CLANG, CLANG, CLANG... CITY PLANS TO SWAP BUS FOR OLD-TIME TROLLEY.

Byline: CONNIE LLANOS  Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA -- How about a lunchtime trolley ride to break up the nine-to-five humdrums?

To promote public transportation and reduce midday traffic -- and bring in an old-time commute option -- the city of Santa Clarita is planning to swap a city bus for an unused trolley. The Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority owns the trolley, which serves a town in the High Sierra.

``The trolley would allow us to put public transportation into the public consciousness,'' said Jeff O'Keefe, transit manager for Santa Clarita.

Plans for the trolley include a free service route from the Valencia Industrial Center to the Town Center during the peak lunch hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will also be part of special events and holiday parades.

O'Keefe said that while the final cost for the classic red-and-green trolley is $5,200, the number pales in comparison with the investment possibilities.

``The economic cost to the nation in lost productivity and wasted motor fuel caused by traffic congestion is expected to grow from $67.5 billion annually in 2000 to $90 billion annually by 2009,'' O'Keefe said.

``Now more than ever we need to espouse the benefits of using public transportation, and our new hometown trolley will help us do this.''

O'Keefe said the trolley is the first step in his plan to increase public transit ridership in the Santa Clarita Valley.

According to city statistics, there are about 30,000 people working in Valencia's industrial center and at least 6,000 of them commute more than 30 minutes to work.

Valencia resident Irma Ryan likes to get coffee at her favorite java shop at the Town Center, and she thinks a trolley would make her noontime treat easier -- and more entertaining.

``It would remind me of the downtown trolley that takes you everywhere,'' Ryan said. ``I think it's great.''

``This is a win-win situation,'' said Ron Kilcoyne, chief executive officer for the Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority.

Kilcoyne said that because of weather conditions and a lack of available service routes, the trolley has been out of use in his Bridgeport community. He said an extra bus would better serve his community's needs for public transit.

``This is like a baseball trade, where we are getting what we need and trading with someone that needs what we have.''

If the City Council approves the trolley swap on Monday, both parties will still need to wait for approval from the Federal Transit Administration because both vehicles originally were purchased with federal funds.

connie.llanos(at)dailynews.com

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(color) To promote public transportation, the city of Santa Clarita wants put a trolley on the streets. It plans to swap a city bus for an unused trolley with the Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority.