City of Santa Clarita Transit is a local bus service, administered by the City's transit division, that serves the City of Santa Clarita, California and nearby surrounding unincorporated areas. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 2,111,800, or about 12,000 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024. Daily operations and maintenance of the fleet are under contract with MV Transportation.[3] City of Santa Clarita Transit routes connect with services operated by Metro and Metrolink.
Parent | City of Santa Clarita |
---|---|
Founded | August 5, 1991 |
Headquarters | Transit Maintenance Facility 28250 Constellation Rd |
Locale | City of Santa Clarita Los Angeles County |
Service type | Transit bus |
Routes | 38 |
Hubs | |
Fleet | 109 buses |
Daily ridership | 12,000 (weekdays, Q3 2024)[1] |
Annual ridership | 2,111,800 (2023)[2] |
Fuel type | CNG, Diesel, Gasoline |
Operator | MV Transportation |
Website | Santa Clarita Transit |
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works contracts with City of Santa Clarita Transit to provide fixed route and Dial-A-Ride services in some unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County that are near the city limits of Santa Clarita. These areas include the communities of Castaic, Forest Park, Stevenson Ranch, Sunset Pointe, and Val Verde.
History
editThe City of Santa Clarita assumed responsibility for local transit in 1991 from Los Angeles County, which had developed an embryonic transit network. A small City staff provides supervision over a contract operator. Over time, the local fixed route network and dial-a-ride service was expanded. Under City management, a number of new regional express services to various points in the San Fernando Valley, West Los Angeles, Antelope Valley, and downtown Los Angeles were added or improved.[4]
MV Transportation
editIn mid-2007 Santa Clarita Transit entered into a contract with MV Transportation and underwent a branding overhaul. The agency was renamed "City of Santa Clarita Transit" and buses received a new green and blue livery which reflect the colors of the city logo.[5] The livery debuted in August 2007 on 2 brand new 60-foot (18 m) articulated buses. Also receiving an overhaul are the city's bus stops through a $2-million dollar Bus Stop Improvement Program. This included replacing 51 Clear Channel advertising shelters, benches, and trash cans. In addition, 40 additional stops will receive new non-advertising shelters, as well as a number of stops receiving new non-advertisement benches. An element of public art will be added to approximately 15 bus stops. The program's purpose is threefold, bus stops will become more uniform in look and features, the advertisement on benches will be eliminated, and public art will have a large expansion.[6] The overhauls are major parts of the city's efforts to make transit more attractive to citizens.
Starting in 2010, City of Santa Clarita Transit began Summer Beach bus service to Santa Monica State Beach, from Canyon Country, and Newhall. Beginning in the 2023 Summer Season, the service exclusively services Ventura Harbor, starting and ending from Via Princessa station and stopping at the McBean Regional Transit Center in both directions. The beach bus is identified by route number, 103, only in operation from June to Labor Day in September, only on Saturdays and Sundays. [7]
2023 Transit Service Workers Strike
editOn September 15, 2023, after over a year of negotiations with MV Transportation, transit service workers represented by Teamsters Local 572 voted to go on strike until a fair contract is reached. MV Transportation was notified of the decision to strike on September 28.[8]
The strike officially began on October 9, halting all bus and paratransit services across the city. The strike forced Santa Clarita Transit and William S. Hart High School District to negotiate an emergency contract with charter bus company Transit Systems in order to provide limited school tripper services to select schools and infrequent bus services along routes 1, 2, 5, 6, and 12.[8] Santa Clarita City Council declined to enter into contract negotiations as a third party.[9]
The strike ended on December 3rd, 2023. Teamsters Local 572 reached an agreement with MV Transportation. Buses returned to operation on December 4th, the strike lasted 55 days.
