Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus

Area served	Santa Monica, CA Los Angeles, CA
Founded	1928
Fleet size	200
Number of routes	16 (local) 4 (Rapid)
Ridership	18,841,607 (2014, annual)
Union	SMART-TD Local 1785
Website	bigbluebus.com
Facebook	@SMBigBlueBus
Instagram	@bigbluebus
Twitter	@SMBigBlueBus

Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus, publicly branded as Big Blue Bus, operates 16 local and 4 "Rapid" bus routes in the cities of Santa Monica and Los Angeles and their environs in California.

History

• Established in 1928 by the City of Santa Monica as Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines to compete with the privately-owned Bay Cities Transit Company.
• In 1950, SMMBL purchased Bay Cities Transit Company after that bus company and the City of Santa Monica were financially struggling by the rising costs.
• In 1999, this bus system's name was officially changed to Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus.

Routes

• Schedules
• System Map (downloadable PDF file)

Local routes

• 1 - Santa Monica Boulevard (Daily from 5am-Midnight) - UCLA/Venice
• 2 - Wilshire Boulevard (Daily from 6am-11pm) - UCLA/Venice
• 3 - Lincoln Blvd (Daily from 5am-Midnight) - UCLA/Aviation Metro Green Line Station
• 5 - Olympic Boulevard (Daily from 5am-10pm) - Santa Monica/Culver City Metro Expo Line Station
• 7 - Pico Boulevard (Daily from 4:45am-11:45pm) - Santa Monica/Pico-Rimpau Blvd.
• 8 - Ocean Park Boulevard (Daily from 6am-Midnight) - Santa Monica/UCLA
• 9 - Sunset Boulevard (Daily from 6am-10pm) - Santa Monica/Pacific Palisades
• 14 - Bundy Dr & Centinela Ave (Daily from 6am-10pm) - Brentwood/Culver City
• 15 - Barrington Avenue (Daily from 6am-7:45pm) - Brentwood
• 16 - Wilshire Blvd & Bundy Dr (Weekdays from 5:30am-8:15pm) - West Los Angeles/Marina Del Rey
• 17 - UCLA/VA Medical Center/Palms (Daily from 6am-10pm) - Culver City/UCLA
• 18 - UCLA/Abbott Kinney/Mariana Del Ray (Daily from 6am-10pm) - Mariana Del Ray/Brentwood
• 41 - 17th Street Station/SMC/Montana (Daily from 6am-9pm) - Clockwise
• 42 - 17th Street Station/SMC/Montana (Daily from 6am-9pm) - Counter-clockwise
• 43 - San Vicente Blvd & 26th Street (Weekdays from 6am-9:30am & 1:15pm-7:15pm) - Santa Monica/Brentwood
• 44 - SMC Campus Connector (Weekdays from 6:30am-6:30pm) - Santa Monica/Santa Monica College/Ocean Park

Rapid routes

• R3 - Lincoln Boulevard (Weekdays from 5:45am-10:30am & 1:30pm-9pm) - Santa Monica/Aviation-LAX Metro Green Line Station
• R7 - Pico Boulevard (Weekdays from 5:30am-11:30pm) - Santa Monica/Pico-Rimpau/Wilshire-Western Metro Purple Line Station
• R10 - Freeway Express (Daily from 5:30am-9:30pm) - Santa Monica/Santa Monica College (Select Weekday westbound trips only)/Downtown Los Angeles
• R12 - UCLA Commuter (Weekdays from 6am-10am to UCLA; 2pm-6pm from UCLA) - UCLA Ackerman Terminal/Culver City Metro Expo Line Station

Fares

• Current

Facilities

Transit Store/Customer Service Center

• Address: 1334 5th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401
• Phone: 310-451-5444

