Council agrees to extend pilot shuttle program

NORWALK - The City of Norwalk voted last week to extend its pilot shuttle program through the end of June next year.

Due to expire at the end of the month, the agreement will now carry on through June 2020.

The extension costs are estimated to be at $137,390, of which funding will be supported with Prop C Local Return funds. The cost will also be fractionally offset by parking revenues from the Civic Center’s 3rd floor parking structure, estimated at $8,190.

The city established the originally $266,125 agreement with MV Transportation, Inc in May of this year, providing a shuttle service between the Metrolink / Santa Fe Springs Metrolink station and the Civic Center parking structure after repeated complaints about insufficient parking availability in the Metrolink / Santa Fe lot.

There are 48 Metrolink commuters (22 residents and 26 non-residents) who have purchased monthly permits to park at the Civic Center structure and utilize the Pilot Shuttle.

Currently, the shuttle operates Monday through Friday between the hours of 4:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., and from 2 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. to meet arriving and departing Metrolink Commuter trains.

Council voted 4-1 in approval, with Councilman Leonard Shryock opposed.