Expo Line Transit Service Interface Proposal — Part 2: Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus (Source: MetroRiderLA)

Link: Expo Line Transit Service Interface Proposal — Part 2: Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus | MetroRiderLA

Expo Line Transit Service Interface Proposal — Part 2: Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus
Contributed by Wad on July 8th, 2009 at 2:00 am



Photo by Yours Truly; posted in the MetroRiderLA Flickr pool


Welcome back to the second installment in the Transit Service Interface Proposal for the Expo Line. Part 1 focused on changes for Culver CityBus. Part 2 focuses on the transit system everybody loves, Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus. When the Expo Line opens, there will be more of the periwinkle buses to love.

Santa Monica’s proposals would not grow the system as much as the line changes posited for Culver City. Some changes are included here to be concurrent with the first phase of Expo, even though the lines themselves would not connect with the train until it is extended to Santa Monica. Most of the changes that do connect with the Expo Line would focus more activity around the western end of the line.

This signals the end of the forced transfer at Crackton. It also means a concerted effort to get a one-seat ride along Pico Boulevard, ending almost 50 years of dumbassery, by merging Big Blue Bus Line 7 with Metro lines 30/31. For the other services, they would be rerouted to originate at the Expo Line. The Expo Line would also allow for a single transfer bus connection to such important Westside destinations as Century City, UCLA, the Westside Pavilion and Santa Monica College.

Santa Monica would offer nearly 20 lines, but with service levels closely approximating what is available now. You can see what the service looks like now on its existing system map. As a reminder, these proposals are not official by any agency and are not endorsed by them.

The table of changes follows the jump.

Line 1
Rationale: One of Santa Monica’s busiest routes would see a huge transformation. One plan would focus on keeping Santa Monica Boulevard service within the Westside. The other would bring it farther into Los Angeles.

The first plan would have Line 1 operate the sole service between Santa Monica and Venice. It would operate one-way service along Pacific Avenue and Main Street/Neilson Wy., consolidating Line 1 and Line 2. Furthermore, Line 1 would be extended to Venice High School. See Line 2 proposal below for proposals south of Santa Monica. Also, Line 1 would no longer serve UCLA and be extended east to Century City.

A more ambitious plan would have Line 1 take over Metro Line 4 service. Line 1 would operate between Santa Monica and Silver Lake by operating entirely along Santa Monica Boulevard. Metro would continue to operate Rapid Line 704. Local service on Sunset would be provided by New Metro Line 1 and Line 2 (see Eastside Gold Line Transit Service Interface Proposal). If this were adopted, the Venice route would be picked up by another as-yet-unnumbered Big Blue Bus line.

None of these plans would connect with Phase I of the Expo Line, but are included here as part of a restructuring tied to light rail service.

Route: (Westside Plan) Venice High School, Venice Bl., Beethoven St., Washington Bl., Walgrove Av., Venice Bl., Lincoln Bl., California Av., Abbot Kinney Bl., Westminster Av., Riviera Av., Windward Av., Main St./Pacific Av./Neilson Wy., 4th St. & Santa Monica Bl., Santa Monica Bl., Century Park W., and Constellation Bl.
(Full route plan) Century Park E., Santa Monica Bl., Vermont/Santa Monica Red Line Station, Santa Monica Bl., Virgil Av., Fountain Av., Sunset Bl., Manzanita St., and Santa Monica Bl.

Line 2
Rationale: Line 2, being a less-frequent service on Wilshire, would be tied to a route with similar service: the present tail length of Line 3 from Santa Monica to UCLA. Line 2 would now become a bidrectional loop along Wilshire Bl. and Montana Av. between UCLA and Santa Monica.

Line 2 would also lose Santa Monica-to-Venice service, which would now be provided by Line 1.

By appending Montana Av. service to a Line 2 loop, this would improve reliability for both Montana Av. riders and Lincoln Bl. riders, as Line 3 becomes shorter.

This plan would not connect with Phase I of the Expo Line, but are included here as part of a restructuring tied to light rail service.

