Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus

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Area served Santa Monica, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Founded 1928[1]
Fleet size 200
Number of routes 16 (local)
4 (Rapid)
Ridership 18,841,607
(2014, annual)[2]
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

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

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.[3]
  • 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[4] 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".[5]
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.[6] 11 units remain.[7]
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
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.[8][9][10]
  • 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.[11]
  • 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
5201-5210 1990 MCI Classic
(TC40-102A) 		Detroit Diesel 6V92TA Allison V731
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

References

  1. ↑ Historical Info, Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus.
  2. ↑ Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus (Big Blue Bus) - 2014 Annual Agency Profile National Transit Database. Retrieved on May 8, 2017.
  3. ↑ City Council Meeting: April 14, 2015, Agenda Item: 3-B, City of Santa Monica. Retrieved on December 3, 2015.
  4. ↑ Award Contract with Gillig LLC for Purchase of Battery Electric Buses. City of Santa Monica/
  5. ↑ www.imcdb.org
  6. ↑ transitsales.com
  7. ↑ transitsales.com
  8. ↑ www.rapidtransit-press.com
  9. ↑ www.rapidtransit-press.com
  10. ↑ www.rapidtransit-press.com
  11. ↑ boise.craigslist.org


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