Cancellation of Bus Service Frustrates Riders : Transit: Santa Clarita to rely on Metrolink, which some commuters say is more costly and time-consuming.

SANTA CLARITA —  While the bright blue and white Metrolink trains blossomed with thousands of new passengers in the wake of the highway-buckling Northridge earthquake, an older commuter transit service connecting Santa Clarita and Los Angeles went dormant--to the frustration of its loyal riders.

Prior to the Jan. 17 quake, Santa Clarita operated a commuter bus service into Los Angeles. It made nine daily runs, cost less to ride per month than Metrolink, had a shorter travel time for most passengers than the rail system and--originally handled by the county--had been around for more than 13 years.

“That’s why we’re upset about the city unilaterally deciding to cancel the service,” said John Burmahln, who has ridden the commuter bus line since 1980.

Santa Clarita canceled the bus program, looking to the 15-month-old Metrolink rail service for out-of-town transit needs and focusing city resources on the dozens of other problems created by the earthquake.

Bus riders say they understood temporarily stopping the program when the disaster struck and roadways were closed or clogged, but insist it could have been restored by now if city officials weren’t trying to pack Metrolink trains and provide unnecessary rides in the San Fernando Valley.

“I think they bureaucratically raped us,” said Mark Smith, who moved to Santa Clarita from Burbank two years ago.

“The reason I moved out there is there was going to be flexible transportation in (to L.A.),” said Smith. “I’ve simply lost that with this arrangement.”

Commuter buses are scheduled to resume operation March 1. Transit officials say the system is not being ignored and that time is needed to prepare for additional riders expected to take the service once it resumes.

“The fact that riders are loyal and want the service returned is a testament to what we were doing,” said Ron Kilcoyne, city transportation manager.

Kilcoyne acknowledged six of the nine commuter buses have been running instead to the San Fernando Valley since last week--three to Chatsworth and three to Warner Center--and others are being used to shuttle Metrolink passengers.

Santa Clarita has purchased four buses to supplement the commuter line when it reopens. Kilcoyne said the city is looking to contract out for continued transit service to Chatsworth, Warner Center and Van Nuys.

Meanwhile, commuter bus riders say Metrolink is not a fair alternative for traveling to Los Angeles.

“It is different in that it costs more money, takes more time and it’s not as comfortable,” said Kevin Corcoran, a bus rider since 1985.

Monthly Metrolink passes from Santa Clarita are $144 per month, as compared to $100 for the commuter bus.

“Last week I was so tired of the train I drove my car, and I hadn’t driven to work in six months,” Corcoran said. “Metrolink put me into a car; it didn’t take me out of one.”

Burmahln said his one-hour commute time has doubled using Metrolink and that only a handful of people are taking buses into the Valley.

“Why they would force 400 patrons who never rode the train, (never) wanted the train, (never) asked for the train, to get off so they could use our buses, I don’t know,” Burmahln said.