Big Blue Bus Brighter Blue COA
Route Recommendations | 2024
As part of the Brighter Blue Comprehensive Operations Analysis, Big Blue Bus is proposing a series of service changes to be implemented over the next five years. These changes were developed based on feedback from community outreach, rider surveys, and analysis of existing Big Blue Bus services. The following pages provide an in-depth look at the proposed schedule and alignment changes for each route.
Main St & Santa Monica Blvd
Route 1
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening Weekday 4,174 10 10 20 5:15 AM - 10:45 PM 10 10 20 5:15 AM - 11:30 PM Saturday 2,766 15 15 20 6:30 AM - 10:45 PM 15 15 20 5:30 AM - 11:30 PM Sunday 2,436 15 15 20 6:30 AM - 10:45 PM 15 15 20 5:30 AM - 11:30 PM
PROPOSED CHANGES
Route 1 is proposed to terminate at Parking Structure 2 instead of the Hilgard Terminal at UCLA, serving campus destinations along Charles E. Young Dr. East. Route 1 is proposed to operate every 10 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes on weekends between UCLA and Venice.
Schedule Recommendations
The schedule recommendations present the change
in frequencies and service hour span for weekday,
Saturday, and Sunday. Current frequencies and
service hour spans are presented for comparison.
Route Info
Key information on proposed changes to the
route is presented in this section. This includes
alignment changes, headway/frequency changes,
and span changes.
Route Map
Each route’s proposed alignment is shown in blue.
The existing network is shown in red. If the existing
route is not visible, the proposed route will operate
on the same alignment. The lighter gray routes are
the rest of the proposed network.
Routes
Route 1 Main St & Santa Monica Blvd
Route 2 Wilshire Blvd
Route 3 Lincoln Blvd
Rapid 3 Lincoln Blvd Rapid
Route 5 Olympic Blvd - Century City
Route 7 Pico Blvd
Rapid 7 Pico Blvd Rapid
Express 7 Pico Blvd Express
Route 8 Ocean Park Blvd & UCLA/Westwood
Route 9 Pacific Palisades
Rapid 10 Downtown LA Freeway Express
Rapid 12 Overland Ave & UCLA/Westwood
Route 14 Centinela Ave & Bundy Dr
Route 15 Barrington Ave
Route 16 Playa Del Rey - Wilshire Blvd/Bundy Dr
Route 17 Palms - VA Medical Center - UCLA
Route 18 Marina Del Rey - Abbot Kinney - UCLA
Route 41 SMC - 17th St Station - Montana Ave (Clockwise) Route 42 SMC - 17th St Station - Montana Ave (Counterclockwise) Route 43 San Vicente Blvd - 26th St - SMC
Route 44 Ocean Park - SMC - 17th St Station
Main St & Santa Monica Blvd
Route 1
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening
Weekday 4,174 10 10 20 5:15 AM - 10:45 PM 10 10 20 5:15 AM - 11:30 PM Saturday 2,766 15 15 20 6:30 AM - 10:45 PM 15 15 20 5:30 AM - 11:30 PM Sunday 2,436 15 15 20 6:30 AM - 10:45 PM 15 15 20 5:30 AM - 11:30 PM
PROPOSED CHANGES
Route 1 is proposed to terminate at Parking Structure 2 instead of the Hilgard Terminal at UCLA, serving campus destinations along Charles E. Young Dr. East. Route 1 is proposed to operate every 10 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes on weekends between UCLA and Venice.
Wilshire Blvd
Route 2
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening
Weekday 1,162 20 20 30 6:45 AM - 8:45 PM 10 10 30 5:00 AM - 10:30 PM Saturday 784 20 20 40 8:30 AM - 8:45 PM 20 20 30 6:00 AM - 10:30 PM Sunday 639 20 20 40 8:30 AM - 8:45 PM 20 20 30 6:00 AM - 10:30 PM
PROPOSED CHANGES
Route 2 is proposed to be rerouted in the Westwood/UCLA area through Gayley Ave. and Weyburn Ave., eliminating the Ashton Ave. deviation. Instead of Hilgard Terminal, the eastern end of the route would terminate at UCLA Parking Structure 2, serving campus destinations along Charles E. Young Dr. East. With the opening of the D Line to Westwood (anticipated 2027), Route 2 is proposed to operate every 10 minutes on weekdays and every 20 minutes on weekends between UCLA Parking Structure 2 and Downtown Santa Monica.
