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43-463: The system operates the following routes: CATA operates a diverse set of vehicles on its routes. Its full-size bus fleet includes 4 International HCCB buses, 12 Gillig Low Floor buses, while its mini bus fleet is made up of 16 Ford E-Series vehicles, including 12 Ford Cutaways, 3 Ford E350s, 1 New England RAM Low Floor. This article related to bus transportation in the United States

86-549: A SAE J1772 CCS Type 1 connector, and an overhead pantograph ( SAE J3105 –1) connection is available. As tested by the Bus Research and Testing Center in Altoona , a 40-foot (12.2 m) battery-electric bus, with a gross capacity of 444 kW-hr (355 kW-hr usable) at 750 VDC, achieved a range of 129 to 187 mi (208 to 301 km), depending on the driving cycle (Manhattan and EPA HD-UDDS, respectively;

129-508: A 1:1 replacement ratio. Big Blue Bus is installing charging for 100+ buses at its depot using a canopy with overhead reel dispensers, a project set to be complete by the end of 2024. 2010 and 2011 El Dorado EZR II- BRT 32' CNG models are set to be replaced with 15 35-foot Gillig Low Floor Plus EV models. Moreover, Big Blue Bus' 2011 NABI LFW 40' and NABI BRT 60' units have already exceeded their design life. The agency has subsequently delayed its fleet electrification deadline to 2031. Following

172-597: A blue color scheme for its buses, leading to the Big Blue Bus nickname that would later become the official name of the agency. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 8,289,600, or about 26,900 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024. Big Blue Bus receives funding from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and offers connections to its Metro Bus and Metro Rail systems, but

215-535: A drivetrain adapted from the BAE HybriDrive powertrain. Of the two body configurations for low-floor buses, the Gillig Low Floor is a low-entry bus (the front two-thirds to three-fourths of the interior is low-floor) with a low-step entry (nearly curb height) and integrated manual wheelchair ramp while the rear part of the interior (behind the rear axle) is raised to provide sufficient space for

258-476: A variety of other colors. In 2024, the fleet was equipped with passenger information displays in place of the older dot-light signs. These are part of a fleet-wide communications system replacement with Clever Devices systems. The passenger displays currently feature a three-day weather forecast, upcoming stops with time to arrival, and the line's final destination. As part of this upgrade, electric buses also gain access to Clever's EV fleet integration software during

301-635: A zero emissions bus fleet. Sunday schedules are operated on New Year's Day , Memorial Day , Independence Day , Labor Day , Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day . Culver City station Big Blue Bus currently maintains a fleet of 195 buses of various lengths including 29', 40', and 60' articulated, with 35-footers set to be delivered in 2025. In 2018, Big Blue Bus received its last ever internal combustion vehicle. 19 buses out of its total fleet are currently battery-electric . All buses feature destination signs . Newer buses (units 1801 and later) feature white LED destination signs, while older units feature

344-462: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about transportation in Massachusetts is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Gillig Low Floor The Gillig Low Floor (originally named Gillig H2000LF and also nicknamed Gillig Advantage ) is a transit bus manufactured by Gillig since 1997. The second low-floor bus design introduced in

387-648: Is a mild parallel hybrid system using Maxwell ultracapacitor on-board energy storage, and was tested to have an observed overall average fuel consumption of 4.75 mpg ‑US (49.5 L/100 km; 5.70 mpg ‑imp ). The Gillig/BAE series hybrid , branded HybriDrive, had comparable fuel consumption, at 4.64 mpg ‑US (50.7 L/100 km; 5.57 mpg ‑imp ) (40-foot) and 3.96–6.14 mpg ‑US (59.4–38.3 L/100 km; 4.76–7.37 mpg ‑imp ) (40-foot, Manhattan and HD-UDDS driving cycles, respectively). The Gillig/Allison dual-mode (series/parallel) hybrid

430-621: Is available in 30, 35 and 40-foot (9.1, 10.7 and 12.2-meter) lengths. The vintage-style trolley appearance package exterior features include frameless bonded side windows, maintenance-free wood-like trim, ornate gold pinstriping, custom window and body graphic decals, roof cupola, functional solid brass bell, cow catcher, roof perimeter LED ropelights, and front center brass trolley lamp. The interior has solid American white oak seats, optional seat cushions, leather hand straps, brass handrails, stop request pull ropes, wood trim, and woodgrain wall panels and floor covering. In addition to conventional diesel,

