue bus blared down the street to the little circle where the street car used to turn on a turntable. I walked that way."
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.[21]
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.[22]