Lincoln Blvd
Route 3
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening
Weekday 3,704 13 13 20 4:45 AM - 11:00 PM 10 10 20 4:45 AM - 11:30 PM Saturday 2,797 15 15 20 5:30 AM - 11:00 PM 15 15 20 5:30 AM - 11:30 PM Sunday 2,342 15 15 20 5:30 AM - 11:00 PM 15 15 20 5:30 AM - 11:30 PM
PROPOSED CHANGES
Route 3 is proposed to terminate at the new LAX/Metro Transit Center, expected to open in late 2024. Once open, the new transit center will provide transfer opportunities to the Metro K and Metro C (Green) light rail lines, the LAX People Mover, as well as multiple bus routes.
Shortening the route from the current terminus at Aviation/LAX Station will save running time that can be reinvested into additional service, increasing weekday service from every 13 to every 10 minutes. Route 3 is proposed to operate every 10 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes on weekends between the LAX/Metro Transit Center and Downtown Santa Monica.
Lincoln Blvd Rapid
Rapid 3
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening
Weekday 220 60 - - 7:00 AM - 5:15 PM - - - -
Saturday - - - - - - - - -
Sunday - - - - - - - - -
PROPOSED CHANGES
Rapid 3, which currently operates every 60 minutes on weekdays, is proposed to be discontinued. The hours will be reinvested into Route 3, allowing weekday frequency to increase from every 13 minutes to every 10 minutes on the Lincoln Blvd. corridor.
Olympic Blvd - Century City
Route 5
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening
Weekday 180 60 60 - 7:15 AM - 6:30 PM 30 30 30 5:30 AM - 9:30 PM Saturday - - - - - 30 30 30 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday - - - - - 30 30 30 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
PROPOSED CHANGES
Route 5 is proposed to be shortened to operate between the Metro 17th St SMC E Line Station/SMC Main Campus and Westfield Century City (site of future Century City/ Constellation D Line Station, expected to open in 2026). The shorter route will result in running time savings that can be used to improve frequency from every 60 minutes to every 30 minutes and add new 30-minute weekend service.
Pico Blvd
Route 7
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening
Weekday 4,248 14 14 15 5:00 AM - 11:00 PM 7.5 10 15 4:00 AM - 11:30 PM Saturday 3,130 15 15 20 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM 15 15 20 5:00 AM - 11:30 PM Sunday 2,778 15 15 20 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM 15 15 20 5:00 AM - 11:30 PM
PROPOSED CHANGES
Route 7 will continue to operate between the Wilshire/Western Station and Downtown Santa Monica. The existing deviation to Beverlywood on 4 daily trips is proposed to be eliminated.
Route 7 is proposed to operate every 7.5 minutes during weekday peak periods, every 10 minutes during weekday off-peak periods, and every 15 minutes on weekends all day.
Pico Blvd Rapid
Rapid 7
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening
Weekday 1,921 15 20 - 6:00 AM - 6:45 PM - - - -
Saturday - - - - - - - - -
Sunday - - - - - - - - -
PROPOSED CHANGES
Rapid 7, which currently operates every 20 minutes on weekdays, is proposed to be discontinued. The hours will be reinvested into Route 7, allowing weekday frequency to increase on the Pico Blvd. corridor from every 14 minutes to every 7.5 minutes during peak periods and every 10 minutes during off-peak periods.
Pico Blvd Express
Express 7
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening
Weekday - - - - - - - - -
Saturday - - - - - - - - -
Sunday - - - - - - - - -
PROPOSED CHANGES
Express 7, which has been out of service since 2020, is proposed to be permanently discontinued.
Ocean Park Blvd & UCLA/Westwood
Route 8
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening
Weekday 1,314 24 30 30 6:30 AM - 10:00 PM 20 20 30 5:30 AM - 10:30 PM Saturday 843 27 27 30 6:30 AM - 9:45 PM 20 20 30 6:30 AM - 10:30 PM Sunday 704 27 27 30 6:30 AM - 9:45 PM 20 20 30 6:30 AM - 10:30 PM
PROPOSED CHANGES
Route 8 is proposed to terminate at UCLA Gateway Plaza instead of the Hilgard Terminal at UCLA. Operating the same alignment as Rapid 12 on Westwood Blvd. allows for consolidated service along the corridor, with trips operating between UCLA and the Metro Westwood/Rancho Park E Line Station every 5 to 7 minutes throughout the day. The route is additionally proposed to take Main St. and 2nd St. as opposed to the current routing down Ocean Ave. for faster service into Downtown Santa Monica. Route 8 is proposed to operate every 20 minutes on weekdays and weekends between UCLA and Downtown Santa Monica.
