Big Blue Bus
Proposed Fare
Changes
2025-2027
City Council Meeting
May 13, 2025
Item 4-G
May 13, 2025
Item 4-G
May 13, 2025
Big Blue Bus is Proposing Fare Changes to:
• Address revenue and fiscal challenges
• Support planned rider enhancements
Proposed Fare Changes include:
• Increased costs for single rides and passes
• Elimination of two (2) underutilized passes
• Two-phase implementation: 2025 and 2027
No changes to:
• Free Big Blue Bustransfers and contactless incentives • Access to discounted fares programs (e.g., LIFE)
Overview
Item 4-G
May 13, 2025
Item 4-G
May 13, 2025
Fiscal Challenges
• Declining fare revenue per passenger
• Currently $0.70; Pre-pandemic $0.87
• Rising operational costs
• Currently $182 per revenue hour; Pre-pandemic $150
• Uncertainty of future federal funding
Planned Rider Enhancements
• Implementation of Brighter Blue 5-Year Service Plan
• Safety Initiatives (e.g., Transit Safety Officers, Prohibition Orders) Item 4-G
May 13, 2025
Item 4-G
May 13, 2025
Summary of Proposed Fare Changes
Eliminate: Maintain:
Increase cost of
Regular and S/D/M
fare products:
• Free BBB to BBB transfers
• Cheaper fares on TAP and
Mobile
• Annual Pass (Regular)
• Youth 30-Day Pass
• Single Ride
• 1-Day Pass
• 7-Day Pass (Regular)
• 10 Rides Pass
• 30-Day Pass
S/D/M = Senior/Disabled/Medicare
Item 4-G
May 13, 2025
Item 4-G
May 13, 2025
Proposed Fare Changes: Regular
Summer
2027
August 10,
Regular Fares Current 2025
Single Ride (Tap & Mobile) ^ $1.10 $1.25 $1.50
Single Ride (Cash) $1.25 $1.50 $1.75
1 Day Pass $4 $4.50 $5
7 Day Pass $14 $16 $18
10 Rides Pass^ $9 $10 $12
30 Day Pass $50 $55 $60
Annual Pass $500 Eliminate - ^Includes one free Big Blue Bus to Big Blue Bus transfer within 2 hours.
Item 4-G
May 13, 2025
Item 4-G
May 13, 2025
Proposed Fare Changes: SDM & Youth
Summer
2027
August 10,
Senior/Disabled/Medicare (SDM) Current 2025
Single Ride (Tap & Mobile) ^ $0.50 $0.60 $0.65
Single Ride (Cash) $0.50 $0.75 $0.75
1-Day Pass $1.50 $1.75 $2
10 Rides Pass^ $4.50 $5 $6
30-Day Pass $24 $27 $30
Summer
2027
August 10,
Youth Current 2025
30-Day Pass $19 Eliminate -
^Includes one free Big Blue Bus to Big Blue Bus transfer within 2 hours.
Item 4-G
May 13, 2025
Item 4-G
May 13, 2025
Public Comments
Public Hearings
• One (1) Virtual and one (1) In-Person
• About 18 total attendees
• Comments generally expressed
understanding given economic situation
Online Survey
• 1,234 responses
• 83% rated currentfares“Fair/Affordable”
• 47% rated proposed fares“Fair/Affordable”
• 49% rated proposed fares “Somewhat/Very
expensive”
• 2 :1prefer implementing fare changes to
supportservicelevels and enhancements
(next slide)
Item 4-G
May 13, 2025
Item 4-G
May 13, 2025
Survey Q5: Considering the current fares and the
proposed changes, which option would you prefer?
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May 13, 2025
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May 13, 2025
• Title VI Fare Equity Analysis on proposed fare changes conducted to determine impacts to populations
• Results of Analysis:
• No disparate impact to minority populations
• No disproportionate burdens on low-income populations • No additional analysis or mitigation efforts required to implement the proposed fare changes
Title VI Analysis
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May 13, 2025
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May 13, 2025
Discounted Fare Programs
• Low-Income Fare is Easy (LIFE)
• GoPass
• K-12 Schools (SMMUSD and LAUSD)
• Community Colleges (Santa Monica College)
• UCLA Bruin U-Pass and Grad Pass
• Access Services Free Fare Program
Item 4-G
May 13, 2025
Item 4-G
May 13, 2025
Financial & Budget Impacts
• Increases revenue by about 13 percent or $780,000 annually • Increases Average Fare per Rider to 85 cents by 2028
• Projected ridership decline of 7 percent
• Actual ridership and revenue impacts may vary due to other factors • Alternatives Considered
• No Fare Increases
• Eliminate Free Transfers
Item 4-G
May 13, 2025
Item 4-G
May 13, 2025
Next Steps
Notify Ridersand Communityvia:
Big Blue Bus Website
Little Blue Book
Fare Decals on Buses
Social Media
Email
Coordinate implementation of changes with TAP Office
ImplementPhase 1 –August 10, 2025
Implement Phase 2 –Summer 2027
Item 4-G
May 13, 2025
Item 4-G
May 13, 2025
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding ofcategorical exemption pursuant to
Section15273 of the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA);
2. Adopt the proposed Big Blue Bus fare changes to be
implemented in two phasesstarting in August 2025; and
3. Receive and file the results of the Title VI Fare Equity Analysis.
Item 4-G
May 13, 2025
Item 4-G
May 13, 2025