Wheels in motion for Calabasas shuttle

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Woodland Hills) announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has earmarked $500,000 dollars for the Smart Shuttle bus program in Calabasas.

The funding, which Sherman requested from the Transportation Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, will be used to acquire four natural gas shuttle buses, new shuttle stops and a master dispatch center that will coordinate the system via satellite.

"These buses will greatly improve the city’s existing transit system by increasing service, the number of routes and ridership," Sherman said. "Increasing the availability and use of public transportation will alleviate some of the congestion commuters face along the U.S. 101 and spare the environment from unnecessary emissions. These are worthy goals."

The committee funded the project with the same amount last year as part of the Federal Transit Program. Sherman’s total request for the Calabasas shuttle is now $1 million.

The Smart Shuttle system is a flexible route system that allows shuttle bus routes to be modified to accommodate the service needs of individual customers.

Sherman, who worked in conjunction with California Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein, is confident the new funding provision will pass the Senate and be signed into law.