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By Lookout Staff

August 21 – Getting to such popular Westside destinations as the Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica College and the Westside Pavilion now takes less time for Los Angeles travelers, thanks to the Big Blue Bus’ Rapid 7 launched Monday.

The line – which connects downtown Santa Monica and the Rimpau Transit Center along Pico Boulevard – replaces the former Super 7 service and is one of several new service enhancements rolled out by transit officials.

The enhancements include a new Line 1 "Campus Connector" that links the UCLA and Santa Monica College campuses via 20th Street to Pico Boulevard and added trips on Line 14.

Also, a stop has been added to the Sunset Ride route on Pico Boulevard between 27th and 28th streets, and a 15-minute schedule is back in effect to help transport Santa Monica College students, staff and neighbors during the school year.

The Rapid 7 follows the successful launching of the Rapid 3 down the Lincoln Boulevard corridor, transit officials said.

"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.

“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," Dawson said.

The new Rapid 7, which runs Monday through Friday during peak hours,

* Saves approximately 15 percent of ride time over previous Super 7 service.

* Uses the newest available high-tech buses, which feature signal priority to move through
traffic faster, digital interior signs, quieter engines and low-floors for faster boarding. The buses are powered by cleaner burning liquefied natural gas (LNG), which reduces CO2 by
80 percent compared to diesel buses.

* Operates more frequently than the Super 7, with some buses running at 10 minute intervals, while using the same stops with the exception of the stop on Pico at 20th Street.

* Serves the Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica College, the Westside Pavilion and the Rimpau Transit Center.

* Costs 75 cents for regular boarding, 50 cents for Student Punch Card boarding and 25
cents for senior/disabled/Medicare passengers.

From the Rimpau Transit Center heading west, Rapid 7 service operates from 5:57 a.m. until 9:47 a.m., takes a midday break and then runs again from 12:48 p.m. until 6:33 p.m.

From 6th Street at Broadway heading east, Rapid 7 service operates from 6 a.m. until 8:54 a.m., takes a midday break and then runs again from 11:50 a.m. until 6:02 p.m.

The Big Blue Bus has also launched its "Any Line Any Time" program, which allows Santa Monica College students and staff to ride any Big Blue Bus line, any time for 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.

“With this new exciting program, we expect that number to rise dramatically, which will get even more cars off residential streets and help reduce air pollution in the city."

For more information or questions regarding the new Rapid Blue 7 service and other improvements, call Big Blue Bus customer service at (310) 451-5444 or visit www.bigbluebus.com.