SR-1000-001-06 (2)
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Council Meeting: February 8,2000 Santa Monica, California
To: Mayor and City Council
From: City Staff
Subject: Recommendation to Approve Big Blue Bus Service Improvements After
Receiving Public Comments
INTRODUCTION
This report requests that the City Council adopt the fourth phase of the Big Blue Bus FY
2000 service improvements identified in the Service Improvement Plan (SIP) adopted in
February 1997. Council action on the proposed service improvements should follow
an opportunity for comments from the public pursuant to federal guidelines, Section
9(e)(3)(H) of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982. If approved,
restructuring of Line 5 - Century City/VA Hospital and Line 9 - Pacific Palisades/Olympic
Boulevard, introduction of limited-stop service on Line 7 - Pico Boulevard, service
frequency improvements to Line 10 - Santa Monica/Downtown Los Angeles Freeway
Express and Line 13 - Airdrome/Cheviot Hills, and on-time performance improvements
on Line 3 - Lincoln Boulevard are all proposed to take effect in mid-March 2000.
BACKGROUND
The 1999 Big Blue Bus Service Improvement Plan Update identifies a multi-year
program of transit operating and capital projects which primarily focus on transit
service frequencies and hours of operations. A series of improvements are
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scheduled for implementation over a period of years, each with the approval of Council.
The third phase of improvements, implemented in February 1999, contributed to a 3
percent increase in transit patronage over the previous year.
In FY 2000, Service Improvement Plan recommendations include reconfiguring Lines 5
and 9 along Olympic Boulevard to provide direct service between the Pico Rimpau
Terminal, Century City, West LA and Santa Monica. The SIP recommended increased
service frequencies on the new Line 5 - Century City from every 20 minutes to every 15
minutes at peak hour, and from every 30 minutes to every 20 minutes midday, Monday
through Friday in FY 2000.
The proposed service improvements were arrived at through a public participation
process which included three community meetings conducted in August and November
1999 and January 2000. Members of the public provided comments on all aspects
of Big Blue Bus services, including specific plans for the proposed route modifications.
On January 30, 2000, the City published a notice of City Council consideration of the
proposed modifications in the Los AnQeles Times and La Opinion newspapers, as well
as on the City's Internet web site. In addition, notices of the hearing were distributed
on the buses and mailed directly to members of the public who have attended previous
public meetings.
DISCUSSION
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Service Improvement Proposals
Line 3, Lincoln Boulevard - Schedule adjustments are being made on this line
in order to improve the route's on-time performance on weekdays, Saturdays
and Sundays.
Line 5, Century City - Realignment of Line 5 will extend the route to Downtown
Santa Monica. Traveling on Olympic Boulevard toward Santa Monica from the
Pico/Rimpau Terminal through Century City, the route will turn north on Stewart
Street then west on Colorado Avenue and continue to 4th Street. This will serve
the new office and apartment developments of the Arboretum and The Water
Garden.
Line 7, Pico Boulevard - A new, limited stop service will be added to the
existing schedule during peak travel periods. "Super 7" will stop only at major
trip generators including The Promenade, the Pier and Santa Monica College,
and major transfer points between Main Street and the Pico/Rimpau Terminal.
Stops will be spaced approximately every mile. Frequency will be every 20
minutes. Commuting time for passengers will be reduced by as much as 20
percent.
Line 9, Pacific Palisades - The Olympic Boulevard segment of the route will be
taken over by Line 5. The Line 9 will only operate between downtown Santa
Monica and Pacific Palisades.
Line 10, Santa Monica/Downtown Los Angeles Freeway Express - Midday
service frequency Monday through Friday will increase from hourly to every 30
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minutes. Service frequency on Saturday will increase from hourly to every 30
minutes. A new Sunday schedule will be added with 30 minute service
frequency.
Line 13, Airdrome/Cheviot Hills - Weekday peak hour service frequency will
increase from every 35 minutes to every 30 minutes. The route will be
extended west from the current terminus at the Westside Pavilion to the VA
Hospital via Pico and Sawtelle Boulevards. This extension of Line 13 will
maintain transit service at 30 minute frequency Monday through Saturday on the
portion of Line 5 which served the VA Hospital prior to realignment.
These service improvement recom mendations represent approximately 65,050
annualized service hours, prorated at approximately 18,484 service hours in FY
1999-2000. The modifications will be effected with 17 additional motor coach
operators approved in the FY99/00 budget. Should personnel hiring be delayed, service
improvements on Lines 5, 9, and 13, will be deferred until September 2000.
FINANCIAL/BUDGETARY
FY 1999-2000 service improvements are fully funded in the City Budget with transit
subsidy funds. These service improvements will not require the use of general fund
revenues and will not require an increase in the Big Blue Bus $.50 base fare.
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council take public comment and authorize
implementation of described modifications to Line 3 - Lincoln Boulevard, Line 7 - Pico
Boulevard and Line 10 - Santa Monica/Downtown Los Angeles Freeway Express,
effective March 19, 2000. City staff also recommends implementation of described
modifications to Line 5 - Century City, Line 9 - Pacific Palisades, and Line 13 - Cheviot
Hills - V A Hospital, effective March 19, 2000, contingent upon on a sufficient number of
motor coach operators successfully completing the training program, with
implementation deferred until September 2000 if the number of graduates falls short of
the required number.
Prepared by: John B. Catoe Jr., Director of Transportation
Stephanie Negriff, Manager of Transit Development
Paul T. Casey, Senior Transit Programs Analyst
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