California's Big Blue Bus Unveil 'Brighter Blue' Plan

The five-year plan will improve service by providing riders with fast, sustainable, and reliable access to jobs, healthcare, education, and other essential services.

Staff Writer・Editorial

Read Staff's Posts

July 10, 2024

California's Big Blue Bus Unveil 'Brighter Blue' Plan — Informed by a comprehensive analysis of BBB’s current services and an extensive 18-month community and stakeholder outreach effort, riders can anticipate several service enhancements under the Brighter Blue scheme.
**Photo: Big Blue Bus**

3 min to read

At its recent meeting, California’s Santa Monica City Council adopted Brighter Blue, a five-year plan to improve Big Blue Bus (BBB) service by providing riders with fast, sustainable, and reliable access to jobs, healthcare, education, and other essential services, and providing a world-class transit experience for major events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics.

Brighter Blue was developed in response to post-pandemic travel behavior changes and a rapidly growing regional rail network.

Brighter Blue

Informed by a comprehensive analysis of BBB’s current services and an extensive 18-month community and stakeholder outreach effort, riders can anticipate the following service enhancements under Brighter Blue:

More frequent service on most routes, including a high frequency network with weekday service every 10 minutes or better on select corridors during peak hours.
Expanded operating hours so that most routes start earlier in the day, end later at night, and operate on weekends.
Improved connectivity to key destinations, such as the LAX/Metro Transit Center, Culver City Transit Center, and the Metro Rail D Line extension.

“While travel patterns have changed post-pandemic, the fundamentals of high-quality transit remain the same,” said Santa Monica Department of Transportation Director Anuj Gupta. “Service needs to be fast, frequent, safe, and reliable to serve as an effective transportation mode. Concentrating investments on key high-frequency routes will create a stronger foundation for our overall network, making Big Blue Bus’s service more attractive and convenient, reducing wait times, and providing more flexibility to current and future riders planning their trips.”

Enhancing the Rider Experience

Brighter Blue is among several Department of Transportation initiatives that seek to provide an enhanced rider experience:

Zero-Emission Bus Fleet: BBB is an industry leader in sustainability and environmentally-friendly practices. The agency is on pace to achieve a complete zero-emission, battery-electric bus fleet by 2030.
Safety Officer Program: The Department of Transportation launched a Transit Safety Officer Program in March 2024 to enhance safety for riders and employees. The program deploys unarmed security guards across the system wherever data shows their services are most needed.
Automated Bus Lane Enforcement: Last summer, BBB conducted a successful pilot of automated bus lane enforcement technology. Staff will present a recommendation for a permanent program to City Council for approval in FY2024-25.
Communications System Upgrade: Big Blue Bus is upgrading its fleet communications system to provide better real-time bus arrival predictions and minimize service delays and disruptions.
Better Blue Bus Stops: BBB will continue to improve bus stops throughout its service area. Improvements include upgraded lighting, increased shade, larger boarding areas, and more seating options.

Implementation of the Brighter Blue service plan advances the City Council’s strategic priorities of Sustainable & Connected and Justice, Equity, & Diversity.

Topics:Big Blue Bus battery-electric buses real-time information increased frequencies business plans bus service bus lane enforcement Technology Zero Emissions Bus

More Bus

Bus•by Staff•May 1, 2026

San Antonio's VIA Launches Next Round of Bus Improvements

The changes are designed to reduce overall travel time, shorten wait times, and get customers to their destinations more quickly.

Bus•by Staff•May 1, 2026

Fed Leaders Highlight Growth, U.S. Manufacturing at ENC

The visit is part of the SF Fed's ongoing engagement with major employers and industries across Southern California and, more broadly, the western U.S. to better understand regional economic conditions and business outlooks.

Management•May 1, 2026

Data-Driven Maintenance: Focusing Effort Where It Matters Most

Advances in data and analytics are giving transit agencies new opportunities to refine maintenance practices, improve efficiency and make more informed decisions about asset performance.

ADA Compliant Transit: Easier, More Dignified Travel for Every Passenger

Today’s riders—and the communities you serve—expect more from public transit. While ADA compliance is required, leading transit agencies know that true accessibility also means delivering dignity, efficiency, and a better rider experience. This whitepaper reveals why forward thinking agencies nationwide choose the Low Floor Frontrunner as their first choice for ADA compliant vehicles—setting a new standard with passenger first design, faster boarding, improved safety, and unmatched operational performance.

Cover photo for Part 2 with Cecil Blandon

Management•by Alex Roman•April 30, 2026

Bus Tech Talk: Part 2 with AC Transit’s Cecil Blandon

In Part 2 of a two-part conversation, AC Transit’s director of maintenance joins co-hosts Alex Roman and Mark Hollenbeck to discuss his maintenance team’s work with various types of vehicle, training, augmented reality, and more.

Management•by Staff•April 28, 2026

Keolis Contract Extended for Valley Metro's East Valley Fixed-Route Bus Service

Under this extension, Keolis will continue to manage and operate fixed-route bus service across the East Valley, serving communities including Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, the town of Gilbert, parts of Phoenix, and the Gila River Indian Community.