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Post by LAofAnaheim on Feb 28, 2011 22:55:01 GMT -8
Well..the talks are starting with the public and Big Blue Bus on how best to utilize the Expo Line. Since this will be the 2nd largest bus agency that will service Expo Line after full completion, it may be best to start its own thread/topic.
As provided earlier:
SANTA MONICA, Calif. - The Big Blue Bus has announced its schedule of upcoming community meetings, which will take place at locations throughout the Big Blue Bus service area. The meetings will be held March 2 through March 10.
The Big Blue Bus is seeking to garner public feedback on improvements being considered as part of the transit agency's five-year service plan. Big Blue Bus representatives will also present results of the line-by-line analysis, conducted every three years, which examines how the Big Blue Bus system is being used, the changing needs of the community, each line's productivity and use patterns, and how the system is working as a whole.
Several important service changes will also be proposed for the coming years as the Big Blue Bus plans for Expo Light Rail Phase 1, including options to improve downtown circulation and create operating efficiencies.
Many of the proposed service adjustments would modify routes and schedules to allocate resources to the most productive services and to new transit corridors that will interface with Expo. Proposals include increasing Rapid 7 service over local Route 7 service due to popular demand, converting the Express 10 to a Rapid 10 service to maintain and improve frequency, eliminating Route 13 due to low ridership, and eliminating line 2 service in Santa Monica to reduce duplication of line 1 service In Venice.
The Big Blue Bus community meetings are scheduled to take place as follows:
Wednesday, March 2nd, Ken Edwards Center, 6 pm - 8 pm. Serviced by routes 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9.
Thursday, March 3rd, Palms/Rancho Park Library, 6 pm - 8 pm. Serviced by routes 8 and 12.
Saturday, March 5th, Santa Monica Main Library, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm. Serviced by routes 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Tuesday, March 8th, Virginia Avenue Park, Thelma Terry Center, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Serviced by route 7.
Wednesday, March 9th, UCLA Ackerman Union, 12 pm - 2 pm. Serviced by routes 1, 2, 3, 8, 11, 12 and Super 12.
Thursday, March 10, Santa Monica College Main Campus Library, 11 am - 1 pm. Serviced by routes 6, 7, Rapid 7, 8, 11, Sunset Ride and Crosstown Ride.
Any opinions/suggestions?
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Feb 28, 2011 23:06:40 GMT -8
I plan on attending the March 5th meeting and have the following suggestions:
Big Blue Bus # 2 (Wilshire blvd) - I don't support the elimination of BBB #2, as it provides the local bus service on Wilshire boulevard during the peak hours when only the 720 is running through Santa Monica.
Big Blue Bus # 10 - I support the elimination of local stops in order to provide Rapid service.
Big Blue Bus # 7/Rapid # 7 - I fully support the extension of the Rapid 7 to Wilshire/Western Purple Line station, with the inclusion of adding one stop at Western/Olympic on the route. During off-peak Rapid 7 bus service, run the local 7 to Wilshire/Western just like the 33/733 service pattern.
Big Blue Bus # 5 - Eliminate service east of Robertson by diverting south on Robertson/Olympic and connect directly with the Venice/Robertson Expo Line station. Significant ridership potential as this will be the direct connection between Expo Line-Century City - West LA. Service east of Robertson/Pico is already duplicated on the 7 and Rapid 7. This bus route also acts as an "Expo emulator" west of Bundy.
Big Blue Bus # 13 - fully support elimination
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Post by wad on Mar 1, 2011 4:11:54 GMT -8
Big Blue Bus # 2 (Wilshire blvd) - I don't support the elimination of BBB #2, as it provides the local bus service on Wilshire boulevard during the peak hours when only the 720 is running through Santa Monica. What I'm reading from the proposals is that the Santa Monica-to-Venice leg parallel to Line 1 will be eliminated, not the full line. |
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Post by joshuanickel on Mar 1, 2011 6:45:51 GMT -8
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Post by bzcat on Mar 1, 2011 11:40:20 GMT -8
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Post by mattapoisett on Mar 2, 2011 22:14:49 GMT -8
If anyone goes to the meetings you might consider mentioning to the powers that be @ BBB that it would be nice if they signed on to TAP. They have been arguing for years that they will be on the loosing end of the funding formula if they join, but all of the Munis except them (i think) have joined and BBB is still the lone holdout
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Post by jeisenbe on Mar 4, 2011 12:45:20 GMT -8
LB Transit and several other Munis, as well as Metrolink, have not yet committed to TAP.
Metro needs to prove that they can keep track of money with the system. Of course it can be done, but the Munis are worried due to all the problems with TAP so far.
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Post by mattapoisett on Mar 4, 2011 22:24:58 GMT -8
LB Transit and several other Munis, as well as Metrolink, have not yet committed to TAP. Metro needs to prove that they can keep track of money with the system. Of course it can be done, but the Munis are worried due to all the problems with TAP so far. According to Metro's Last report Long Beach now has a contract with the TAP Equipment supplier. BBB, Commerce, ASI, Beach Cities, Arcadia Transit, Claremont D-A-R, La Mirada and Metrolink still have not contracted or have not responded to inquiry regarding TAP. |
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Post by jeisenbe on Mar 5, 2011 23:02:24 GMT -8
Oh, good for Long Beach! I would love to be able to use a TAP card to pay the fares. I don't ride the bus every week, but I hate carrying change. Being able to pay with the card would make it much easier to hop on board when needed.
