By Hector Gonzalez
Special to The Lookout

March 28, 2016 -- Santa Monica transit officials plan to hold a series of meetings in Venice after residents there expressed concerns over proposed Big Blue Bus route changes that are aimed at better integrating the service with Expo Light Rail trains, officials said.

In February, Big Blue Bus officials significantly changed two routes on Ocean and 7th avenues in Venice as part of the Expo integration plan. They sent notices to residents living near new bus stop locations informing them of the changes, said a staff report to the City Council last week.

Nevertheless, several residents in the impacted areas complained to the City that they weren't aware that new bus service was being proposed for the two streets.

As a result, earlier this month, Big Blue Bus officials presented a review of the proposed Venice routes to residents at a community meeting at Westminster Elementary School.

At that March 9 meeting, attended by 140 people, many residents presented photos and text detailing their suggestions for improvements to the service.

“The focus of the citizens' presentation at the meeting was the idea that Big Blue Bus service is not appropriate for Ocean Avenue in Venice,” said the staff report.

“Nearly half of the comments focused on Ocean Avenue, and those who live on the street requested an immediate end to bus service on Ocean Avenue.”

Residents also raised concerns about new bus service being proposed for 7th and 4th avenues in Venice, the loss of service in some areas and the need for service in other areas, said staff.

After hearing from about 40 residents at the meeting, officials have decided to go back to the beginning of the process, even though two previous attempts to solicit input from the Venice community about proposed bus route changes garnered little interest.

Only 3 percent of Venice residents responded to surveys conducted in 2013 and 2014 to obtain community feedback on the proposed changes, said staff.

But at the March 9 meeting, complaints from residents about the lack of input during the outreach phase in 2013-14 “resulted in the assessment by Venice community members that their input was not solicited or valued,” said staff.

Although transit officials are willing to “re-engage” with the Venice Neighborhood Council and other local residents about their concerns, any ultimate decisions on bus routes also have to take into consideration operating costs and how the proposals fit into Santa Monica's Expo integration plan, said staff.

“The goal of increased public input can be best met by careful consideration and outreach before implementing any further modifications to the bus routes,” said the staff report. “Any changes considered must be analyzed against the entire service plan as changes to such a plan cannot be made without consequential impacts in other parts of the system.

“Due to the extensive factors aforementioned, to cease bus operations, even to a limited area, or to make immediate changes as requested by some Venice community members would not be feasible.”

Staff said it will bring its findings to the City Council after transit officials meet with Venice community members, the report said.