LANCASTER – The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) is seeking public input on a proposed new connector service to Santa Clarita.
AVTA will hold a public hearing regarding the proposed service addition at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 19, at the AVTA Boardroom, located at 42210 6th Street West in Lancaster.
Residents are encouraged to attend and voice their opinions.
The new service, known as the North County Transporter, would act as a bridge between the Antelope Valley and Santa Clarita Valley during times when no Metrolink service is available.
The bus schedule has been developed to coincide with the departure and arrival times of Metrolink trains at the Newhall station just off the 14 Freeway. The proposed service would allow residents the freedom to travel into Los Angeles more conveniently as well as return to the Antelope Valley during the mid-afternoon. Currently, residents must travel during peak commute hours in order to use public transportation to and from the Los Angeles basin.
“This is a very exciting addition to our service,” said AVTA Board Chairman Norman Hickling in a news release. “L.A. County Supervisor Michael Antonovich has made the North County TRANSporter a priority recognizing that Antelope Valley and North County region residents deserve connectivity to Los Angeles at all times of the day.”
The North County Transporter would be entirely funded by Los Angeles County for two years. It is anticipated that the service will have sufficient ridership within two years to financially sustain itself moving into the future.
During AVTA’s public hearing on July 19, input will also be taken on a proposed service change to Route 786.
AVTA is evaluating whether to change the Century City/West Los Angeles Route in light of current construction on the 405 Freeway. The new route would service the same bus stops but in reverse order. The proposal also seeks to travel the 170 Freeway as opposed to the 405 Freeway.
AVTA serves a population of more than 400,000 residents in the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale as well as the unincorporated portions of northern Los Angeles County. Its total service area covers 1,200 square miles and it is bounded by the Kern County line to the north, the San Bernardino County line to the east, the Angeles National Forest to the south, and Interstate 5 to the West.
(Information via press release from the Antelope Valley Transit Authority.)
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ryenisha jackson says
Noo bad Idea keep the riff raff on your own side of town. why should the county bus you all for free back to compton. you know the train times
Phantom Commuter says
Excellent idea ! Metrolink should be coordinating with other regional operators to create a network of “Metrolink Thruway Buses.” Such netrowks have been a success for Amtrak California, Vallejo Baylink and Go Transit in Toronto. Better yet, Metrolink needs to have the vision, and the funding, to operate hourly service, 17 hrs. a day, 7 days week. Metrolink is the “Missing Link” in our rapidly improving regional transit system.
mike says
I used to travel the Century City/ WLA commuter line daily. It took the 5 to the 170 and got off at Highland and went the reverse route that it goes now. Then, they changed it to go from the 5 to the 405. I got to work early, but the other passengers who worked in Bev Hills, Wilshire, and Hollywood kind of got messed up. I hope we have a connecter line, so we can use the Metrolink in the afternoon. Right now, if you miss the early afternoon trains, you have to wait for an early evening train or commuter bus at Union Station.