473-619: Is older. Santa Monica established the bus line in response to a fare increase on the Pacific Electric interurban trains between Santa Monica and Los Angeles. While independent from other agencies in the Los Angeles area, the Big Blue Bus has always offered connections to the other systems, most notably near the intersections of Pico and Rimpau Boulevards in the Mid-City section of Los Angeles. The historic transfer point

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516-566: Is operated independently from Metro. The agency was founded on April 14, 1928 as the Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines and the agency picked a unique blue color scheme for its buses, later leading to the Big Blue Bus nickname. It holds the distinction of being the second oldest public transit bus system still operating in Los Angeles County; only the neighboring Culver CityBus (founded March 4, 1928)

559-465: Is slated to replace vehicles as they reach the end of their useful service lives. Next to be replaced are El Dorado 32' BRT models, with delivery of replacement Gillig 35' Low Floor EVs slated for 2025. The agency's fleet of remaining NABI vehicles is the next group of buses to be replaced. Due to dynamic service changes, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ridership changes, amongst other factors,

602-646: The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (RTA); Gillig was responsible for the chassis, based on the Low Floor BRT/CNG, and Kiepe supplied the traction motor, battery, and trolley pole equipment. The contract was awarded by RTA in 2013 and the resulting buses featured "in-motion charging", using the trolley wires to charge an on-board battery that provided an off-wire range of up to 20 mi (32 km). This meant that buses could detour around stalled traffic and

645-674: The Big Blue Bus's official name, the Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines. In Raymond Chandler 's novel Farewell, My Lovely , first published in 1940, he writes as protagonist Philip Marlowe , describing a scene in Bay City (Chandler's version of the City of Santa Monica): In the Curb Your Enthusiasm episode ” Namaste " (season 9, episode 7), Larry David is forced to catch a bus, an activity he

688-465: The Cummins B6.7 diesel, Cummins L9 diesel, and Cummins L9N compressed natural gas inline-six engines. Throughout its production, the Gillig Low Floor has featured a range of Cummins engines along with Caterpillar and Detroit Diesel engines. Allison, Voith, and ZF automatic transmissions are available. Since 2004, the Gillig Low Floor has been available in a diesel-electric hybrid configuration with

731-548: The Cummins ISB engine; hybrid models are identified by their roof-mounted battery pack. Hybrid models have been produced with Allison, BAE, and Voith series- and parallel-hybrid powertrains. In 2008, the Allison hybrid drivetrain was 81% more expensive than a conventional bus, which was partially subsidized by federal grants and expected savings in fuel and maintenance costs. The Gillig/Voith hybrid, branded DIWAhybrid,

774-739: The Gilig Low Floor. Introduced in 2017, the Low Floor Plus is more mildly restyled compared to the Gillig BRT and BRT Plus. The Low Floor Plus features the headlights of the BRT and full-length roof fairings similar to the BRTPlus, but retains the same windshield and rear end cap as the traditional Low Floor model. The Gillig Trolley is a trolley-replica bus produced in collaboration with Cable Car Classics of Healdsburg, California . It

817-453: The Gillig BRT has projector headlights. The Gillig BRT is available with CNG, Diesel and Diesel-Electric Hybrid drivetrains. The Gillig BRT Plus is a variant of the BRT which features a full-length roof fairing which hides equipment which can include A/C units, CNG fuel tanks, or batteries. The Plus made its debut in 2011 with Long Beach Transit #1201, which is also the first Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) BRT produced. The newest variant of

860-529: The Gillig Trolley is available with optional power trains, including Allison hybrid-electric, all-electric, and CNG. Big Blue Bus Big Blue Bus (stylized in lowercase) is a public transit agency that provides public bus services for the city of Santa Monica and the greater Westside region of Los Angeles County, California . The service, operated by the city of Santa Monica, was founded on April 14, 1928 and throughout its existence has used

903-641: The H2000LF in service at Logan International Airport in Boston (expanding to other airports in the United States). Gillig would produce the H2000LF for Hertz through 2005, as the design was replaced by standard Gillig Low Floor buses. In 1997, Gillig developed the H2000LF shuttle bus into the Low Floor transit bus. Several changes were made to the design, distinguished primarily by the reconfiguration of

