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Council Meeting January 27, 1998
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 Big Blue Bus FY 1997-98 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, service Improvements to Line 3 -
Lincoln Blvd I Montana are proposed to take effect on March 1, 1998 and modifications to
Lme 12 - Robertson Blvd I Palms Will be Implemented In September 1998
BACKGROUND
The 1997 Big Blue Bus SelVlce Improvement Plan Identifies a multi-year program of transit
operating and capital projects which pnmanly focus on Improvements to transit service
frequencies and hours of operations The first phase of Improvements Implemented In
March 1997 have contnbuted to an 8 percent Increase In transit patronage over the
prevIous year Each year a senes of improvements are scheduled for implementation, With
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JAN 2 7 1998
the approval of CouncIl.
In FY 1997-98, Service Improvement Plan recommendations Include increasing service
frequenCies on the Line 3 - Lincoln Blvd I Montana route between downtown Santa Monica
and the Los Angeles I nternatlonal Airport (LAX) and extending service on thiS line to the
Metro Green Line AViation Blvd. Station In the evenings and on weekends The route
currently operates to the Green line station on weekdays from 5 45 a m to 6 55 P m
The SIP also recommended imprOVing midday service frequencies on the Line 12 -
Robertson Blvd.! Palms from every 30 minutes to every 15 minutes In FY 1997-98
Although thiS proposal was presented dUring the public outreach period, Line 12
recommendations are being deferred SIX months In order to prOVIde tIme to hire and tram
additional motor coach operators to operate the service CounCil IS requested to approve
thiS service modification for Implementation In September 1998
The refinement of the proposed line 3 and Line 12 service Improvements was achieved
through a public partIcipation process which Included two community meetings conducted
In August and October 1997 These meetings offered the opportunity for members of the
public to prOVIde comments on all aspects of BIg Blue Bus servIces. IncludIng speCIfic
plans for the proposed route modifIcations At least one addItional public meeting Will be
conducted prior to Implementation of Line 12 enhancements
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On January 12, 1998, the City published a notice of CIty Council conSideration of the
proposed Line 3 modifications In The Outlook and La OOlmon newspapers and the City's
I nternet web site In addition notices of the heanng were dlstnbuted on the buses and
mailed directly to members of the public who have attended prevIous public meetings
DISCUSSION
Proposed modifications to Line 3 Include Increasing weekday service frequencies on the
route segment between downtown Santa MOnica and the Metro Green Line station from
every 20 minutes to every 10 minutes. Although already one of the most productive line
segments In the system, demand for thiS service has continued to grow as a result of the
service extension to the Metro Green Line initiated In September 1996 Weekday service
frequencies on the segment between downtown Santa Monica and UCLA, by way of
Montana Avenue, are proposed to remain at 20 minutes Evening service IS proposed to
continue to the Green line station untIl 11 :30 p m and to UCLA until 10 3D P m Both
evening service extensions are proposed to operate on a 3D-minute schedule
On Saturdays, Line 3 service is proposed to operate to the Metro Green Line station from
approximately 7-30 a.m. to 11 :30 p m and to UCLA from 7 00 a m to 10 30 p m These
extensIons would operate on the eXIstIng Saturday schedule of 20 minute frequencIes all
day and every 30 minutes after 6 00 P m Sunday service IS proposed to extend to the
Metro Green Lme from approximately 8 00 a m to 11 30 p.m on a 30 minute schedule
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These seMce Improvement recommendabons represent approximately 16,700 annualized
service hours, prorated at approximately 5,600 service hours In FY 1997-98 This
modification Will reqUire 11 additional motor coach operators and approximately 6
additional tranSit vehicles The additional positions already exist In the Transportation
Department budget
The pnmary departure from the anginal SIP recommendations relates to the separation of
the Montana Avenue segment of the route and renaming It Line 6 - Montana Feedback
from both the public and an internal task force of Big Blue Bus employees suggested that
separating the line would be confUSing and less convenient to the public Based on thiS
Input, It IS recommended that both route segments remain intact
FINANCIAUBUDGET ARY
FY 1997-98 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
Upon conclUSion of public comment on the proposed service Improvements, City staff
recommends that the City CounCil authonze implementation of descnbed modifications to
the Line 3 - LIncoln Blvd.! Montana route effective March 1, 1998 and Line 12 - Robertson
Blvd.l Palms In September 1998.
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Prepared by
John B Catoe Jr , Director of Transportation
Stephanie Griffin, Manager of Transit Development
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NOTICE OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF
SANTA MONICA CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3,1998
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Special Meeting of the City Council will be held at 6 15 PM
on Tuesday, February 3, 1998, In the Council Chambers, 1685 Main Street, Santa MOnica for
the purpose of conducting the follOWing business
15 PUBLIC INPUT (Public comment IS restncted to Items listed on the agenda)
16 CLOSED SESSIONS
16-A Request for Closed Session -Public Employee Evaluation
Employee Title. CIty Attorney
Employee Title City Clerk
Employee Title City Manager
No other business Will be conducted at the Special Meeting
(f \ctyclerk\meenngs\notlces)