Smart Shuttle Adds New Routes, Stops

The West Valley Smart Shuttle expanded its services on Monday with new routes, stops at the Chatsworth and Northridge Metrolink stations and improvements to its telephone reservations system, officials said.

The changes are the result of additional funding from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the city Department of Transportation, officials said.

A new East/West Valley route was added Monday, serving West Hills, Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, and Reseda along portions of Sherman Way and Victory Boulevard, officials said. This route will operate every 30 minutes from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Shuttles on the existing north/south Valley route will now make stops at the Chatsworth Metrolink Station at Lassen Street and Old Depot Plaza Road, officials said. Buses will meet Metrolink trains arriving at the station between 7 and 8:30 a.m. and again between 4:20 and 6:25 p.m. The north/south Valley route also operates from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Riders can now make advance shuttle bus reservations from an hour to as much as a week before scheduled pickup by calling the reservation and information center, officials said. Before Monday, riders could only call a minimum of two hours before pickup time.

Although the shuttle service has not established permanent bus routes in Porter Ranch, officials said riders can make advance reservations for service to Porter Ranch Town Center, North Valley YMCA and other locations north of the Ronald Reagan Freeway and west of Reseda Boulevard.

Beginning Oct. 4, shuttle service will be expanded to include the communities of Chatsworth, Northridge and Canoga Park along portions of Parthenia Avenue and Nordhoff Street, officials said. The bus will make stops at Northridge Fashion Center, Pacific Theaters’ Winnetka 20, Northridge Metrolink station and Cal State Northridge.

While Smart Shuttle buses follow specific routes, officials said the service differs from regular MTA bus service in that riders can request to be picked up from their homes.

Smart Shuttle fares range from $1 to $4 depending on distance traveled, officials said.

For information and reservations, call (818) 678-0450.