HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-09-28 - AGENDA REPORTS - BUSROUTERESTRUCTURING TRANS (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
PUBLIC HEARING City Manager Approval:
Item to be presented by: (Anthony J. Nisich
DATE: September 28, 1999
SUBJECT: SANTA CLARTTA TRANSIT RESTRUCTURING OF BUS ROUTES
DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Engineering Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Open public hearing; receive testimony; close public hearing. Approve implementation of proposed
bus route changes and route designation changes to be implemented in conjunction with the opening
of the Jan Heidt Metrolink Station in Newhall and the Interim Transit Center adjacent to the
Valencia Town Center, tentatively scheduled for January 9, 2000.
BACKGROUND
Santa Clarita Transit is proposing to make changes to the local bus network that will result in faster
trips for many customers, an easier -to -understand route system for everyone, and revised schedules
to improve the reliability of the bus system. Service will be extended to two areas currently without
bus service, while three areas currently generating little ridership will receive less service.
The main hub of the local bus system will be relocated from the Santa Clarita Metrolink Station on
Soledad Canyon Road to the Civic Center/Town Center area. This change will save up to 15
minutes each way for customers who must now transfer between buses to reach their destination. In
addition, passengers travelling from Canyon Country to the Valencia Town Center area will save five
to eight minutes, as buses operating along Soledad Canyon Road will no longer lay over at the
Metrolink Station. All routes will pulse at the new transit center, so buses will arrive at the same
time, lay over to enable passengers to transfer between any two buses, and then continue on their
way. Buses will also be through -routed, so many customers will no longer have to transfer. For
example, direct service will be available between Saugus and College of the Canyons, between
Newhall and the Valencia Industrial Center, and between Canyon Country and the Henry Mayo
Newhall Memorial Hospital and Medical Center.
The transit center will be temporarily located on Citrus Street between Magic Mountain Parkway and
Valencia Boulevard. A permanent center is being constructed on McBean Parkway adjacent to
The Greens.
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SANTA CLARITA TRANSIT RESTRUCTURING OF BUS ROUTES
September 28, 1999 - Page 2
The Jan Heidt Metrolink Station in Newhall will open at the same time as the temporary transit
center. With the opening of the third Metrolink Station in Santa Clarita, residents of Newhall,
Valencia, Stevenson Ranch, and Sunset Pointe will be able to access Metrolink without traveling
north to catch a train going south. Commute time could be reduced by 45 minutes for residents of
these areas. Five of six Santa Clarita Transit local routes and all express routes will serve this
station. This will provide a second hub for easy transferring between buses.
A new route numbering system is also being proposed. Local routes that provide all -day service will
have low numbers beginning with one. Peak -hour -only routes will have a 500 number. Trippers that
operate only on school days will have a letter designation. Commuter express buses will retain their
existing 700 series numbers.
Two areas that will be gaining service include Sierra Highway between Soledad Canyon Road and
Vasquez Canyon Road and the Valencia Commerce Center. Service will be eliminated on The Old
Road between Highway 126 and Hasley Canyon Road, although customers along this area will be
able to board the bus on Hasley Canyon Road or Highway 126. Service on Wiley Canyon Road
south of Lyons Avenue and on Calgrove Boulevard will be reduced from hourly all -day service to
school -hour -only service. Existing Route 56 peak -hour -only service on Rainbow Glen Drive and
Via Princessa is proposed to be eliminated. Students on Rainbow Glen Drive will continue to be
served by tripper service to LaMesa Junior High School and Valencia High School.
Four public workshops were held on September 15 and 16, 1999, to provide information to and
receive feedback from the community. One workshop was held in each of the four communities of
the City — Canyon Country, Newhall, Saugus, and Valencia. These workshops were publicized via
notices posted on all buses, display advertisements in local newspapers, and press releases. Most
individuals attending these workshops found that the proposed changes would indeed reduce their
travel time on the bus and expressed enthusiastic support. No individual expressed opposition to any
of the proposed changes.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
1. Leave system as is and not restructure bus routes at this time.
2. Other action as determined by the City Council.
SANTA CLARI TA TRANSIT RESTRUCTURING OF BUS ROUTES
September 28, 1999 - Page 3
FISCAL IMPACT
Revenue hours will be increased as a result of the proposed changes. Funds to cover the costs have
been included in the Fiscal Year 1999-2000 budget, increasing Account No. 4600/8081 —
Local -Fixed Route Service by $200,000, and initiating Account No. 4600/8084 — Commute
Connection in the amount of $150,970.
