BusTalk

Cyberider · Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 501 Location: Tempe, AZ

http://www.argonautnewspaper.com/articles/2008/08/28/news_-_features/santa_monica/s5.txt

Friday, August 29, 2008 Last modified: Thursday, August 28, 2008 10:03 AM PDT

Big Blue Bus starts 'Rapid 7' service on Pico Blvd. corridor

The Big Blue Bus — the Santa Monica municipal transit company — has added several significant enhancements to its service, including a new "Rapid 7" bus service connecting downtown Santa Monica and the Rimpau Transit Center on Pico Boulevard.

The new Rapid 7 represents one of the fastest and easiest ways for passengers to get to such popular destinations as the Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica College and the Westside Pavilion, Big Blue Bus officials said. The Rapid 7 service replaces the former Super 7 service.

"This new enhanced service along one of our most popular routes will be a great benefit to riders who want to quickly access the downtown Santa Monica area and destinations along the Pico Boulevard corridor," said Dan Dawson, customer relations manager for the Big Blue Bus.

"Our Rapid 3 service down the Lincoln Boulevard corridor has been a huge success with the public and we hope people will really enjoy the faster and improved service this line offers, not to mention the cost savings and environmental benefits people will get from taking transit instead of driving."

Riders will save approximately 15 percent of ride time over previous Super 7 service.

Rapid 7 uses the newest high-tech buses available, and includes signal priority to move through traffic faster, digital interior signs, quieter engines and low floors for faster boarding.

The service operates more frequently than the Super 7, with buses running at ten-minute intervals at times. Rapid 7 makes the same stops as the Super 7, with the exception of Pico at 20th Street.

The new bus line serves the Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica College (SMC), the Westside Pavilion and the Rimpau Transit Center.

Rapid 7 service runs Monday through Friday during peak hours.

Fares are 75 cents for regular boarding, 50 cents for Student Punch Card boardings and 25 cents for senior, disabled and Medicare passengers.

The Big Blue Bus has also launched its "Any Line Any Time" program, which allows SMC students and staff to ride any Big Blue Bus line, any time free, thanks to a new underwriting agreement initiated by the college and its Associated Students.

"Student ridership is very important to us," said Dawson. "SMC students and staff now take over a million trips a year on the Big Blue Bus, and with this new exciting program, we expect that number to rise dramatically, getting even more cars off residential streets and helping to reduce air pollution in the city."

Information or questions regarding the new Rapid Blue 7 service and other improvements, Big Blue Bus customer service at (310) 451-5444 or www.bigblue bus.com/.

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 2:15 am Post subject:

Dave,

It would seem as though Santa Monica Municipal has all their ducks in a row (as usual!).

When LACMTA instituted their 'Rapid' sytem buses (pictured below) some years ago, one of the features was to be the same kind of 'Signal Priority' system that Santa Monica is obviously already utilizing.

As far as I know, L. A.'s either hasn't been installed yet or, if it has, it's not working because the 'Rapids' crawl along just like to Locals.

It's too bad because I was looking forward to following a Rapid with the ability to change the lights at will to get where I'm going much faster!

As always, you can count on Santa Monica to be right on top of the game!

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, NY

Cyberider · Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 501 Location: Tempe, AZ

Glad to hear SMMBL is doing it right but what happens when they cross into LA on their way to Rimpau Blvd.?

BTW, SMMBL seems to be keeping their equipment a lot cleaner these days than they did back in the early 70's!

Dave

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:27 pm Post subject:

Dave,

That's a good question!

I doubt seriously that Santa Monica would have the authority to upgrade signals in L.A., but I have heard that the technology may already be built in to the modern systems and L.A. is continually improving the equipment.

In fact, they have just completed several 'Sync' installations on the west side which permit staggered traffic signal operation in whichever direction the rush hour is heading.

It's amazing that L.A. has just awakened because we've had a stagger system on Queens Boulevard in New York for sixty years already!

Mr.'L'