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946-465: The Low Floor is offered for a variety of transit applications. It is offered with conventional diesel, diesel-electric hybrid, compressed natural gas, and battery-electric powertrain options. The model line is currently assembled by Gillig at its Livermore, California facility; prior to 2017, the vehicle was assembled in Hayward, California . The Gillig Low Floor began life in the mid-1990s as Gillig

989-492: The Orange County cycle fell in between). Observed energy consumption was 3.04 kW⋅h/mi (11.1 mpg‑e) (Manhattan), 2.27 kW⋅h/mi (14.8 mpg‑e) (Orange County), and 2.09 kW⋅h/mi (16.1 mpg‑e) (HD-UDDS). The Cummins TM4 traction motor had a rated output of 262.5 to 562.5 kW (352 to 754 hp). Gillig partnered with Kiepe Electric to build 45 "NexGen" trolleybuses for

1032-535: The Trolley Replica (not a trolleybus) restyled the standard Low Floor body as a vintage trolley. In 2008, the entry doors were revised, adopting larger glass panels (distinguished by squared-off corners). A suburban configuration was introduced alongside the standard transit Low Floor (replacing the version previously offered on the Gillig Phantom). Distinguished by its lack of a rear entry door,

1075-591: The United States (after the New Flyer Low Floor ), the Low Floor originally served as a second product range for the company alongside the Gillig Phantom . As transit bus operators shifted toward low-floor designs, the Low Floor has replaced the Phantom entirely, becoming the sole vehicle platform offered by the company since 2008. Offered in three body lengths and multiple body configurations,

1118-507: The agency is pursuing a more dynamic fleet replacement timeline than that which was outlined in their original CARB document. On November 20, 2012, a Big Blue Bus turned left in front of an oncoming motorcyclist, which resulted in the 25-year-old man's death. The accident occurred at approximately 10:33 a.m. at the triangular intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Marquez in the Pacific Palisades. Only buses are allowed to make

1161-430: The agency operates 10 bus lines: 9 regular routes and 1 rapid route. The agency is currently undergoing a COA (Comprehensive Operational Analysis) which will inform service and route changes over the next five years. These aim to help the agency better connect with future Metro Rail extensions, most notably the D and K lines, adjust to new travel patterns, increase service frequency, and make service blocks compatible with

1204-719: The agency's transition to a zero-emissions fleet. This also enables vehicles to generate more frequent and accurate GPS data for tracking purposes, such as the Transit app . Buses 1808-1827 and 2101-2118 came standard with free passenger Wi-Fi; this was added to the rest of the fleet with the installation of the new fleet comms systems. Big Blue Bus has evaluated two main options for zero-emissions propulsion of its buses in an effort to decarbonize its fleet by 2030. Both hydrogen fuel cell and battery-electric buses have been considered. The agency has determined that battery-electric buses can replace their CNG buses at current service levels with

1247-409: The entry doors (replacing the central entry with dual entry doors). Following the renaming of the model line, Gillig introduced the Low Floor as an expansion of its product range, marketed alongside the step-entrance Phantom. During its production, the Low Floor has undergone several revisions to its body design. In 2002, the windshield was enlarged (with the use of a smaller destination sign) and

1290-643: The first of the 41 regular production models arrived in August 2019. The final bus was delivered in September 2020. The Gillig Low Floor series is currently and formerly available the following engine and transmission options: Gillig also manufactures four models of buses based on the Low Floor chassis: the Low Floor BRT, Low Floor BRT Plus, Low Floor Plus, and the Low Floor Trolley. All have

1333-499: The gunfire. Approximately two dozen people were inside the bus at the time of the shooting. The attack on Bus 4057 marked the first time a Big Blue Bus came under attack by a gunman in its 85-year service. Two humorous slogans Santa Monica Bank used on Big Blue Buses appeared in the film Speed . The bus operator in the movie is called the Santa Monica Intercity Bus Lines , a fictionalized version of

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1376-416: The left turn, a maneuver that has been determined to be too dangerous for other vehicles. On June 7, 2013, Bus 4057 of Big Blue Bus was among several vehicles fired at during a thirteen-minute killing spree that left six people dead, including the gunman, and four others wounded. Three women suffered minor injuries aboard the bus, one from shrapnel -type injuries and the other two from injuries unrelated to

