Santa Monica Big Blue Bus to Host Public Hearings on Proposed Fare Changes

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (March 19, 2025) – The Santa Monica Department of Transportation’s Big Blue Bus will host two public hearings to introduce proposed fare increases aimed at enhancing transit services and addressing rising operational costs.  

The first public hearing will be held virtually on Wednesday, April 2, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. To attend, community members must register at bigbluebus.com/meetings.  

The second public hearing will take place in-person on Thursday, April 3, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Santa Monica Main Library in the Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium.  

Those unable to attend a hearing are encouraged to share feedback by completing an online survey at bigbluebus.com/meetings. The survey will remain open until Thursday, April 10.  

This marks Big Blue Bus’s first fare increase proposal in nearly a decade, despite the rising cost of fuel, utilities, and supplies in recent years.  

“At Big Blue Bus, we are committed to maintaining affordable fares and high-quality transit service,” Department of Transportation Director Anuj Gupta said. “The proposed fare adjustments will help us offset rising costs while investing in the recruitment and retention of our workforce and providing meaningful customer experience improvements that ensure Big Blue Bus remains a safe, reliable, convenient, and appealing alternative to driving.”   

Big Blue Bus is proposing the following fare changes: 

• Increasing the cost of Single Ride, 1-Day, 7-Day, 10 Rides, and 30-Day Passes 
• Eliminating the Annual and Youth 30-Day Passes  

Big Blue Bus will continue to offer one free intra-agency transfer within two hours, discounts on Single Rides for contactless fare payments, and expanded access to reduced fares through participation in regional programs such as LIFE and GoPass. 

Find more details about the proposed fare changes at bigbluebus.com/meetings.  

After gathering public feedback the department will bring the final proposal to the Santa Monica City Council for consideration, anticipated in May 2025.  

Getting to the Public Hearing 

BBB Routes 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, and 18 serve the Santa Monica Main Library. If you must drive, parking is available in the library garage (enter on 7th Street north of Santa Monica Blvd.). 

Accommodations