Nationwide Bus Driver Shortage Prompts Big Blue Bus Schedule Changes

SANTA MONICA, CA — As the nation struggles with a bus operator shortage, riders of Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus experienced increasing numbers of late and canceled buses.

Due to the shortage, starting Jan. 15 schedule changes to multiple routes will be made to match current staffing levels and provide more predictable service. Most routes that are impacted by the changes will have buses coming less often on Saturdays and others will run less frequently on weekdays during early morning and late evening hours.

The changes made to bus schedules are temporary, according to the city.

Some routes will be out of service until further notice following the changes.

Starting Jan. 15, the following changes will be made to previous routes:

Routes Out Of Service

• Pico Boulevard Express 7
  
  • Big Blue Bus officials suggested riders use Route 7 or Rapid 7, both at Pico Boulevard, for service between Downtown Santa Monica and Koreatown.
• Route 42 at the 17th Street station
  • The bus traveled counterclockwise on this route. Big Blue Bus officials recommended using Route 41, which goes to the same stops but travels clockwise.
• Santa Monica College Campus Connector Route 44

Weekend Only Schedule Changes

• Route 8 at Ocean Park Boulevard
  
  • Buses now run a Sunday schedule on Saturday.
• Rapid Route 12 UCLA/Westwood to Expo
  • Buses now run a Sunday schedule on Saturday.

Weekday Only Schedule Changes

• Rapid Route 3 at Lincoln Boulevard
  
  • Northbound trips will now operate between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. only, and all midday and evening service will be discontinued. Southbound trips will now operate between 3 pm. and 5 p.m. only, and all morning and midday service will be discontinued.
• Route 5 at Olympic Boulevard
  • Minor schedule adjustments were made, to view the updated schedule check here.
• Rapid Route 7 at Pico Boulevard
  • Minor schedule adjustments were made, to view the updated schedule check here. Eastbound trips at 6:40 a.m., 7 p.m. and 7:20 p.m. were also discontinued.
• Route 15 at Barrington Avenue
  • Minor schedule adjustments were made, to view the updated schedule check here. The trip at 6:45 p.m. was discontinued.
• Route 43 at San Vicente Boulevard and 26th Street
  • A new stop was added at Pico Boulevard at 17th Street, and the stop at Pico Boulevard at 16th Street was discontinued. The northbound trip at 5:56 p.m. and the southbound trip at 6:17 p.m. were also discontinued. To view the schedule adjustments check here.

Schedule Changes For All Days

• Route 1 at Main Street and Santa Monica Boulevard
  • Buses now run Sunday Schedule on Saturday and schedule adjustments were made for all days to improve service reliability. To view the schedule adjustments check here.
• Route 2 at Wilshire Boulevard
• Eastbound trips at 9:10 p.m., 9:40 p.m. and 10:10 p.m., were discontinued and the westbound trip at 9:20 p.m. was also discontinued. Additionally buses run on a Sunday schedule on Saturdays. To view the updated schedule for all days check here.
• Route 3 at Lincoln Boulevard
• Minor schedule adjustments were made on all days, to view the updated schedule check here.
• Route 7 at Pico Boulevard
• Westbound trips now serve Beverlywood at 7:04 a.m., 7:30 a.m. and 8:28 a.m. An Eastbound trip was also added that serves Beverlywood at 3:56 p.m. Additionally buses run on a Sunday schedule on Saturdays. To view the updated schedule for all days check here.
• Route 9 in Pacific Palisades
• Buses now run a Sunday schedule on Saturdays and adjustments to the everyday schedule were made to improve service reliability. To view the schedule adjustments check here.
• Route 14 at Bunny Drive and Centinela Avenue
• All trips on this route now begin and end at Westchester/Veterans Station in Inglewood and operate every 20 to 30 minutes between 6 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Additionally, the northbound stop at Centinela Avenue was discontinued. Buses also run on a Sunday schedule on Saturdays. To view the updated schedule for all days check here.
• Route 17 for UCLA, VA Medical Center and Palms
• The southbound trip at 10:15 p.m. was discontinued and buses now run on a Sunday schedule on Saturdays. To view the schedule adjustments for all days check here.
• Route 18 for UCLA, Abbot Kinney and Marina del Rey
• Southbound buses no longer travel on Sixth Street or Colorado Avenue south of Broadway in Downtown Santa Monica. To view the schedule adjustments for all days check here.
• Route 41 for Santa Monica College, 17th Street Station and Montana Avenue
• A new stop was added at Pico Boulevard at 17th Street, and the stop at Pico Boulevard at 16th Street was discontinued. On weekdays, the 7 p.m. trip was discontinued and other schedule adjustments were made to improve service reliability, which can be viewed here. Bus service on Saturday was discontinued.

Riders can visit bigbluebus.com, or download the Transit app, to plan a trip and view schedules. The Big Blue Bus team can also be reached at 310-451-5444 Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.