Free Kanan Shuttle Service may be Extended Through 2014

The Oak Park Municipal Advisory
Council (MAC) will hold a special meeting Thursday, Jan. 9, to decide funding
in order to keep the Kanan Shuttle a free service. The Kanan Shuttle has seen
its ridership soar since it began its free service in August. Originally
projected to have 200 passengers per day, the Shuttle is currently serving up
to 400 passengers daily.

The Kanan Shuttle transports
riders along a 14-stop route that begins at the 101 Freeway and Kanan Road, and
travels along Kanan Road for easy access to schools, the library, the community
center, parks and shopping.

Feedback sent directly to the
Shuttle’s website has been positive with visitors commending the service for
its convenience and its help to alleviate traffic during peak hours.  It is estimated that more than 600 car trips
along Kanan Road are eliminated by Kanan Shuttle use.  The successful pilot program planned to begin
charging a $1 fare, but Supervisor Linda Parks who created the service, has
asked the MAC to recommend funding the service for one year with available
funds from the Oak Park Community Service Area budget. 

“Maintaining the free Kanan
Shuttle will help encourage the high passenger use and allow time to pursue
ongoing revenue to keep the Shuttle a free service beyond 2014,” Parks said.

The MAC agreed to hold a special
meeting to decide whether or not to recommend the $100,000 allocation to keep
the service free for the 2014 year. The meeting will be held on Thursday, Jan.
9, at 6:30 p.m. at the Oak Park Library, 899 N. Kanan Road.

The Shuttle schedule will also
be updated in February to reflect more accurate departure and arrival times
observed during Kanan Shuttle service’s ongoing pilot phase. It is a
collaboration among the Ventura County Public Works Agency, the City of Agoura
Hills and First Transit.

For more information about
Kanan Shuttle Service and schedules, visit www.kananshuttle.com.