CHATSWORTH : Lunchtime Shuttle Plan Considered

A proposal for free lunchtime shuttles to serve the northwest San Fernando Valley is the subject of a new study by the 12th City Council District Transportation Management Assn.

The association, working with the Chatsworth Chamber of Commerce, sent out about 1,000 surveys to employees of businesses in Chatsworth, Granada Hills, Winnetka, Northridge and Canoga Park this week to find out how many people might use lunchtime shuttles, and determine where they might go, association executive director Aaron Hanson said Thursday.

Hanson said the proposed shuttle could work like this: Local restaurants and malls would contract with a private company to provide small vans or buses between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on weekdays. Employees would call to arrange rides beforehand. The service would take workers who come to work via ride-share, bus or Metrolink to do errands and go out to lunch.

Hanson said the Traffic Management Assn. plans to tabulate the survey results at the end of this month.