Santa Clarita is stepping up its game in the transit department, recently expanding options for residents with a new multi-modal station and additional Metrolink trains. As someone with a vested interest in transportation, McLean's role as the Board Member of the North County Transportation Coalition JPA has been to push for a network that responds to the growing needs of Santa Clarita's community, according to the City of Santa Clarita.
The latest feather in the cap for local commuters is the Vista Canyon Multi-Modal Station inaugurated last October, which is linked with the introduction of four additional trains on the Metrolink Antelope Valley Line – boosting both weekday and weekend services. For night owls, a boon comes in the form of trains departing Union Station until 11:39 p.m. on weekdays, enabling residents "to enjoy a night out or a show in the Los Angeles area and have access to rail transit back home," McLean stated. Santa Clarita’s transit portfolio also includes an extensive trail system, regular bus service, and now, the promise of late-night weekend trains on McLean's advocacy agenda.
City residents played a part in this transit evolution, with surveys sent out to gather input for the new Transportation Development Plan. The collected feedback is aimed at tuning the city's services to the pulse of the community’s travel patterns. "We are currently analyzing your feedback to see how we can improve the current transit network," McLean told residents, with an assurance that drafts of the Transport Development Plan are to be shared with the community soon, as reported by the City of Santa Clarita.
Alternative transportation in Santa Clarita is not just about commutes; it’s also about accessing the city's spectrum of events – be it SENSES Block Parties, the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival, or simply a jaunt around William S. Hart Park. McLean advocates the use of transit buses or the GO! Santa Clarita service, which is as simple as downloading the TripShot app, plugging in locations, and hopping on. Goers can also cycle to the events, assured by the availability of GPS-tracked bike lockers at Metrolink stations and the city hall, with McLean noting, "The first 12 hours are free, and then $1.00 for every two hours thereafter."
