Changes Proposed For Big Blue Bus

A community meeting is set for Wednesday for a discussion on proposed service and policy changes in store for the Big Blue Bus.

The meeting is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21 at in the multipurpose room of the Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., according to BBB.

The Big Blue Bus' management team plans to install new fare boxes in order to introduce smart cards in 2014.  

"Another proposal that will help keep the base fare at $1 and reduce fraud is to discontinue sales of local transfers (used for multiple BBB trips; inter-agency transfers would still be sold and accepted)," according to the BBB's website. 

Due to a budget deficit, there are plans to reroute buses from underperforming routes to busier locations. 

Here are the proposed new routes, as posted on the BBB's website:

• Sunset Ride: As of August 25, the Sunset Ride will be on detour (i.e. operating to Pico Blvd. only) due to SMC’s Academy of Entertainment & Technology being closed for construction. BBB will propose City Council adoption of this detour as the new version of this route.
• Route 11: Since this service is duplicative, i.e. customers riding between UCLA and SMC can take Route 8 or a combination of Route 8 or 7/Rapid 7 and 12/Rapid 12, BBB will make a proposal to City Council to discontinue it and reallocate operators/buses.