Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus system is gearing up for possible fare hikes, and it's calling on riders to weigh in. The Department of Transportation's Big Blue Bus service has announced two public hearings on the proposed changes, which are the first in nearly ten years a move attributed to increasing operational costs. According to a recent release, these increases are necessary to keep up with expenses that include fuel, utilities, and supplies.
The first hearing will be a digital one, coming up on April 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and for those who prefer to voice their thoughts face-to-face, the second meeting take place the following day on April 3 at the Santa Monica Main Library's Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium. If you can't make it, Big Blue Bus is welcoming responses via an online survey found on their website, and it's open until April 10. "At Big Blue Bus, we are committed to maintaining affordable fares and high-quality transit service," Department of Transportation Director Anuj Gupta remarked, "The proposed fare adjustments will help us offset rising costs while investing in the recruitment and retention of our workforce and providing meaningful customer experience improvements that ensure Big Blue Bus remains a safe, reliable, convenient, and appealing alternative to driving," he added in his statement.
Ahead of the scheduled hearings, Big Blue Bus has laid out the suggested changes, which include price adjustments to Single Ride, 1-Day, 7-Day, and 30-Day Passes, and would eliminate the Annual and Youth 30-Day Passes. Passengers need not worry about losing the free intra-agency transfer within two hours they'll still be receiving discounts for contactless payments and can take advantage of reduced fares through regional programs like LIFE and GoPass. Details on the fare proposals can be dug into at their dedicated webpage.
Residents have a chance to make their opinions known before the final proposal heads to the Santa Monica City Council, which is expected to happen sometime in May 2025. For those planning to attend the in-person session, the BBB Routes 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, and 18 will get you there, drop by the Santa Monica Main Library where a parking garage awaits on 7th Street just north of Santa Monica Blvd. Should you need ADA accessibility or require interpretation services, it's best to call (310) 458-1975, ext. 2386, at least three days ahead of time all written materials are available in your preferred format upon request.
