Big Blue Bus routes change after a citywide survey

Mckenna JensenStaff Writer Santa Monica City Council approved various changes to the schedules and routes of the Big Blue Bus that will take effect on Aug. 28, 2011. This is the first wave in a three-year plan to rid the bus routing to improve any inefficiencies.According to the detailed outline composed by the City Council, the hope of the new system is to remedy complaints from residents along the current routes who are troubled by the noise and traffic levels. There is also an endeavor to remove any overlapping routes and extend them to accommodate the needs of more citizens.The new routes are also a precursor to the EXPO light rail scheduled for completion in 2015. The light rail train is currently under construction, but it will establish a direct line from Downtown Los Angeles to Culver City. The train will eventually reach Santa Monica at Broadway and Fourth Street.– Line 2 will only travel south to the intersection of Hill St. and Main St.– Line 1 will extend routes on some weekdays to Walgrove Ave., and on weekends to Lincoln Blvd.– Sunday stop frequency will be every 15 minutes between 11 a.m. and 8:30 p.m.– Rapid 7 will increase seating capacity. The route will extend to the Metro Purple Line subway station on Wilshire Blvd. and Western Ave. New stops will be added on Pico Blvd. near Rimpau, Crenshaw Blvd. at Pico Blvd., Olympic Blvd. and Wilshire Blvd., Western Ave. at Wilshire Blvd., Pico Blvd. at 28th St. and Stewart St., and on Pico Blvd. at South Beverly Dr.– Service between the Metro Purple Line and downtown Santa Monica will operate every 15 minutes between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., every 20 minutes from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and every 30 minutes from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.– Line 7 will decrease in frequency between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. to every 15 minutes, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. to every 12 minutes and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. to every 20 minutes.– Express 10 will become Rapid 10. The 10 stops with the lowest use will be removed. From Downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica, the stops closed will be at Alameda St. and E. Cesar Chavez Ave., Hope St. and Temple Ave., Flower St. and Third St., Grand Ave. and 11th St., Santa Monica Blvd. and Wellesley Ave., and Santa Monica Blvd. and Berkeley Ave. The stops closed from Santa Monica to Downtown Los Angeles will be on Santa Monica Blvd. and Berkeley Ave., Santa Monica Blvd. and Wellesley Ave., Olive St. and 11th Street, and Los Angeles St. and Arcadia St.-Route 13 frequency of service will be decreased to once every 60 minutes during the week.-A new downtown ride will be added to Downtown Santa Monica. It will loop between the Civic Center parking structure and lot to Santa Monica, traveling south on Fourth St. and north on Second St. It will operate weekday mornings between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. and evenings between 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.mjensen@thesamohi.com