Fixed-route Service
editLocal routes
editSanta Clarita Transit operates 38 bus lines: 9 Local routes, 2 Station Link routes, 20 School Tripper routes, and 9 Commuter Express routes.[10]
Route | Terminals | via | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Castaic Sloan Canyon Rd & The Old Rd |
Santa Clarita McBean Regional Transit Center |
The Old Rd, Commerce Center Dr, Newhall Ranch Rd, McBean Plwy |
|
2 | Val Verde Val Verde Park |
Santa Clarita McBean Regional Transit Center |
Del Valle Rd, Chiquito Canyon Rd, Henry Mayo Dr, Newhall Ranch Rd, McBean Plwy |
|
3 | Valencia Middleton St & Ramblewood St |
Santa Clarita Tamarack Ln & Seco Canyon Rd |
Magic Mountain Pkwy, McBean Pkwy, Newhall Ranch Rd, Seco Canyon Rd |
|
4 | Santa Clarita LARC Ranch |
Santa Clarita Newhall station |
Bouquet Canyon Rd, Tournament Rd, Lyons Ave |
|
5 | Stevenson Ranch Faulkner Dr & Thurber Wy |
Santa Clarita Sierra Hwy & Vasquez Cyn Rd |
The Old Rd, Lyons Ave, McBean Pkwy, Soledad Canyon Rd, Sierra Hwy |
|
6 | Stevenson Ranch Faulkner Dr & Thurber Wy |
Santa Clarita Shadow Pines Bl & Grandifloras Rd |
The Old Rd, Lyons Ave, McBean Pkwy, Soledad Canyon Rd |
|
7 | Valencia Middleton St & Ramblewood St |
Santa Clarita Tamarack Ln & Seco Canyon Rd |
Magic Mountain Pkwy, McBean Pkwy, Newhall Ranch Rd, Copper Hill Dr |
|
12 | Santa Clarita McBean Regional Transit Center |
Santa Clarita Heller Cir & Maitland Ln |
Railroad Av, Sierra Hwy, Whites Canyon Rd |
|
14 | Santa Clarita Heller Cir & Maitland Ln |
Santa Clarita Newhall station |
Bouquet Canyon Rd, Tournament Rd, Lyons Av |
|
Station Link routes
editStation Link service provides service from the Santa Clarita station to local places of employment within the Santa Clarita Valley. Station Link service operates on weekdays peak periods (6-9am, 4-6pm) only except route 501, which as of February 2023, makes morning and afternoon trips excluding midday even on Saturdays and Sundays, select holidays included.
Route | Terminals | via | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
501 | Santa Clarita Santa Clarita station |
Santa Clarita Six Flags Magic Mountain Employee Gate |
Valencia Bl, Tourney Rd, Magic Mountain Pkwy |
|
502 | Santa Clarita Santa Clarita station |
Castaic Commerce Center Dr & Witherspoon Pkwy |
Newhall Ranch Rd |
|
School Tripper routes
editSupplemental School Day Service routes (also known as Tripper Service), provide service to and from local Junior High and High Schools from residential areas. Supplemental School Day Service routes are numbered in the 600's. This service is only operated on weekdays when schools are in session. Trips are timed with school bell schedule.[11]
Routes include:
- Route 620 – Arroyo Seco Jr. High School & Saugus High School
- Route 621 – Arroyo Seco Jr. High School & Saugus High School
- Route 622 – Rio Norte Jr. High School
- Route 623 – Rio Norte Jr. High School
- Route 624 – Valencia High School
- Route 626 – La Mesa Jr. High School
- Route 627 – La Mesa Jr. High School
- Route 628 – Golden Valley High School
- Route 629 – Golden Valley High School
- Route 632 – Canyon High School
- Route 633 – Saugus High School
- Route 634 – Rancho Pico Jr. High School & West Ranch High School
- Route 635 – Ranch Pico Jr. High School & West Ranch High School
- Route 636 – Valencia High School & West Ranch High School
- Route 637 – Arroyo Seco Jr. High School
- Route 638 – Arroyo Seco Jr. High School & Saugus High School
- Route 640 – Arroyo Seco Jr. High School & Saugus High School
- Route 641 – Placerita Jr. High School & Hart High School
- Route 643 – Arroyo Seco Jr. High School & Saugus High School
- Route 644 – La Mesa Jr. High School
Commuter Express routes
editCommuter Express provides service to and from to major places of employment outside of the Santa Clarita Valley (Routes 796-799), and also provides service from areas outside of the Santa Clarita Valley to major places of employment inside the Santa Clarita Valley (Routes 791-794). All Commuter Express Routes run on weekdays only, except for Route 757, which runs seven days a week.[12]
Route | Terminals | Via | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
