SANTA CLARITA / ANTELOPE VALLEY : Metrolink Station Expected to Cut Cross-Town Traffic : Transit: New stop is in Canyon Country. Passengers in Santa Clarita Valley no longer have to drive to Saugus to take the train.
Monday’s opening of a second Metrolink train station should result in a significant reduction in cross-town commuter traffic, city officials said.
The new station is on Via Princessa west of Sierra Highway in Canyon Country. Until the station opened, many Metrolink passengers in the Santa Clarita Valley had to drive to Saugus to take the train to Los Angeles and other destinations south. City officials said this cross-town commute was clogging surface streets.
“We think this is really going to make a difference,” city spokeswoman Gail Foy said of the new station. “In fact, we counted 275 cars out there this morning--so it’s already had an impact.”
Los Angeles-bound trains will depart from the station weekdays at 5:30 and 6:11 a.m., Foy said.
The city has also increased local bus service, adding 18 routes timed to provide increased access to the two Metrolink stations during the morning and afternoon commutes.
City Councilwoman Jan Heidt said she hopes that the increased popularity of mass transit will not disappear with the hours-long commutes motorists still face.
“The is a real opportunity to get people on the train and to keep them there,” Heidt said. “That’s what we need to try to do.”
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