Pacific Palisades
Route 9
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening
Weekday 969 30 30 60 6:30 AM - 9:15 PM 15 30 60 6:30 AM - 9:15 PM Saturday 332 40 40 - 7:30 AM - 7:15 PM 30 30 40 6:30 AM - 8:30 PM Sunday 272 40 40 - 7:30 AM - 7:15 PM 30 30 40 6:30 AM - 8:30 PM
PROPOSED CHANGES
Route 9 is proposed to be extended to terminate at Pacific Coast Highway, pending a completion of a transit center at PCH and Sunset Blvd., providing more direct connections to the beach, shopping destinations (Vons), and connections to LA Metro Line 134. Route 9 is proposed to operate every 15 minutes in peak directions on weekdays, every 30 minutes during non-peak times on weekdays, and every 30 minutes on weekends between Pacific Palisades and Downtown Santa Monica.
Downtown LA Freeway Express
Rapid 10
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening
Weekday 95 60 - - 6:00 AM - 8:00 AM;
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM 60 - - 6:00 AM - 8:00 AM; 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Saturday - - - - - - - - -
Sunday - - - - - - - - -
PROPOSED CHANGES
There are no proposed changes to Rapid 10. The viability of this route will be reassessed after the opening of the Metro D Line extension to the Metro Westwood/VA Hospital Station, anticipated in 2027.
Overland Ave & UCLA/Westwood
Rapid 12
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening
Weekday 2,499 12 12 20 5:30 AM - 10:15 PM 10 10 20 5:30 AM - 11:30 PM Saturday 920 21 21 30 6:30 AM - 10:15 PM 15 15 20 6:00 AM - 11:30 PM Sunday 737 21 21 30 6:30 AM - 10:15 PM 15 15 20 6:00 AM - 11:30 PM
PROPOSED CHANGES
Rapid 12 has no proposed alignment changes. Rapid 12 is proposed to operate every 10 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes on weekends between UCLA and Overland Ave. & Venice Blvd.
Centinela Ave & Bundy Dr
Route 14
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening
Weekday 1,693 20 20 30 5:15 AM - 8:30 PM 15 15 30 5:15 AM - 10:30 PM Saturday 847 30 30 - 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM 30 30 30 6:00 AM - 10:30 PM Sunday 637 30 30 - 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM 30 30 30 6:00 AM - 10:30 PM
PROPOSED CHANGES
The southern end of Route 14 is proposed to terminate at the Culver City Transit Center, connecting with Culver CityBus and LA Metro routes as well as providing access to new destinations (Westfield Culver City Mall). The route will no longer provide direct access to the Metro K Line. The northern end of Route 14 is proposed to be extended along Wilshire Blvd. to terminate at the future Metro D Line Westwood/VA Hospital Station when it opens (anticipated 2027). Service will be discontinued on a half-mile stretch on Bundy Dr. between Wilshire Blvd. and San Vicente Blvd., but current customers will be within walking distance of 10-minute service on Wilshire Blvd. (Route 2) and 30-minute service on San Vicente Blvd. (Route 18). Route 14 is proposed to operate every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends.
Barrington Ave
Route 15
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening
Weekday 151 50 50 - 6:45 AM - 6:15 PM 30 30 60 6:00 AM - 8:30 PM Saturday - - - - - - - - -
Sunday - - - - - - - - -
PROPOSED CHANGES
Route 15 is proposed to deviate to serve the future Metro D Line Westwood/VA Hospital Station when it opens (anticipated 2027). As proposed, the route will no longer serve a halfmile stretch along Barrington Ave., but these customers will be within walking distance of 10-minute service on Wilshire Blvd. (Route 2) and Santa Monica Blvd. (Route 1). Route 15 is proposed to operate every 30 minutes on weekdays.