1419-399: The powertrain. The Gillig Low Floor is produced in three nominal body lengths in its standard transit bus configuration: 40 ft (12.2 m). Maximum seating capacity is 40 passengers for the 40-foot length. The turning radius of the Gillig Low Floor is 43 ft (13.1 m) (40 foot body). Currently (as of 2019 production), the Gillig Low Floor range is equipped with three engines:

1462-399: The same engine and transmission options as the standard Low Floor. The Gillig BRT is a restyled version of the Low Floor with different front and rear fascias. It wears a more futuristic look than the standard model. It is available in the same lengths as the standard Low Floor model, although the front fascia adds roughly an extra foot of length to the bus. Instead of sealed-beam headlights,

1505-400: The side windows were reduced in width. After 2003, the rear side split windows that were configured upside down were reconfigured to match the rest of the side windows; frameless windows later became an option (with or without split openings). In 2005, the Low Floor model line was expanded by the addition of the Low Floor BRT, adding restyled front and rear bodywork and a front roof fairing;

1548-525: The suburban Low Floor was configured with forward-facing seating, internal luggage racks, onboard Wi-Fi, and other passenger-related options. For 2011, the Low Floor BRT Plus was introduced. Coinciding with the introduction of CNG and diesel-electric hybrid powertrains, the Plus adopted a full-length body fairing to accommodate CNG tanks and hybrid equipment on the roof. In 2017, a Low Floor Plus

1591-512: The success of Big Blue Bus' pilot with a prototype Gillig/Cummins BEB (unit 1827), the agency committed to only purchasing zero-emission vehicles moving forward. Big Blue Bus charges its electric fleet with 100 percent renewable energy . The second batch of battery-electric buses are expected in 2025. The agency has set itself a 2030 deadline for full conversion to zero-emissions operation, which as of February 2023, it has determined it can achieve with exclusively battery-electric buses . The agency

1634-424: The system could be expanded without installing more overhead wire; to facilitate off-wire operation, the driver could move the poles up and down without leaving their seat. Four prototypes were supplied in 2014: two used diesel engines to operate off-wire, while the other two used storage batteries. The remaining 41 would be equipped with storage batteries; the prototypes would be tested for more than five years before

1677-491: Was approached by Hertz Corporation , who sought a shuttle bus for its airport locations (to replace its fleet of GMC RTS buses). Featuring a carpeted interior, luggage racks, and a central entry door, the primary design requirement of Hertz was a low-floor entry for those carrying luggage or with limited mobility. In 1996, the first buses for Hertz (named the Gillig H2000LF) entered production, with Hertz placing

1720-733: Was established by Santa Monica, the Los Angeles Railway and Pacific Electric Railway and is known today as the Pico/Rimpau Transit Center and is used the Big Blue Bus and Metro Bus. In 1978, Santa Monica became the first transit operator in California to operate a bus with a wheelchair lift, the Grumman- Flxible Model 870 . It was the third agency to order the bus after Atlanta's MARTA , and Connecticut's CT Transit . The Big Blue Bus

1763-536: Was introduced, combining the roof fairing of the BRT Plus with the body of the standard Low Floor. A battery-electric powertrain developed by Cummins was made available for the Low Floor Plus variant starting in 2019. The launch client for the Gillig/Cummins battery-electric bus was Big Blue Bus , serving Santa Monica, California . A battery-electric Low Floor (29-foot) was tested at Altoona in 2018, using

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1806-539: Was one of the last transit agencies using the iconic GMC New Look "fishbowl" bus, the last of which was retired in 2005. The Big Blue Bus has been honored with the American Public Transportation Association ’s Outstanding Transportation System award in 1987, 1992, 1997, 2000 and 2011. Big Blue Bus operates 18 bus lines: 12 regular routes, 4 rapid routes, and 2 circulator routes. On weekends and holidays with weekend service,

1849-593: Was similar, at 3.64–6.40 mpg ‑US (64.6–36.8 L/100 km; 4.37–7.69 mpg ‑imp ) (40-foot (12.2 m), Manhattan and HD-UDDS driving cycles). A fully electric configuration was introduced in 2019, with serial production commencing in 2020; it was developed as a prototype at the request of Big Blue Bus , (who was the lead customer for the model ) which had reduced an order of 20 CNG buses to 19 in order to test an all-electric powertrain system developed by Cummins (branded "Cummins Battery Electric System"). The buses use plug-in charging with

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