TRANSIT SYSTEM'S NEW OPERATOR MAKES CHANGES : DIAL-A-RIDE PROCEDURE EASED FOR PASSENGERS.

Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer

The first thing Dial-A-Ride passenger Asmat Begum noticed was the driver's uniform: light blue shirt and navy shorts.

``It's very pretty. I like the color,'' said the Canyon Country woman as she waited Tuesday to board the bus outside the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center.

The new uniforms are among the first changes bus passengers will see in the coming months under new contractor ATC/Vancom, which took over the Santa Clarita Transit system Monday.

``We're really pleased to be here,'' said Jeff O'Keefe, general manager for ATC/Vancom. ``Our transition went off without any hitches.''

The Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based company replaces ATE/Ryder, whose contract bid was rejected by the city. ATC/Vancom hired new managers but retained nearly all of the city's 88 transit employees.

This fall, the company plans to replace its Dial-A-Ride vehicles and add new buses to the commuter routes in the San Fernando and Antelope valleys.

It already has made changes to Dial-A-Ride, a para-transit system for the elderly and disabled. By adding customer service agents and installing a computer system, it has eliminated the need for a second phone call to verify pickup and drop-off times.

Eventually, passengers will be able to arrange a ride in less than 24 hours.

``The new computer system will allow us to route actual trips,'' said operations director John Sigala. ``It allows us to look at capacity problems a lot better and deal with reducing phone calls. It should be a little more streamlined.''

Riders said they appreciate the changes.

``If they confirm the first time, it's better for me,'' said Begum, who uses Dial-A-Ride to volunteer at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital and to do shopping errands.

``It helps me because I get real busy,'' said Dorothy Kazel, volunteer and special events coordinator at the senior center, who said the service has been unreliable in the past.

``I used it with my fingers crossed,'' she said. ``I could be left at home or at the market. Now I'm hoping it'll work.''

Bus drivers, too, are anxious about the new changes.

``There's a lot of apprehension,'' said Albert Koller, a five-year bus driver for Santa Clarita Transit. ``Hopefully, it'll work out all right. We've got a new company. It seems like what they plan to do will work out OK.''

Tammy Walker, a three-year driver with Santa Clarita Transit, said she looks forward to working with the new company.

``I think it's going to be better,'' said Walker who drives Dial-A-Ride buses. ``At first, we were running late all the time. Now they're giving us a little bit more time to go from point A to point B.''

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Photo: (color) In her new uniform, driver Tammy Walker wait s at the Santa Clarita Senior Center.

Terri Thuente/Daily News