Garage/Offices

• Address: 1660 7th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401-3324

Roster

Active

Fleet Number(s)	Thumbnail	Build Date	Manufacturer	Model	Engine	Transmission	Notes
1300		2012	Gillig	BRT CNG 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins Westport ISL G	Voith D864.5	Sports the newer "Big Blue Bus" livery.
1301-1344		2013	Gillig	BRT CNG 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins Westport ISL G	Voith D864.5	Sport the newer "Big Blue Bus" livery.
1345-1357		2014	Gillig	BRT CNG 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins Westport ISL G	Voith D864.5	Sport the newer "Big Blue Bus" livery.
1500-1510		2015	Gillig	BRT CNG 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins Westport ISL G	Allison B400R	Sport the newer "Big Blue Bus" livery.
1560-1566		2015	NFI	XN60	Cummins Westport ISL G	Allison B500R	Sport the newer "Big Blue Bus" livery.
1600-1603		2015	Gillig	BRT CNG 29' (G27E102N2)	Cummins Westport ISL G	Allison B400R	Delivered between December 2015 and January 2016. Sport the newer "Big Blue Bus" livery.
1701-1725		2016-2017	Gillig	BRT CNG 40' (G27D102N4) (G31D102N4)	Cummins Westport ISL G NZ	Allison B400R	1701-1705 are 2016 models, while 1706-1725 are 2017 models. Sport the newer "Big Blue Bus" livery.
1801-1807		2018	Gillig	BRT CNG 29' (G31E102R2)	Cummins Westport L9N	Allison B400R	Entered service on 4/2/2018. Sport the newer "Big Blue Bus" livery.
1808-1826		2018	Gillig	BRT CNG 40' (G31D102N4)	Cummins Westport L9N	Allison B400R	Entered service 10/10/18 (1808, 1812) Replaced many New Flyer L40LF buses.
1827		2018	Gillig	Low Floor EV 40'	Cummins BES	Direct drive	Expected to be delivered on October 2018 Spotted near the Gillig Plant in Livermore on 5/2/19, delivered in July 2019
2101-2118		2021	Gillig	Low Floor EV 40' (G28D102N4)	Cummins BES	Direct drive
2900-2904		2010	ElDorado	E-Z Rider II BRT HEV 32'	Cummins Westport ISL G	Allison B300R	Former gasoline-electric hybrids. Converted to CNG in 2014. Sport a modified version of the newer "Big Blue Bus" livery.
2905-2914		2012	ElDorado	E-Z Rider II BRT CNG 32'	Cummins Westport ISL G	Allison B300R	Sport the newer "Big Blue Bus" livery.
3868-3876		2011	NABI	40-LFW CNG (40LFW.51)	Cummins Westport ISL G	Allison B400R	Part of contract that would have seen 58 units over 5 years BBB did not exercise the option on the remaining 49 units; instead opted for the Gilligs Purchased in part with ARRA funding Sport the newer "Big Blue Bus" livery.
5300-5310		2010	NABI	60-BRT CNG (60BRT.14)	Cummins Westport ISL G	Allison B500R	Exclusively used on Rapid Lines 3, 7 & 10. On weekends they are used on Line 3. Sport the newer "Big Blue Bus" livery.
5311-5320		2011	NABI	60-BRT CNG (60BRT.14)	Cummins Westport ISL G	Allison B500R	Exclusively used on Rapid Lines 3, 7 & 10. On weekends they are used on Line 3. Sport the newer "Big Blue Bus" livery.

On Order

Fleet Number(s)	Thumbnail	Build Date	Manufacturer	Model	Engine	Transmission	Notes

