Every week, Next republishes one or two article(s) from the City Manager’s Report.
Big Blue Bus provided 904,000 rides in April 2026, a 3% increase over April 2025 and the latest in a string of steady monthly gains putting the BBB system on track to surpass the 10 million riders milestone for the second consecutive year!
Fiscal year-to-date through April 30, BBB ridership stands at 8.3 million riders, which is only about 1.5% lower year- over-year, with the gap narrowing each month. That trajectory is notable given the headwinds that our system – and all of the public transit systems in our region – had to navigate in the first half of FY 2025-26. Regional fears around immigration enforcement reduced travel by transit-dependent communities across the Westside, however, beginning in January 2026, monthly ridership returned to positive year-over-year growth (January was up 4.3%).
Our April numbers suggest those impacts are continuing to moderate.
Hitting 10 million riders for a second consecutive year would be a meaningful proof point. Last fiscal year, BBB crossed the 10 million threshold for the first time since the pandemic, reflecting both the return of ridership and the trust the community continues to place in reliable transit service. Repeating that milestone in a fiscal year that started under significant external pressure would underscore the durability of that recovery.
Meanwhile, MODE – the City’s on-demand transportation service for seniors and people with disabilities – provided 5,671 rides in April 2026, continuing its strong ridership growth! Year-to-date, MODE ridership is up 42% over the prior year. The program, which received the 2024 National Council on Aging Innovator Award, has become a key piece of how the City supports mobility for older adults and people with disabilities Citywide.
The Department of Transportation continues to invest in modernization and outreach to build on this momentum, including the City’s transition toward a 100% zero-emission fleet by 2032 that is being supported by the $53 million State Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) grant secured last year, the largest in Big Blue Bus history!
So much good stuff happening on the transportation front in Santa Monica, and our tremendous team at BBB is helping to lead the way!
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