City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: May 12, 2026
Agenda Item: 4.C
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Anuj Gupta, Director of Transportation, Department of Transportation, Transit Planning & Performance
Subject: Approval of Third Modification of Agreement #10757 with Waysine, LLC for Parts and Continued Cellular Service for Existing Real-Time Signs at Big Blue Bus Stops and Shelters for the Department of Transportation Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15302 (Replacement and Reconstruction) and a finding of no possibility of significant effects pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute a third modification to agreement #10757 (CCS) in the amount of $74,600 with WaySine, LLC, for parts and continued cellular service for existing real-time signs at Big Blue Bus stops and shelters for the Department of Transportation. This will result in a nine-year amended agreement (10 years if the option is exercised) with a new total amount not to exceed $1,052,325 (including the option year), with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
Summary
Big Blue Bus (BBB), a division of the Santa Monica Department of Transportation (DOT), operates 195 transit buses providing about 10 million rides annually. Big Blue Bus is committed to providing an exceptional user experience, including during the time that customers are waiting for a bus at a BBB stop. The City Council previously directed staff to improve the overall customer experience when waiting for a Big Blue Bus through the provision of solar lighting and real-time arrival information signs at bus stops. Staff recommends the City of Santa Monica (City) modify its agreement with WaySine, which provides lighting and electronic real-time information displays at 145 2 of 4
BBB stops and shelters. In the modified agreement, the term of the contract would be revised to include a one-year term and one additional one-year renewal option. Total terms amount to a nine-year amended agreement, or ten years if the option is exercised. This third modification would enable DOT to continue using the cellular service for the existing real-time signs at Big Blue Bus stops and allow for the purchase of real-time sign replacement parts and materials.
Discussion
In 2018, Council awarded a contract to WaySine for the purchase and installation of solar lights and real-time displays to allow Big Blue Bus customers to see real-time bus arrival information. An initial base purchase and installation of lighting at 14 small shelters, lighting plus real-time displays at 10 large shelters, and lighting plus real-time displays on 166 bus stop pole locations took place in 2019. In 2020, Council authorized a first modification to the agreement with WaySine that revised the term of agreement #10757 from the original three-year term with two one-year renewal options to a fiveyear term, that enabled DOT to use the funds originally designated for the option years earlier for the purchase and installation of approximately 40 additional units.
Under this proposed third modification, cellular service would be extended for all operable WaySine real-time information signs at BBB stops. The 145 units deployed are in good working order. Staff believe it is a prudent use of Bus Stop Amenity Improvement funds to keep these units in the field for our riders to use and decommission as necessary. Additionally, DOT would be able to purchase replacement parts and materials to repair or replace real-time signs that have been damaged. DOT’s Transit Facilities Maintenance staff would be responsible for all labor associated with the repair of stop signage.
Provision of real-time information is warranted under BBB’s Council-approved service standards at all bus stops that exceed 100 average daily weekday boardings. Extending the cellular service and facilitating sign repair are necessary to ensure there is no disruption in service to BBB customers.
Environmental Review
This contract modification is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15302 (Class 2 Replacement or Reconstruction) of the CEQA Guidelines. Section 3 of 4
15302 exempts Class 2 (Replacement or Reconstruction) projects which include the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located in the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced. The contract modification would provide for the purchase of replacement parts and materials to repair or replace real-time signs. Therefore, the contract modification is exempt pursuant to Section 15302 of the CEQA Guidelines. Additionally, the contract is covered by the Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the CEQA Guidelines, which states that CEQA does not apply, “where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.” The modification will allow the City to continue to provide real-time signage to Big Blue Bus customers. Therefore, it can be seen with certainty that the agreement would not result in adverse physical impacts on the environment, and as such, is exempt from CEQA.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
10/09/2018
(Attachment A)
Authorize agreement with WaySine, LLC following RFP process 11/24/2020
(Attachment B)
Authorize first modification to agreement with WaySine, LLC 06/11/2024
(Attachment C)
Authorize second modification to agreement with WaySine, LLC Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to approve available funding from the Big Blue Bus fund to increase the amount of contract #10757 with WaySine, LLC, for parts and cellular service real-time signs at Big Blue Bus stops and shelters.
Contract Modification Request
Agreement # Current Authorized
Amount
FY 2025-26
Modified Request
Amount
CIP Account #
Total Revised
Contract
Amount
10757 $977,725 $74,600 C6004780.689000 $1,052,325
Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval. 4 of 4
Prepared By: Joseph Santiago, Transit Planner
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. 25_07_16_Santa_Monica_Oaks_Initiative_7_16_2025-Signed B. 03 Executed Contract Package for WaySine LLC - RFP 175 - 12.20.18 C. 1st_Modification_WaySine_Signed
D. 2nd_Modification_Waysine_Signed
E. Santa_Monica_Levine_act_ 2025-07-28_133310
F. Way Sine Spare Parts Cost Sheet