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# Big Blue Bus honors MTA passes and tokens
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/big-blue-bus-honors-mta-passes-and-tokens/
- Published: 2003-10-15T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:06:09.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: local, Downtown, #archive-import

The Big Blue Bus, which is separate from MTA, will continue with its regular service throughout the strike. Buses will operate on regular schedules on all 16 lines, but may be delayed because of increased traffic and higher passenger loads, officials said.

While they can’t add a lot of new buses because of limited resources, Big Blue Bus officials are shifting those resources to respond to lines that have the heaviest increases in passengers.

Santa Monica’s transit operation has added extra buses to the areas most heavily impacted, particularly the downtown Los Angeles freeway express line. Known as Line 10, it moves people between downtown Los Angeles, West LA and Santa Monica.

“The biggest problem is that the MTA is in the middle and people are stranded downtown,” Dawson said. “Line 10 was standing-room only by the third stop (on Tuesday).”

One new trip leaving Patsaouras Plaza in downtown LA at 5:30 a.m. was added. Dawson said the transit agency will monitor that line, as well as others, this week to determine where buses should be added.

A new bus also was added at 5: 15 a.m. to the Rimpau Transit Center near the intersections of Pico, San Vicente and Venice boulevards.

“That line has been hit hard,” Dawson said. “We will put supervisors out there to monitor it and determine if more buses are needed.”

Lines 7 and the Super 7 move people from the Rimpau Transit Center along Pico Boulevard and serve Westside Pavilion Mall, which is the transfer point for other Big Blue Buses that go to Westwood, UCLA, West LA and Santa Monica. Dawson said people should try to carpool and rearrange their bus routes if it’s appropriate.

Lines 5, 7, 12 and 13 all serve the Rimpau Transit Center. Many MTA passengers can find alternate routes using the Big Blue Bus and the other municipal bus lines around Los Angeles County. Passengers traveling to Century City and the Westside should consider taking Line 5 from the Rimpau Transit Center, Dawson said. Big Blue Bus Line 3 will continue to connect LAX, Santa Monica and Westwood.

“We want to encourage our passengers to be patient and perhaps leave a little ear-lier than normal while the strike is on as some buses may be full or running a little late due to increased road traffic,” said Big Blue Bus Assistant Director Janeene De Martinez.

The Big Blue Bus will honor all MTA passes during the strike, and as always will accept MTA tokens.

Passengers needing more information can call Big Blue Bus customer service at (310) 451-5444\. But officials said callers should expect long waits, and encourage people to check schedule and route information at www.BigBlueBus.com.

Big Blue Bus officials have some experience in dealing with MTA strikes. In 2000, thousands of MTA workers walked off the job, leaving Santa Monica’s transit service to fill the void.

“What we learned was there was a lot of confusion the first two weeks,” Dawson said. “Then once people figured it out, it slowed down.”

The MTA has offered to pay temporary drivers and supervisors to help the Big Blue Bus in its increased operation.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 15, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/101503.pdf?ref=smdp.com)