Smart Shuttle to Add Lines, Cut Saturdays

The Smart Shuttle service that ferries residents throughout the West Valley announced several route adjustments, including the cancellation of Saturday service effective today.

“We did it because of decreasing ridership [on Saturdays],” said Aaron Hanson, director of service development at Smart Shuttle. “We thought it would be better to focus on weekday ridership.”

Smart Shuttle, an experimental program funded by $2.75 million in grants from the city Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Transit Authority, began service last September, covering 55 square miles with 11 16-passenger vans.

The shuttle service charges a $1 base fare for rides along its single fixed route, which runs mainly along De Soto Avenue. Riders may also be picked up and dropped off wherever they wish in the service area. Each pickup and drop-off that’s not on the established route costs 50 cents. However, the add-on fee will increase to 75 cents Aug. 17.

Three fixed lines will be added the same day.

A shuttle will run along Roscoe Boulevard between Topanga Canyon and Balboa boulevards; on Reseda Boulevard between Nordhoff Street and Ventura Boulevard, and on Fallbrook Avenue north from Fallbrook Mall to Sherman Way, then along Sherman Way from Fallbrook Avenue to Reseda Boulevard.

Shuttle service will maintain its 6:30 a.m. start time Monday through Friday. Service will end at 7 p.m., instead of 10 p.m.