Santa Clarita Announces Transit Plan

Santa Clarita officials on Monday unveiled the first phase of a five-year, $13-million transit program that will expand and upgrade local and commuter bus service.

The program will begin July 2 with the start of a dial-a-ride service, from 6 to 9 p.m. weeknights. Vans will shuttle passengers to any destination in the Santa Clarita Valley for $1 a trip. As an incentive for residents to participate in the program, rides will be free the first month.

Until now, a similar shuttle service has been available only during the day and restricted to senior citizens or handicapped people, Public Works Director John Medina said.

The local bus system stops operating at 6 p.m., making dial-a-ride the first public transit system available to the public at night in the Santa Clarita Valley, Medina said. Reservations should be made 24 hours in advance, he said.

In July, the city also will inaugurate weekly shuttle service to Olive View Medical Center in Sylmar. The schedule for the hospital shuttle has not yet been determined.

The new programs will be funded by Los Angeles County and federal transit funds, Medina said.

During the first year the city will erect 22 bus shelters, hire a transit coordinator to oversee city transit services, begin a van-pool program between the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys and expand the current bus fleet from 12 to 34.

Next year the city plans to expand the number of local bus routes from seven to 11 and launch daily bus service between Santa Clarita and the small rural community of Val Verde. In response to requests from the public, the city also plans to provide daily commuter service to Century City and Westwood next year.