757 | Santa Clarita McBean Regional Transit Center |
North Hollywood North Hollywood station |
In Santa Clarita: Sierra Highway, Railroad Avenue, Valencia Boulevard, McBean Parkway (Weekdays only) Express Portion: I-5, CA-170 (Hollywood Freeway) |
|
791 | Warner Center Topanga Canyon Bl & Victory Bl |
Santa Clarita Technology Dr & Av Hall |
In Santa Clarita: Avenue Scott, Valencia Boulevard, McBean Parkway Express Portion: I-5, SR 118 In the San Fernando Valley: Topanga Canyon Boulevard |
|
792 | Century City Century Park West & Solar Wy |
Santa Clarita Av Stanford & Technology Dr |
In Santa Clarita: Avenue Scott, Valencia Boulevard, McBean Parkway Express Portion: I-5, I-405 In West LA: Westwood Boulevard, Wilshire Boulevard |
|
794 | Downtown LA Los Angeles Union Station |
Santa Clarita Av Stanford & Technology Dr |
In Santa Clarita: Avenue Scott, Valencia Boulevard, McBean Parkway Express Portion: I-5 |
|
796 | Santa Clarita Santa Clarita station |
Warner Center Victory Bl & Topanga Canyon Bl |
In Santa Clarita: Valencia Boulevard, Orchard Village Road, Newhall Avenue Express Portion: Sierra Highway, I-5, SR 118 In the San Fernando Valley: De Soto Avenue |
|
797 | Santa Clarita Santa Clarita station |
Century City Century Park West & Solar Wy |
In Santa Clarita: Valencia Boulevard, Orchard Village Road, Newhall Avenue Express Portion: I-5, I-405 In West LA: Westwood Boulevard, Wilshire Boulevard |
|
799 | Santa Clarita Santa Clarita station |
Downtown LA 8th St & Spring St |
In Santa Clarita: Valencia Boulevard, Orchard Village Road, Newhall Avenue Express Portion: I-5 In Downtown LA: Alameda Street, 1st Street, Hope Street |
Transfer Stations
editTransit Maintenance Facility
editCity of Santa Clarita Transit is housed in the City's Transit Maintenance Facility. The facility has been gold LEED certified.
Active fleet
editMake/Model | Fleet Numbers | Thumbnail | Year | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hometown Manufacturing Villager | 100 | 2017 | Only used for events | |
Optima AH–28 | 101 | 2006 |
| |
Gillig Low Floor CNG 40' | 102–104, 106–112 | 2013 | On November 6, 2017, Bus 102 was totaled in a fatal multi–vehicle accident on Sierra Highway[13] | |
113–123 | 2014 | |||
124–127 | 2018 | |||
128–134 | 2019 | |||
135–137 | 2020 | |||
138–140 | 2020 | |||
146–149 | 2022 | |||
150–151 | 2023 | |||
Gillig Low Floor CNG 29' | 142–145 | 2021 | ||
152–153 | 2023 | |||
NABI 60-BRT CNG | 177–178 | 2007 | Used for School Tripper routes | |
New Flyer C40LFR | 188–194 | 2010 | In the process of retirement | |
MCI D4500CT CNG | 259–264 | 2013 | Used for Commuter Express routes | |
265–269 | 2015 | |||
270–279 | 2017 | |||
280–282 | 2018 | |||
283–284 | 2020 | |||
285–286 | 2022 | |||
287–288 | 2023 | |||
Glaval Bus | 368–371 | 2012 | Used for Dial–a–Ride services | |
372–389 | 2017 |
References
edit- ^ "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ Santa Clarita Signal- New Contractor on Board for Buses
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2007. Retrieved May 3, 2007.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ City of Santa Clarita, CA – Purchasing: Solicitations Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ City of Santa Clarita, CA – CITY BUS SHELTERS GET A FACE LIFT Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ babreu (2024-05-28). "All Aboard the Summer Beach Bus Beginning June 1". City of Santa Clarita. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ a b "Transit Service Workers On Strike In Santa Clarita. What This Means For Riders". LAist. 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ Service, City News (2023-10-10). "Bus driver strike enters second day in Santa Clarita". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ "Santa Clarita Transit Routes" (PDF).
- ^ "Supplemental School Day Schedules". City of Santa Clarita Transit. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
- ^ "Santa Clarita Transit Commuter Express routes" (PDF).
- ^ "Canyon Country woman killed in Santa Clarita crash is identified". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved February 19, 2023.