Route: UCLA Transit Center, Hilgard Av., Le Conte Av., Westwood Bl., Wilshire Bl., Ocean Av., Santa Monica Bl., 4th St. & Santa Monica Bl., 4th St., Broadway, Ocean Av., Montana Av., Barrington Av., San Vicente Bl., Wilshire Bl., Westwood Bl., Le Conte Av., Hilgard Av. and UCLA Transit Center.

Line 3
Rationale: Line 3 would exist as it does now, but the northern terminal would now be 4th St. & Santa Monica Bl. Montana Av. service would now be provided by Line 2.

This plan would not connect with Phase I of the Expo Line, but are included here as part of a restructuring tied to light rail service.

Route: Ocean Av., Santa Monica Bl., 4th St. & Santa Monica Bl., 4th St., Colorado Av., Ocean Av., Pico Bl., Lincoln Bl., Manchester Av., Sepulveda Bl., 96th St., LAX City Bus Center, 96th St., Airport Bl., Century Bl., Aviation Bl.,
Aviation/I-105 Green Line Station.

Line 4
Rationale: This is another route that won’t be affected by Expo Phase I, but a rerouting would be suitable. Line 4 would now assume the Brentwood route of Line 14 every day. It would terminate at Sunset Bl. & Church Ln.

Line 4 would also lose Sawtelle Bl. service, but it would be replaced by new Line 6, which would now connect the Expo Line to Brentwood.

Route: 4th St., Olympic Bl., Main St., Colorado Av., 4th St., 4th St. & Santa Monica Bl., 4th St., San Vicente Bl./Carlyle Av., Barrington Av., Sunset Bl., Church Ln. and Ovada Pl.

Line 5
Rationale: Line 5 would be restructured to serve the Expo Line instead of Crackton. It would also replace a segment of Line 13 and now provide service outside of rush hours, but on weekdays only. On weekends, Line 5 terminates in Century City.

Route: 4th St., Wilshire Bl., 5th St., Arizona Av., 4th St., 4th St. & Santa Monica Bl., 4th St., Colorado Av., 26th St., Olympic Bl., Century Park W., Constellation Bl., Century Park E., Olympic Bl., Beverly Dr., Monte Mar Dr., Bagley Av., Fairfax Av. and Fairfax/La Cienega Expo Line Station.
NEW Line 6

Rationale: The current designation for SMC Commuter would be used for a regular route service, which connects West L.A. and Brentwood to the Expo Line. It would also replace the VA Commuter line. Line 6 would provide 30 minute service every day along Sawtelle Bl. at existing service levels.

Route: Culver Junction Expo Line Station, National Bl., Palms Bl., Glendon Av., Charnock Rd., Sepulveda Bl., Palms Bl., Sawtelle Bl., Dowlen Dr., Bonsall Av., Eisenhower, Bingham Av., San Vicente Bl., Barrington Av., Montana Av. and San Vicente Bl.

Line 7
Rationale: Once and for all, it is time to send the Crackton Transfer to the dustbin of history like the streetcars that once terminated there. This does not affect Expo, but Pico Bl. riders should get the benefit of a single local and Rapid service by the time the Expo Line opens.

The suggested routing could be either Line 7 or Metro Line 30, but riders would prefer Big Blue Bus service, so it is proposed here. Consequently, whichever agency operates the local service, Big Blue Bus or Metro, the other would operate the Rapid service.

Route: Santa Monica Bl., 4th St. & Santa Monica Bl., 4th St., Broadway, Ocean Bl., Pico Bl., Santa Monica College, Pico Bl., Broadway, 1st St., Alameda St., Cesar Chavez Av., Vignes St. and Union Station.

Line 8
NEW Line 18

Rationale: Line 8 would have weekday service reduced to every 30 minutes along Westwood Bl., and half of the service would be allocated to new branch Line 18. Otherwise, Line 8’s route stays the same.

Line 18 would provide another access way from the Expo Line to Santa Monica College and downtown Santa Monica. It would operate every 30 minutes weekdays only. It duplicates services that operate 7 days a week, so it would be supplemental.

Line 18 route: Culver Junction Expo Line Station, Venice Bl., Bagley Av., National Bl., Palms Bl., Glendon Av., Charnock Rd., Sepulveda Bl., National Bl., Barrington Av., Ocean Park Bl., Main St., Colorado Av., 2nd St., Santa Monica Bl., 4th St. & Santa Monica Bl., 6th St., Colorado Av. and Main St.

