SR-1000-002-05 (2)
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BBB:SN:DD:PC:f\transitshare\council\Rapid3Design
Council Meeting: May 10, 2005
MAY 1 0 2005
Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Big Blue Bus Rapid 3 Bus Shelters
Introduction
This report requests that the City Council adopt the design proposal for the Rapid 3 bus
shelters that reinforces the Rapid identification elements initiated by MT A, tailored to the
identity of the Big Blue Bus (BBB). If approved, the shelters will be bid and placed at
the Rapid 3 stop locations in Santa Monica and throughout its route as soon as
possible.
Backqround
The Rapid 3 and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
Lincoln Boulevard is the principal roadway connecting Santa Monica with points to the
south, including Marina del Rey and Los Angeles International Airport. While travel
demand along the corridor continues to increase, major intersections operate at service
level "F", used to define "breakdown" flow where the amount of traffic approaching a
point exceeds the amount which can traverse the point. Average vehicle speed during
the evening rush hour is six miles per hour between Pico Blvd. and Washington Blvd.
The roadway cannot accommodate more vehicles at peak periods, but bus priority
projects in this country and around the world have demonstrated that significant
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MAY 1 0 2005
numbers of automobile commuters will shift to bus transit if it is reliable and at least as
fast as journeys by car.
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes are becoming increasingly popular as they offer the
simplicity and speed of light rail and the flexibility and cost efficiency of bus travel. Some
BRT services have seen ridership increase by as much as 30%. Model BRT systems
have several things in common: improved travel time, reliability, safety, and image. The
speed of BRT systems is achieved through some combination of limited stops, low floor
buses, signal priority and bus only lanes. An important element of successful BRT
systems is readily identifiable buses and bus stop shelters. As the entry points to the
system, bus shelters are the single most important customer interface and an essential
element of any BRT service.
Discussion
The Rapid 3 (BRT)
As with other BRT systems across the country the Big Blue Rapid 3 will serve a high
demand corridor with limited stops making the number of passengers who use each
shelter much higher than that of most local service stops.
The current local line 3 traveling from UCLA to Aviation Station is the longest route in
the BBB system and is a major component of the county transit system. The busiest
stop on Line 3 is the Metro Green Line Aviation station, where 800 passengers per day
transfer from the train to board Line 3. Many of these passengers are traveling to Santa
Monica, a distance of over 12 miles.
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Corridors similar to Lincoln, with high volumes of transit users making long distance
commutes, provide the ideal conditions for implementation of Rapid Bus service as
demonstrated by Los Angeles County Metro Line 720 operating on Wilshire Blvd.,
between Santa Monica and Downtown Los Angeles. For this reason, Metro designated
the Lincoln corridor to be included in the FY 2005 expansion of the regional Rapid Bus
system. The Lincoln corridor is in the BBB's reserved service area and the Rapid 3 will
be the first rapid service in Los Angeles County to be operated by an agency other than
Metro.
BBB will continue to provide the familiar local service on Line 3 between UCLA and
Santa Monica via Montana Avenue, and between Santa Monica and LAX and the Green
Line via Lincoln Blvd. and Manchester Ave. Rapid 3 will operate weekdays only
providing limited stop service between downtown Santa Monica and LAX and the Green
Line every 15 minutes between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and between 2:00 p.m. and
7:00 p.m. Travel time savings will be achieved by traffic signal priority technology,
limited stops and by taking a more direct route on Lincoln Blvd. south of Manchester
Ave. Travel time will be decreased substantially in the future if bus-only lanes are added
in Santa Monica and Los Angeles.
Rapid Blue Shelters
The design and graphic identity of Rapid stops distinguishes the BRT from other
services and portrays a premium-type service while enhancing the streetscape. The
rapid 3 shelters are structurally similar to those used by Metro, but have been designed
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to merge the image and identity of the BBB with the regional brand of the Metro Rapid
(see attachment A). Using colors and materials similar to that found on the transit mall
and type styles and design elements used on BBB buses, this new shelter effectively
blends the two brands making it easy for customers to understand that this is a rapid
bus service, but one operated by the BBB.
The Rapid 3 will stop at ten locations within the City of Santa Monica. Four locations in
Santa Monica will employ this proposed shelter design as only the Rapid and/or local 3
stops at these four locations. An additional 24 shelters of this design will be placed in
the City of Los Angeles. A variation of the Rapid shelter design will be developed later
for stop locations shared by the Rapid 3 and other Big Blue Bus lines and be presented
to Council at a later date. The Rapid 3 shelter locations will be (see attachment B):
On 4th at Santa Monica Place (Southbound)
On Lincoln at Ocean Park (Northbound)
On Lincoln at Ocean Park (Southbound)
On Lincoln at Pico (Southbound)
The BBB has made slight modifications to the architectural elements to accommodate
real-time information signage. Other departures from the Metro model are through color
and material to keep the image and the brand of the BBB unique and identifiable. Metro
has agreed to fund this shelter design as it is the approved design of the regional rapid
service up to an amount equal to the cost of the Metro shelters currently being bid. The
BBB will be responsible for any higher costs resulting from incorporation of its unique
elements.
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BudQet Impact
Approval of the design has no immediate cost impact. Staff will seek authorization for
full contract authority including any additional costs to the BBB once Council has
approved this design and Metro has specific cost reimbursement figures. Capital funds
are available for bus shelters in the BBB Account C410114.589000.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the design and placement of the
Rapid 3 shelters as shown in attachments A and B.
Prepared by:
Stephanie Negriff, Director of Transit Services
Dan Dawson, Customer Relations Manager, Acting
Paul T. Casey, Senior Transit Programs Analyst
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