Big Blue Bus (stylized in lowercase) is a public transit agency that provides public bus services for the city of Santa Monica and the greater Westside region of Los Angeles County, California. The service, operated by the city of Santa Monica, was founded on April 14, 1928, and throughout its existence has used a blue color scheme for its buses, leading to the Big Blue Bus nickname that would later become the official name of the agency. In , the system had a total ridership of 10,100,208 with an average weekday ridership of 32,772. Big Blue Bus receives funding from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and offers connections to its Metro Bus and Metro Rail systems, but is operated independently from Metro.
History
The agency was founded on April 14, 1928, as the Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines and the agency picked a unique blue color scheme for its buses, later leading to the Big Blue Bus nickname. It holds the distinction of being the second oldest public transit bus system still operating in Los Angeles County; only the neighboring Culver CityBus (founded March 4, 1928) is older.
Santa Monica established the bus line in response to a fare increase on the Pacific Electric interurban trains between Santa Monica and Los Angeles.
While independent from other agencies in the Los Angeles area, the Big Blue Bus has always offered connections to the other systems, most notably near the intersections of Pico and Rimpau Boulevards in the Mid-City section of Los Angeles. The historic transfer point was established by Santa Monica, the Los Angeles Railway and Pacific Electric Railway and is known today as the Pico/Rimpau Transit Center and is used the Big Blue Bus and Metro Bus.
In 1978, Santa Monica became the first transit operator in California to operate a bus with a wheelchair lift, the Grumman-Flxible Model 870. It was the third agency to order the bus after Atlanta's MARTA, and Connecticut's CT Transit. The Big Blue Bus was one of the last transit agencies using the iconic GMC New Look "fishbowl" bus, the last of which was retired in 2005.
The Big Blue Bus has been honored with the American Public Transportation Association’s Outstanding Transportation System award in 1987, 1992, 1997, 2000 and 2011.
Routes Big Blue Bus operates 18 bus lines: 12 regular routes, 2 rapid routes, and 1 circulator route. On weekends and holidays with weekend service, the agency operates 10 bus lines: 9 regular routes and 1 rapid route.
In 2024, the agency underwent a COA (Comprehensive Operational Analysis) which will inform service and route changes over the next five years. These aim to help the agency better connect with future Metro Rail extensions, most notably the D and K lines, adjust to new travel patterns, increase service frequency, and make service blocks compatible with a zero emissions bus fleet.
Local routes Sunday schedules are operated on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. RouteTerminalsViaDays of Operation#Notes1WestwoodUCLAVeniceGrand Bl & Riviera AvSanta Monica Bl, Main StDaily Operates alongside LA Metro (24hour service) Serves Downtown Santa Monica station2WestwoodUCLASanta Monica Main St & Olympic DrWilshire BlDaily Operates alongside LA Metro (24hour service) Operates alongside LA Metro Rapid Serves Downtown Santa Monica station3Santa MonicaArizona Av & 5th StWestchesterLAX/Metro Transit CenterLincoln BlDaily Serves Loyola Marymount University, and Downtown Santa Monica station5Santa MonicaSanta Monica College PalmsPalms stationOlympic Bl, Motor AvWeekdays Serves 17th Street/SMC station, 26th Street/Bergamot station, Expo/Bundy station and Westfield Century City7Santa Monica7th St & Olympic BlMid-WilshireWilshire/Western stationPico BlDailyServes Santa Monica College, Expo/Sepulveda, Downton Santa Monica station and Rimpau Transit Center8Santa Monica7th St & Olympic BlWestwoodUCLA Ocean Park BlDaily Serves Westwood/Rancho Park9Pacific PalisadesSunset Bl & Marquez AvSanta MonicaMain St & Olympic DrSunset Bl, Chatauqua Bl, 4th StDaily Serves Downtown Santa Monica station14BrentwoodBringham Av & Gorham AvCulver City MallCulver City Transit CenterBundy Dr, Centinela AvDaily Select trips extend from Brentwood north to Paul Revere Middle School Serves Expo/Bundy station and Santa Monica College Bundy Campus15BrentwoodBarrington Pl & Chayote StWest LAExpo/Bundy stationBarrington AvWeekdays16Playa del ReyCulver Bl & Vista Del MarWest LASaltair Av & Wilshire BlWalgrove Av, 23rd St, 20th StWeekdays Serves 26th Street/Bergamot station and Loyola Marymount University17WestwoodUCLACulver City Culver City stationSawtelle Bl, Palms BlDaily Serves Expo/Sepulveda station and Palms station18WestwoodUCLAMarina Del ReyVia Marina & Admiralty WyMontana Av, 4th StDaily Serves Downtown Santa Monica Station41Santa MonicaSanta Monica College14th St, 20th StWeekdaysService operates in a clockwise loop and terminates at 14th St & Pico Bl Serves 17th Street/SMC station43Santa MonicaSanta Monica CollegeSanta MonicaMain St and Olympic Dr 26th St, San Vicente Bl, 4th StDaily Select eastbound trips serve Paul Revere Middle School Serves 26th Street/Bergamot station44Santa Monica17th Street/SMC stationWest LASanta Monica College Bundy CampusBundy Dr, Ocean Park Bl, 17th StWeekdays onlyConnects 17th Street/Santa Monica College station, Santa Monica College Main Campus, and Santa Monica College Bundy Campus
Rapid & Express routes RouteTerminalsViaDays of OperationNotesExpress 9Pacific PalisadesSunset Bl & Marquez AvSanta Monica4th & Colorado Pacific Coast HighwaySchool days To/from Palisades Charter High School After suspension in early 2025, service was restored January 27th, 2026.Rapid 10Santa MonicaBroadway & 5th StDowntown LAMain St & Alameda StIn Santa Monica: Santa Monica Bl, Bundy DrExpress Portion: I-10In Downtown LA: Grand Av/Olive St, Figueroa St/Flower St, Temple StWeekday, peak hours Operates into Downtown LA in the AM rush and into Downtown Santa Monica in the PM rush Serves Expo/Bundy station and Los Angeles Union StationRapid 12WestwoodUCLA PalmsOverland Av & Venice BlWestwood Bl, Overland AvDaily Serves Westwood/Rancho Park station
Bus fleet Big Blue Bus currently maintains a fleet of 195 buses of various lengths including 29', 40', and 60' articulated, with 35-footers set to be delivered in 2025. In 2018, Big Blue Bus received its last ever internal combustion vehicle. In 2023, 19 buses out of its total fleet were battery-electric, but with the addition of 15 new buses in 2025, that number is now 34. All buses feature destination signs. Newer buses (units 1801 and later) feature white LED destination signs, while older units feature a variety of other colors. In 2024, the fleet was equipped with passenger information displays in place of the older dot-light signs. These are part of a fleet-wide communications system replacement with Clever Devices systems. The passenger displays currently feature a three-day weather forecast, upcoming stops with time to arrival, and the line's final destination. As part of this upgrade, electric buses also gain access to Clever's EV fleet integration software during the agency's transition to a zero-emissions fleet. This also enables vehicles to generate more frequent and accurate GPS data for tracking purposes, such as the Transit app. Buses 1808 and newer were equipped with free passenger Wi-Fi at delivery; this was added to the rest of the fleet with the installation of the new fleet comms systems.