Playa Del Rey - Wilshire Blvd/Bundy Dr
Route 16
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening
Weekday 391 27 27 - 6:15 AM - 6:30 PM 30 30 60 5:30 AM - 10:30 PM Saturday - - - - - 30 30 60 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday - - - - - 30 30 60 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM
PROPOSED CHANGES
Route 16 is proposed to be extended via Wilshire Blvd. to terminate at the future Metro D Line Westwood/VA Hospital Station when it opens (anticipated 2027). Route 16 is proposed to operate every 30 minutes on weekdays as well as add new 30-minute weekend service between the D Line Westwood/VA Hospital Station and Playa del Rey.
Palms - VA Medical Center - UCLA
Route 17
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening
Weekday 1,660 20 20 30 5:45 AM - 9:15 PM 15 15 30 5:45 AM - 10:30 PM Saturday 677 30 30 - 7:45 AM - 7:45 PM 30 30 30 6:00 AM - 10:30 PM Sunday 540 30 30 - 7:45 AM - 7:45 PM 30 30 30 6:00 AM - 10:30 PM
PROPOSED CHANGES
There are no proposed routing changes to Route 17. Route 17 is proposed to operate every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends between UCLA and Culver City.
Marina Del Rey - Abbot Kinney - UCLA
Route 18
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening
Weekday 825 30 30 - 6:45 AM - 7:45 PM 20 20 60 5:30 AM - 10:30 PM Saturday 572 30 30 - 8:15 AM - 6:30 PM 30 30 60 6:00 AM - 9:30 PM Sunday 514 30 30 - 8:15 AM - 6:30 PM 30 30 60 6:00 AM - 9:30 PM
PROPOSED CHANGES
Route 18 is proposed to terminate at UCLA Parking Structure 2 at the northern end of the route, serving campus destinations along Charles E. Young Dr. East. At the southern end, Route 18 is proposed to extend to Via Marina & Old Harbor Lane, pending completion of a bus turnaround at the Marina Lot 13, providing more coverage in Marina del Rey. Route 18 is proposed to operate every 20 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends.
SMC - 17th St Station - Montana Ave (Clockwise)
Route 41
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening
Weekday 308 20 20 - 6:15 AM - 6:45 PM 15 15 20 5:20 AM - 9:40 PM Saturday - - - - - 20 20 20 6:00 AM - 9:40 PM
Sunday - - - - - 20 20 20 6:00 AM - 9:40 PM
PROPOSED CHANGES
Route 41 is proposed to be extended to Ocean Park Blvd. and will no longer service the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center. The route will primarily operate clockwise on 14th St and 20th St, deviating to 17th St between Colorado Blvd and Olympic Blvd to serve the Metro 17th St/SMC E Line Station. Route 41 is proposed to operate every 15 minutes on weekdays as well as add new 20-minute weekend service between Ocean Park Blvd. and Montana Ave.
SMC - 17th St Station - Montana Ave (Counterclockwise) Route 42
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening
Weekday - - - - - - - - -
Saturday - - - - - - - - -
Sunday - - - - - - - - -
PROPOSED CHANGES
Route 42, which has been out of service since 2020, is proposed to be permanently discontinued. The hours will be reinvested into increasing weekday service on Route 41 from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes and adding Route 41 service on weekends.
San Vicente Blvd - 26th St - SMC
Route 43
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening
Weekday 202 30 - - 6:30 - 10:15 AM;
1:15 - 5:45 PM 30 30 30 6:30 AM - 5:45 PM
Saturday - - - - - - - - -
Sunday - - - - - - - - -
PROPOSED CHANGES
Route 43 is proposed to be extended to terminate at San Vicente Blvd. & 7th St., providing additional coverage along San Vicente Blvd. as well as a connection to Route 9. Route 43 is proposed to operate every 30 minutes on weekdays between San Vicente Blvd. & 7th St. and Pico Blvd & 16th St, adding new midday service.
Ocean Park - SMC - 17th St Station
Route 44
CURRENT PROPOSED
Service
Days
Daily
Boardings
Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Frequency (minutes) Service Hours Peak Midday Evening Peak Midday Evening
Weekday - - - - - 20 20 - 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday - - - - - - - - -
Sunday - - - - - - - - -
PROPOSED CHANGES
Route 44, currently out of operation, is planned to be restored in Fall 2024. It is proposed to be extended to terminate at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center. The revised routing will allow the route to serve the Pico/17th St and Metro 17th St/SMC E Line Station in both directions. Route 44 is proposed to operate every 20 minutes on weekdays between the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center, the Main Campus, and the Santa Monica College Bundy Campus.