ATTACHMENTS
Santa Clarita Transit Bus Route Restructuring
Proposed Bus Routes
Proposed Station Links
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
TO CONSIDER SANTA CLARITA TRANSIT
RESTRUCTURING OF BUS ROUTES IN THE
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN:
A Public Hearing will be held before the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita to consider
proposed changes to Santa Clarita Transit bus routes. Due to the relocation of the main
hub for local buses from the Metrolink Station on Soledad Canyon Road to the Valencia
Town Center area, and the opening of the Jan Heidt Metrolink Station at Newhall, Santa
Clarita Transit will restructure local routes to reduce travel time for many customers,
improve schedule reliability, and initiate service on Sierra Highway north of Soledad
Canyon Road.
The hearing will be held by the Santa Clarita Citx Council in the City Hall Council
Chambers, 23920 Valencia Blvd., 1 st Floor, on the 28 day of September, 1999, at or after
6:30 p.m.
Proponents, opponents, and any interested persons may appear and be heard on this
matter at that time. Further information may be obtained by contacting the City Clerk's
Office, Santa Clarita City Hall, 23920 Valencia Blvd., Suite #301, Santa Clarita, CA.
If you wish to challenge this action in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues
you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written
correspondence delivered to the City Council, at, or prior to, the public hearing.
Dated: September 1, 1999
Sharon L. Dawson, CMC
City Clerk
Publish Date: September 7, 1999
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SANTA CLARITA TRANSIT
BUS ROUTE RESTRUCTURING
• Route 1 will combine the existing Castaic portion of Route 10 with the existing Route 50. Two
minor route changes will occur. Buses will operate on Hasley Canyon Road and Commerce
Center Drive instead of The Old Road between Highway 126 and Hasley Canyon Road to
provide service to the Valencia Commerce Center. Buses will also operate on Railroad Avenue
instead of San Fernando Road through Newhall to serve the Jan Heidt Metrolink Station in
Newhall.
• Route 2 will combine the existing Val Verde portion of Route 20 with the existing Route 50. The
same route modifications that apply to Route 1 will also apply to this route.
• Route 3 will essentially be existing Route 30. However, all buses will operate via Valencia
Boulevard, Tourney Road, and Magic Mountain Parkway, providing twice as much service to
both Kaiser Medical Center and Six Flags Amusement Park.
• Route 4 will combine existing Route 40 with existing Route 15. Service on Wiley Canyon Road
south of Lyons Avenue and on Calgrove Boulevard will be reduced to school time only.
• Route 5 will combine the Soledad Canyon Road portion of existing Route 10 with existing
Route 35.
• Route 6 will be a new route that will serve Sierra Highway between Soledad Canyon Road and
Vasquez Canyon Road, then duplicate Route 5 west of Sierra Highway. This route will initially
operate weekdays only during peak hours.
• Routes 1 and 2 will each operate once an hour, providing 30 -minute service along the common
portion of the two routes. Routes 3 and 4 will operate every 30 minutes.. Routes 5 and 6 will
operate every 30 minutes, providing 15 -minute service along common portions. Routes 1
through 5 will operate seven days per week, with the weekend route the same as the weekday
route.
Route 501 will be a new route, providing connecting service with Metrolink trains to the
Valencia Corporate Center and Six Flags Amusement Park. It will also provide connections to
Metrolink from residences along Magic Mountain Parkway.
Route 502 will be a new route that will connect Metrolink with the Valencia Industrial Center
and Commerce Center. It will also connect residences along Newhall Ranch Road with
Metrolink.
• Route 503 will replace Route 45. It will provide better access to Northbridge by operating on
Hillsborough Parkway and Decoro Drive instead of Newhall Ranch Road. Route 502 will serve
Newhall Ranch Road.
SANTA CLARITA TRANSIT
BUS ROUTE RESTRUCTURING
Page 2
• Route 504 will connect Seco Canyon Road with Metrolink (existing Route 30).
• Route 505 will connect Bouquet Canyon Road with Metrolink (existing Route 40), except it will
serve Shadow Valley instead of LARC Ranch.
• Routes 501 through 505 will operate weekdays during peak commute times only.
• Routes 791, 792, 793, and 794 will be unchanged.
• Route 795 will serve the new Jan Heidt Metrolink Station in Newhall and the new transit center
at the Valencia Town Center instead of the Princessa and Santa Clarita Metrolink Stations. It
will also serve all other existing express bus stops in the Newhall and Valencia areas.
• Routes 796, 797, 798, and 799 will stop at the Jan Heidt Metrolink Station in Newhall on
Railroad Avenue instead of San Fernando Road and Market Street.
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