Big Blue Bus has evaluated two main options for zero-emissions propulsion of its buses in an effort to decarbonize its fleet by 2030. Both hydrogen fuel cell and battery-electric buses have been considered. The agency has determined that battery-electric buses can replace their CNG buses at current service levels with a 1:1 replacement ratio. The agency has subsequently delayed its fleet electrification deadline to 2032.
Active fleet Fleet numbersThumbnailMake/ModelYearEngineTransmission 1300 Gillig BRT CNG 40'2012 Cummins Westport ISL-G Voith D864.51301-1344 Gillig BRT CNG 40'2013 Cummins Westport ISL-G Voith D864.51345-1357 Gillig BRT CNG 40'2014 Cummins Westport ISL-G Voith D864.51500-1510 Gillig BRT CNG 40' 2015 Cummins Westport ISL-G Allison B400R1560-1566New Flyer XN60 2015 Cummins Westport ISL-G Allison B500R 1600–1603 Gillig BRT CNG 29'2016 Cummins Westport ISL-G Allison B300R1701-1705 Gillig BRT CNG 40' 2016 Cummins Westport ISL-G Allison B400R1706-1725 Gillig BRT CNG 40' 2017 Cummins Westport ISL-G NZ Allison B400R1801-1807 Gillig BRT CNG 29' 2018 Cummins Westport L9N Allison B300R1808-1826 Gillig BRT CNG 40' 2018 Cummins Westport L9N Allison B400R1827 Gillig Low Floor Plus 40' 2018 Cummins BES Direct drive2101-2118 Gillig Low Floor Plus 40'2021 Cummins BES Direct drive2501-2515 Gillig Low Floor Plus 35'2025 Cummins Accelera Direct drive3868-3876NABI 40-LFW CNG2011 Cummins Westport ISL G Allison B400R5300-5310 NABI 60-BRT CNG2010 Cummins Westport ISL-G Allison B500R5311-5320 NABI 60-BRT CNG2011 Cummins Westport ISL-G Allison B500R
On Order +ManufacturerModelLength (ft)YearQuantity (Fleet Numbers)PowertrainNotesGilligLow Floor Plus40202730 (2701–2730)Electric Purchased in December 2024 Set to replace all NABI units Upon delivery, the fleet will be entirely Gillig buses with the exception of 7 New Flyer XN60s Delivery was originally scheduled to commence at the end of 2026, deferred to mid-2027 due to delayed construction start of additional depot chargingGilligLow Floor Plus40202840 (2801–2840)Electric Purchased in August 2026 with delivery slated for mid-2028
Retired +ManufacturerModelLength (ft)Fleet numbersThumbnailNotesENCE-Z Rider II BRT302900-2914 Some units (most notably 2903) were donated to Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) ahead of the 2028 Olympics Replaced by 35-footers as of May 2025 Originally powered with a gasoline electric hybrid system. Later converted to CNG.
Future and electrification Following the success of Big Blue Bus' pilot with a prototype Gillig/Cummins BEB (unit 1827), the agency committed to only purchasing zero-emission vehicles moving forward. Big Blue Bus charges its electric fleet with 100 percent renewable energy. The second batch of battery-electric buses are expected in 2025. The agency has set itself a 2030 deadline for full conversion to zero-emissions operation, which as of February 2023, it has determined it can achieve with exclusively battery-electric buses.
The agency is slated to replace vehicles as they reach the end of their useful service lives. Next to be replaced are El Dorado 32' BRT models, with delivery of replacement Gillig 35' Low Floor EVs slated for 2025. The agency's fleet of remaining NABI vehicles is the next group of buses to be replaced.
Due to dynamic service changes, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ridership changes, amongst other factors, the agency is pursuing a more dynamic fleet replacement timeline than that which was outlined in their original CARB document. The agency has delayed its fleet electrification commitment to 2031.
Incidents On November 20, 2012, a Big Blue Bus turned left in front of an oncoming motorcyclist, which resulted in the 25-year-old man's death. The accident occurred at approximately 10:33 a.m. at the triangular intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Marquez in the Pacific Palisades. Only buses are allowed to make the left turn, a maneuver that has been determined to be too dangerous for other vehicles.