By Lookout Staff

December 7, 2010 – Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus may be blue, but it just picked up an award for being green from the Southern California chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA).

The city’s transit agency was honored with the 2010 Project of the Year award for its environmentally significant 66,000-square-foot maintenance facility expansion project completed in the fall of 2009.

"Each year, the APWA recognizes public agencies for their outstanding achievements, and also for the wealth of good ideas they share with others,” said George Alvarez, president of the Southern California chapter of the APWA.

“The Big Blue Bus facility expansion project has earned this recognition for its demonstrated awareness of the need to protect and enhance the environment, while also contributing positively to the community it serves."

The $60 million, 66,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility -- built on the site of the old maintenance yard at 6th and Colorado Avenue -- features the latest in sustainable transit maintenance technologies, including the ability to service every type of alternative fueled vehicle in the transit agency’s fleet.

The expansion project boosted the size of the bus parking lot, which was filled to capacity, and improved the old maintenance facility built in the 1960s, when the bus system had a much smaller and less technologically advanced fleet.

“The city’s architectural and construction management on this project was outstanding, and we owe a lot to them for having this project turn out so exceptionally,” said Stephanie Negriff, director of transit services for the Big Blue Bus.

“This award is a great honor for the city, and also for the Big Blue Bus employees who provided valuable input towards the final design of the project,” said Negriff.

The expansion project included the construction of 21 high-tech service bays, which can handle the maintenance and repair of up to 20 buses a day. Two of the new bays are dedicated to Santa Monica Fire Department vehicles, while three others are extra-long to service the new 60-foot articulated buses on order.

“The new facility has everything we need now to maintain and house our larger, more technically diverse fleet,” said Negriff, “including the electric hybrids we recently put into service and also the articulated buses that will arrive in a few months.”

Among the project’s eco-friendly and energy efficient features are a 600 roof-mounted photovoltaic panels, minimum energy water heaters to help reduce operating costs, and an urban runoff system to filter storm water.

In addition, recycled content was used the concrete, structural steel, carpeting, gypsum board, finishes and insulation.

“The quality of the design, materials and detailing raise the bar for a maintenance facility,” said Miriam Mulder, project manager for the City’s Architecture Services Division. “It is not only highly functional but beautiful, as well.”

For more information about the Big Blue Bus, visit www.bigbluebus.com. For information about the American Public Works Association, visit www.apwa.net.

High-resolution photos of the project are available upon request.

"The new facility has everything we need now to maintain and house our larger, more technically diverse fleet, including the electric hybrids we recently put into service and also the articulated buses that will arrive in a few months."
      Stephanie Negriff

“The quality of the design, materials and detailing raise the bar for a maintenance facility,”
      Miriam Mulder