> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Putting in work - URL: https://www.smdp.com/putting-in-work/ - Published: 2008-05-28T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-25T00:05:44.000Z - Author: Melody Hanatani - Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import *City Hall looks to spend $129M for improvements* Subhed - City Hall looks to spend $129M to improve infrastructure, neighborhoods By Melody Hanatani Daily Press Staff Writer CITY HALL — Locating the next Big Blue Bus arrival will soon only require the touch of a send button. In an effort to enhance customer service and scheduling predictability, the local public transportation agency plans to install a new feature whereby passengers waiting for their bus can dial into an automated response system, plug in the station number and find out when the ride is expected to show. “We are implementing real-time information at the highest (traffic) bus stop locations … and we think that will make it easier for existing customers and will help us attract new users,” Stephanie Negriff, the director for the Big Blue Bus, said. The call-in feature is part of a batch of projects the Big Blue Bus is slated to receive under City Hall’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP), a three-year plan that finances undertakings related to the city’s infrastructure, whether it be addressing pedestrian safety in the Pico Neighborhood or replacing the beach restrooms. The proposed CIP budget, which was presented to the City Council last week, represents an approximately $51 million spike over the current fiscal year, attributed to increases in redevelopment and Big Blue Bus projects. The projects were chosen based on council priorities, community input received during the fall neighborhood group sessions, departmental needs and whether any grants or non-city funds could be leveraged. The first year of the CIP budget includes council adoption and appropriation, moving on to planning and construction in the second and third years, Patterson said. “The projects may change by this time next year … but for the most part, they stay the same,” Patterson said. “It’s really to provide more of a long-term planning document for larger capital expenditures.” The CIP budget includes $28.7 million for the Downtown Santa Monica parking enhancement program, $4.3 million for annual street repair and $1.1 million for the expansion of Memorial Park. Among the more notable recipients in the next fiscal cycle will be the Santa Monica Municipal Pier, which will see about $3.2 million in infrastructure improvements. The project includes the replacement of 76 timber pilings with pre-stressed concrete pilings from the high tide line to the concrete portion of the pier. Another $2 million is being set aside to enhance the viewing deck, upgrade utilities and replace the necklace lighting adorning the pier. 3B0,“It’s to ensure the pier will be preserved and well-maintained into the future,” Ben Franz-Knight, the executive director of the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corp., said. The pier is celebrating its centennial in September 2009\. One of the more historic pieces on the pier — the carousel onion dome — is also scheduled for replacement at $50,000. “The centennial is an important milestone and we want the pier to be at its best,” Franz-Knight said. Big Blue improvements Among the changes expected for the Big Blue Bus in the next fiscal year are amenity upgrades at some of the high and moderate volume bus stops, adding new signs, benches and transit information kiosks. Several vehicles older than 12 years — the average life span for a bus — as well as a handful of Mini Blue Buses are scheduled for replacement. The buses will be replaced with 40-foot liquefied natural gas vehicles, others with the 60-foot-long articulated buses. The bus replacement program is estimated to cost more than $21 million next year. “In order to maintain the highest standard of quality in our system, we need to maintain the infrastructure we have,” Negriff said. “The buses and the benches and signage are all routine replacement.” A better neighborhood Two line items in the proposed CIP budget will see the realization of long-time neighborhood improvement efforts in Ocean Park. The Borderline Neighborhood, which is a cluster of several residential blocks west of Lincoln Boulevard, will receive about $250,000 to begin designing streetscape and pedestrian improvements along Longfellow Street and some of the connecting roads. Residents in the Borderline Neighborhood have long complained about safety concerns and traffic circulation along Longfellow, which with the absence of sidewalks visually appears like an alley. The street has been a popular stop for tow trucks and illicit activity in the past. Another $450,000 is being set aside over the next few years to begin making streetscape improvements along Ocean Park Boulevard west of Lincoln, residents along the strip complaining about the wide barren roadway being an attraction for speeding motorists. Residents along Ocean Park Boulevard have petitioned City Hall for nearly 15 years to fund street improvements, lobbying for more trees and safer bike lanes. “We’re obviously elated to see this happen, no question about it,” Bob Taylor, one of the advocates who lives off the corner of Lincoln and Ocean Park Boulevard, said. “It’s been a long process to get to this point.” Jump hedline: Neighborhood streets in Ocean Park to get safer Suggested pullquote: “In order to maintain the highest standard of quality in our system, we need to maintain the infrastructure we have.” *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 28, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/052808.pdf?ref=smdp.com)