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Mar 6, 2011 8:20:37 GMT -8
I went to the Big Blue Bus meeting yesterday at Santa Monica public library. Here's some information on route adjustments in August 2011 and February 2012
August 2011
1 - Eliminate service south of Pico blvd on the 1 route and extend some 2 route trips to Manchester to make up for loss service
2 - Extend the Rapid 7 via Crenshaw and Wilshire boulevard from Pico/Rimpau to Wilshire/Western. The reasons for this was 1) the clearance from Metro and 2) the articulated buses will not fit at Pico-Rimpau terminal. This will be a weekday service only. New stops at Crenshaw/Pico, Crenshaw/Olympic, Crenshaw/Wilshire and ending at Wilshire/Western
3 - Increased frequency on the Rapid 7 (current 10 minute during peak, will increase to 8). The 7 bus will see a decrease in frequency from 10 min to 15 min in peak periods
4 - Elimination of Route 13, the lowest producing line in the system.
5 - Big Blue Bus # 10 will become a Rapid bus (no articulated buses though, only Rapid 7 will get those). Local stops to be eliminated, but route will be the exact same.
February 2012 changes, primarily to integrate with Expo Line
1 - First, before getting into the Expo Line changes, something cool will happen with Local 3 and Local 14. Local 3 will take over the 14's route north on Barrington and the 14 will head towards UCLA via Wilshire boulevard from Bundy. No change to Rapid 3. The 2 lines will switch their northern routes. It was found more UCLA students live along the 14 route than the 3 route, so the routes will be swapped north of Wilshire.
2 - Route 12 to be re-branded as Rapid 12 with new weekend service and connect with Expo Line at Venice/Robertson via Westwood and Sepulveda. Local route 12 will also follow the new route of Rapid 12. Thus, your first Expo Line to UCLA line!!!
3 - As expected, route 5 to eliminate service east of Robertson, will now head north-south on Robertson to connect with Venice/Roberston station. Your first Expo Line-Century City-Santa Monica connection!
Note: the timing of the change to the 5 and 12 will depend on Expo Line's opening day. If Venice/Robertson opens earlier or later, the 5 and 12 will be re-routed on that day.
When Phase II opens, expect a lot more changes to the Big Blue Bus system was the final word. Looks like BBB will do it's best to accomodate the new rail line. They're excited!
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Post by joshuanickel on Mar 6, 2011 15:30:36 GMT -8
I went to the Big Blue Bus meeting yesterday at Santa Monica public library. Here's some information on route adjustments in August 2011 and February 2012 August 20111 - Eliminate service south of Pico blvd on the 1 route and extend some 2 route trips to Manchester to make up for loss service 2 - Extend the Rapid 7 via Crenshaw and Wilshire boulevard from Pico/Rimpau to Wilshire/Western. The reasons for this was 1) the clearance from Metro and 2) the articulated buses will not fit at Pico-Rimpau terminal. This will be a weekday service only. New stops at Crenshaw/Pico, Crenshaw/Olympic, Crenshaw/Wilshire and ending at Wilshire/Western 3 - Increased frequency on the Rapid 7 (current 10 minute during peak, will increase to 8). The 7 bus will see a decrease in frequency from 10 min to 15 min in peak periods 4 - Elimination of Route 13, the lowest producing line in the system. 5 - Big Blue Bus # 10 will become a Rapid bus (no articulated buses though, only Rapid 7 will get those). Local stops to be eliminated, but route will be the exact same. February 2012 changes, primarily to integrate with Expo Line 1 - First, before getting into the Expo Line changes, something cool will happen with Local 3 and Local 14. Local 3 will take over the 14's route north on Barrington and the 14 will head towards UCLA via Wilshire boulevard from Bundy. No change to Rapid 3. The 2 lines will switch their northern routes. It was found more UCLA students live along the 14 route than the 3 route, so the routes will be swapped north of Wilshire. 2 - Route 12 to be re-branded as Rapid 12 with new weekend service and connect with Expo Line at Venice/Robertson via Westwood and Sepulveda. Local route 12 will also follow the new route of Rapid 12. Thus, your first Expo Line to UCLA line!!! 3 - As expected, route 5 to eliminate service east of Robertson, will now head north-south on Robertson to connect with Venice/Roberston station. Your first Expo Line-Century City-Santa Monica connection! Note: the timing of the change to the 5 and 12 will depend on Expo Line's opening day. If Venice/Robertson opens earlier or later, the 5 and 12 will be re-routed on that day. When Phase II opens, expect a lot more changes to the Big Blue Bus system was the final word. Looks like BBB will do it's best to accomodate the new rail line. They're excited! I was also at the meeting yesterday and there are a few corrections. Line 2 will stop at pico and select line 1 trips will be extended. They do not know where that will be yet. Line 12 will keep the current route with decreased frequency and not run on weekends. Since the super/rapid 12 has a different route, people on sepulvida will have to use culver city on the weekends. They said it is low ridership anyways. Line 7 will decrease frequency from 8 min to 10 min during peak and from 10 min to 15 min during mid day. Rapid 7 will only run on weekdays and will add evening service that ends at 10pm. It will also add a stop at 28th street and remove the stop at Beverly Drive due to space limitation for the longer bus. Only the rapid 7 will run to wilshire/western. Line 7 will not run there when the rapid is not running. Line 3 will run every 15 min from LAX to Santa Monica and every 30 min to Brentwood. Every other bus will turn around in downtown. |
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Post by joshuanickel on Mar 6, 2011 16:07:07 GMT -8
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