COLLEGE WILL OFFER FREE SHUTTLE RIDES FROM TOWN CENTER.

Byline: Amy Raisin  Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Attempting to ease the usual parking crunch during the opening weeks of classes, College of the Canyons will again offer a free shuttle between the Valencia Town Center and campus.

The service, aimed at the three weeks administrators claim are always the busiest of the semester, will begin Jan. 22 - the first day of classes - and run through Feb. 9. Shuttles will leave every 15 minutes from 7:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.

``The first few weeks, there are a lot of people adding classes, changing their schedules and buying books, so there's a lot more trips to the campus in the beginning,'' said COC spokeswoman Sue Bozman.

Bozman said the school can't afford to fund the shuttles all semester but hopes that students will utilize the service, which allows students to park on the top level of the Theater Drive structure and catch the shuttle at the valet stop across from Salt Creek Grille.

The shuttle drops passengers off at the school's main entrance, between parking lots 1 and 3, and picks up returning passengers at the same stop.

Continuing its effort to ease parking hassles, COC has worked together with Santa Clarita Transit to expand bus service along school routes, in some cases removing the need to purchase a bus transfer. Bozman said bus schedules are available in the admissions office and the public information office.

``We also really appreciate the vendors at the Valencia Town Center, because it's they who are letting the students park in the structure for free,'' Bozman said.