Line 9
Rationale: Big Blue Bus Line 9 would replace Metro Line 534. Service along the lines are about the same, and freeway access would be maintained by Big Blue Bus Line 10.

Route: 4th St., 4th St. & Santa Monica Bl., Santa Monica Bl., 6th St., Montana Av., 7th St., Entrada Dr., Channel Rd., Chautauqua Bl., Sunset Bl., Temescal Canyon Rd., Pacific Coast Hwy., Cross Creek Rd., Civic Center Wy., Malibu Canyon Rd., Pepperdine University, Pacific Coast Hwy. and Trancas Canyon Rd.

Line 12
Rationale: Line 12 would see two improvements. First, it would now terminate at Culver Junction. Second, it would provide a more direct route to UCLA. The Charnock Rd. service would be replaced by other routes, but since this is a popular service for Bruin students, Super 12 would be upgraded to Rapid 12 service on weekdays.

Route: Culver Junction Expo Line Station, National Bl., Venice Bl., Bagley Av., National Bl., National Pl, Westwood Bl., Le Conte Av., Hilgard Av. and UCLA Transit Center.

Line 14
Rationale: Big Blue Bus’ most productive route would get more so with extensions at both ends of the line. The northern terminal would be extended to UCLA Transit Center Monday through Saturday. The southern route would be extended to Westfield Shoppingtown Fox Hills, as was promised in a late-1990s restructuring. This route does not connect with Phase I of the Expo Line.

Route: (Monday-Saturday route) UCLA Transit Center, Hilgard Av., Le Conte Av., Gayley Av., Veteran Av., Sunset Bl., Barrington Av., Montana Av.
(Everyday route) Bundy Dr., Centinela Av., Sepulveda Bl. and Westfield Shoppingtown Fox Hills.
NEW Line 16

Rationale: This was another new service proposed in a late-1990s restructuring study, but was never implemented. The first phase of the Expo Lne would be a good chance to dust off this service.

Line 16 would be a new weekday-only minibus route running from Culver Junction to downtown Santa Monica via Palms Bl. and Rose Av.

Route: Culver Junction Expo Line Station, National Bl., Palms Bl., Glendon Av., Charnock Rd., Sepulveda Bl., Palms Bl., Walgrove Av., Venice High School, Venice Bl., Lincoln Bl., Rose Av., Main St., Colorado Av., 4th St., 4th St. & Santa Monica Bl.,, Santa Monica Bl., 6th St. and Colorado Av.
SMC Commuter

Rationale: This tripper for Santa Monica College students would be modified somewhat from its existing route to provide a limited-stop loop route connecting the Expo Line with the main SMC campus as well as the Airport and Academy of Entertainment Technology campuses. The route would operate rush hours only and use minibuses. The route can be unidirectional or bidirectional, depending on ridership levels.

Route: Culver Junction Expo Line Station, National Bl., Palms Bl., Glendo Av., Charnock Dr., Sepulveda Bl., Palms Bl., Centinela Av., Santa Monica Airport/Santa Mon ica College Airport Campus, Ocean Park Bl., 17th St., Pearl St., 14th St., Pico Bl., Santa Monica College Main Campus, Pico Bl., 20th St., Colorado Av., Stewart St., Santa Monica College Academy of Entertainment Technology, Stewart St., Olympic Bl., Westwood Bl., Westside Pavilion, Westwood Bl., National Bl., Overland Av., National Bl. and Culver Junction Expo Line Station.
NEW Rapid 12

Rationale: Super 12 service, presently a commuter route, would be upgraded to a weekday-only Rapid line along Westwood Bl. with midday service. It would connect the Expo Line to UCLA with limited-stop service. It would also preserve the route of the existing Line 12.

Route: Culver Junction Expo Line Station, National Bl., Venice Bl., Robertson Bl., National Bl., Palms Bl., Sepulveda Bl., National Bl., Westwood Bl., Westside Pavilion, Westwood Bl. and UCLA Ackerman Union.