Welcome news — always good to see new connections to regional transit. Here is the news release from Metrolink:
LOS ANGELES – Metrolink has partnered with the City of Thousand Oaks and Thousand Oaks Transit to provide convenient weekday round-trip shuttle service between the Metrolink Moorpark Station from the Thousand Oaks Transportation Center, The Oaks Shopping Center and California Lutheran University. The service, which began today, July 15, makes it easier for commuters in the Conejo Valley and Thousand Oaks to take advantage of Metrolink service.Metrolink riders can transfer to the shuttle at no additional cost as long they present a valid Metrolink ticket upon boarding. Non-Metrolink riders can ride the shuttle for free through August 16.The weekday shuttle operates a total of six round-trips during peak morning and evening commute times and is scheduled to connect with most Metrolink trains providing service between Moorpark and Los Angeles Union Station. Metrolink has worked closely with Thousand Oaks Transit to ensure minimal wait times for riders.The shuttles are powered by clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG) engines. Each shuttle can hold up to 14 passengers and are ADA-compliant. They are also equipped with bicycle racks that can hold up to two bikes and will have free Wi-Fi installed by August 1. The service is funded in part by a $20,000 Federal Transit Administration grant received by the Ventura County Transportation Commission.Click here for more information about the service.ABOUT METROLINK (www.metrolinktrains.com)Metrolink is Southern California’s regional commuter rail service in its 20th year of operation. The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA), a joint powers authority made up of an 11-member board representing the transportation commissions of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, governs the service. Metrolink operates over seven routes through a six-county, 512 route-mile network. Metrolink is the third largest commuter rail agency in the United States based on directional route miles and the seventh largest based on annual ridership.
Categories: Transportation News
Would be good if schedules were aligned to trains going in both directions, e.g. M101 and M102 in the morning and M117 and M118 in the evening. The current schedules seem to only benefit riders that commute the Moorpark to Union Station route in the morning and the Union Station to Moorpark route in the evening.
This new service seems mostly redundant with existing service on the VISTA East County route, albiet infrequent and less tailored to the needs of Metrolink riders. See here: http://www.goventura.org/?q=travel-ventura/vista/routes-schedules/routes/vista-east-county-southbound-weekday
I am not sure how well this will work. For those going to Union Station area, LADOT 423 is still the fastest way. (98 minutes by 423 bus, about 2 hours by shuttle+train). Perhaps those who go to other places, it may help.. We’ll see what happens.