By Lookout Staff

June 16, 2016 -- Those out on the town this weekend can hop a Big Blue Bus cab to or from the 17th St./Santa Monica College Expo Station as part of a new on-demand service that kicks off Friday night.

Blue at Night will offer residents and visitors improved first-last mile connections on Friday and Saturday nights from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. for $3.

"Santa Monica locals will now have a convenient late evening option and can easily request a Blue at Night cab during service hours," Bue Bus officials said.

Service can be requested by calling 877-611-8294. To view a service area map and more details visit bigbluebus.com/blueatnight.

The service is one of the changes introduced this month during the third phase of "Evolution of Blue," which also includes a series of major route and schedule changes to better integrate service with the opening of Expo light rail on May 20.

“The summer Service Change, marks another exciting step in the major redesign of Big Blue Bus routes that began last August," said Transit Director Edward F. King.

The arrival of the first passenger trains to the bayside city in 63 years, King said, is "energizing an eager public considering new ways of getting around town. Big Blue Bus’ goal is to tap into this new market of customers by providing innovative service options."

On June 12, every Big Blue Bus route connected to one or more Expo stations, King said.

As part of the major changes ushered in this month, Route 4 and 12 were discontinued, with Route 4 partially replaced by service on the new Route 17 at the VA West LA Medical Center and portions of Sawtelle Boulevard, transit officials said.

Other portions of the Route 4 along San Vicente Boulevard are serviced by Routes 9, 18 and the new Route 43, which provides weekday only connections from San Vicente Boulevard and 14th Street to the 26th St./Bergamot Station via 26th Street.

Route 12 was replaced by improved Rapid 12 service on Westwood Boulevard, Overland Avenue and the UCLA campus, "offering better frequencies and service seven days a week," officials said.

Other portions of the former Route 12, previously serving the Culver City Expo Line Station, National Boulevard, Palms Expo Line Station and Palms Boulevard have are covered by the new Route 17.

As part of the changes, Route 44 no longer travels on 20th Street or Pico Boulevard, but has been changed to connect to the 17th St./SMC Station.

For details on those changes as well as other changes made this month to Rapid 3 and Routes 5, 8, 14, 15, 16, and 18 visit bigbluebus.com/servicechange.