Retired

Fleet Number(s)	Thumbnail	Build Date	Manufacturer	Model	Engine	Transmission	Notes
101-115		1953	GMC	TDH-3714	Detroit Diesel 4-71		101, 102, 104, & 103 to Culver CityBus 3701-3704.
116-126		1954	GMC	TDH-3714	Detroit Diesel 4-71
471-472		1980	MCI	MC-9	Detroit Diesel 6V92TA	Allison HT-740
2601-2603		1996	APS Systems	P10-01A			Electric buses Used for Tide Shuttle service. Retired in 2004.
2604-2605		2000	APS Systems	P10-01A			Electric buses Used for Tide Shuttle service. Retired in 2004.
2606-2615		2000	Thomas Dennis	SLF230	Cummins B5.9	Allison AT-545	Many units were used for Tide Shuttle service starting in 2004. Retired in July 2010.
3801-3867		1997-1998	NFI	D40LF	Detroit Diesel Series 50	Allison B400R	20 known units were bought by Transit Sales International. Possibly 4 units were bought by Frank's Star-Dust Tours, Inc. DBA The Bus. 3865 was bought by Scott Richards/Regional Transit Service from Zacher's Auto Salvage in June 2014. 3854, 3844, 3851, 3802, 3813, 3835, 3864, 3806, 3808, 3832 & 3830 to IndyGo 9789-9799. 1 unit to Transtar 4006; later transferred to Escot Bus Lines.
4001-4037		2002	NABI	40-LFW LNG (040.23)	Detroit Diesel Series 50G	Allison B400R
4038-4089		2004-2005	NFI	L40LF	Cummins Westport C Gas Plus	ZF 6HP592C	Retired in 2021
4090-4099		2006	NFI	L40LF	Cummins Westport C Gas Plus	ZF 6HP592C	2005 models. Last New Flyer L40LF buses ever built. Retired in 2021
4101-4102		1966	GMC	SDM-4502	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	4-speed manual
4201-4205		1973	GMC	T6H-4523A	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison	Sold to Welland Transit in 1997.
4206-4210		1975	AMG	9635A-6	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison VS2-6	Retired in 1988. View the series page for detailed disposition info.
4501-4513		1955	GMC	TDH-4512	Detroit Diesel 6-71	Allison VH
4514-4526		1956	GMC	TDH-4512	Detroit Diesel 6-71	Allison VH
4551-4554		1960	GMC	TDH-4517	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison VH
4555-4564		1961	GMC	TDH-4517	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison VH
4565-4566		1963	GMC	TDH-4517	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison VH
4567-4568		1963	GMC	TDH-4519	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison VH
4569-4573		1965	GMC	TDH-4519	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison VH	4573 appears in a scene in the season two Adam-12 episode "Log 134".
4574-4577		1969	GMC	T6H-4521A	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison
4701-4715		1979	Grumman-Flxible	870 (53102-8-1)	Detroit Diesel 8V71TAE	Allison V730	1 unit to Airocar Inc./Gray Line of Orlando 4003 circa 1993.
4716-4747		1980	Grumman-Flxible	870 (53102-8-1)	Detroit Diesel 8V71TAE	Allison V730	6 units to Santa Cruz Metro 8069-8074.
4748-4762		1981	Grumman-Flxible	870 (40102-6)	Detroit Diesel 6V92TA	Allison V730	Retired in 1996.
4801-4821		1995	Nova Bus	Classic (TC40-102A)	Detroit Diesel Series 50	Allison B400R	All units retired as of Fall 2011. Last high floor transit buses in Santa Monica fleet. 12 known units were bought by Transit Sales International. 11 units remain.
4801-4808 (1st)		1957	GMC	TDH-4801	Detroit Diesel 6-71	Allison VH
4901-4925		1973	GMC	T8H-5307A	Detroit Diesel 8V71N	Allison
4926-4942		1975	AMG	10240A-8	Detroit Diesel 8V71N	Allison VS2-8
4951-4960		1991	MCI	Classic (TC40-102A)	Detroit Diesel 6V92TA	Allison V731	1992 models. 4951, 4954 to Fort McMurray Transit 3523, 3522 in 2008. 4958 to Beaver Bus Lines 49 in 2009.
5101-5113 (1st)		1958	GMC	TDH-5105	Detroit Diesel 6-71	Allison VH
5101-5122		1982	GMDD	T8H-5307A	Detroit Diesel 8V71N	Allison V730	All units were bought by Mississauga Truck and Bus and were sold to Barrie Transit, Brampton Transit and STCUQ.
5123-5180		1985-1986	GMDD	T8H-5307A	Detroit Diesel 6V92TA	Allison V730	Last Fishbowls ever built. 5142, 5128 & 5176 were bought by Frank's All City Lines. 5142 was renumbered 5101. Many units were sold to Canadian properties after retirement. 5162 was bought by Loren Joplin/Dreamliner Bus Leasing & Service. It was sold to a private owner in Concord, CA. It was later sold to a 2nd owner in Idaho. Eventually circa 2015, it was sold to a 3rd owner and it was converted into an RV. It was listed on Craigslist in Nampa, ID in December 2018. 5180 is preserved in the Big Blue Bus yard.
5181-5190		1988	MCI	Classic (TC40-102A)	Detroit Diesel 6V92TA	Allison V731
5191-5200		1989	MCI	Classic (TC40-102A)	Detroit Diesel 6V92TA	Allison V731	5196, 5199 to 87-88 in 2006. 5197 to Woodstock Transit 06-04 in 2006.
5201-5210		1990	MCI	Classic (TC40-102A)	Detroit Diesel 6V92TA	Allison V731	5201-5202 to Fort McMurray Transit 3524-3525 in 2008. 5205 to Galland Mont-Tremblant 719. 5207, 5209 to Strathcona County Transit 883, 882 in 2006.
5301-5308		1959	GMC	TDH-5301	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison VH
5309-5310		1960	GMC	TDH-5301	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison VH
5311-5320		1962	GMC	TDH-5301	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison VH
5321-5326		1963	GMC	TDH-5301	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison VH
5327-5336		1963	GMC	TDH-5303	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison VH
5337-5346		1964	GMC	TDH-5303	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison VH
5347-5356		1966	GMC	TDH-5303	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison VH9
5357-5366		1967	GMC	TDH-5303	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison VH9
5367-5374		1968	GMC	T6H-5305	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison
5375-5377		1971	GMC	T6H-5305	Detroit Diesel 6V71N	Allison
5501-5504		2000	MCI	D4500	Detroit Diesel Series 60	Allison B500R	2001 models