By Roger Linnett

When the Metro Rapid #733 bus line began last year it stopped at the corner of Venice Blvd. and Venice Way as did the Local #33. Then last fall the powers that be at the MTA decided to discontinue that stop for the #733. The result was that the #733 went from the Circle to Lincoln and Venice Blvds. without stopping in between, although the #33 continued to stop at both Venice Way and Abbot Kinney. However, only one of three buses that passed those intersections was a #33, causing riders to wait considerably longer.

This comes on the heels of the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus discontinuation of the #2 line in Venice and its partial replacement by the extension the #1 line. This reduced service through the heart of Venice to once each half hour. A lot of employees on Abbot Kinney Blvd. and local residents, who rely on public transportation, were forced to either wait an inordinate amount of time or walk to Lincoln for the #3 Blue Bus, or to the Circle to catch the #733.

Now, in their infinite, albeit glacial, wisdom the Metro powers have added a stop for the #733 at this major crossroads of our community. Since they rarely get an “Atta boy”, let the MTA know you appreciate their correcting this slight to Venetians at customerrelations@metro.net.