With gas prices high and getting higher, Santa Clarita Mayor Marsha McLean believes the city should do everything they can to provide commuters with alternative transportation opportunities.

“I have to tell you every time I need to go to downtown L.A. I will take the train if I possible can,” said McLean.

Santa Clarita Mayor Marsha McLean and Bob Haueter, deputy chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon

To improve the convenience of train travel, this morning the city held a ground breaking for the expansion of the Newhall Metrolink parking area which will add 95 new parking spaces on an existing 38,000 square foot area adjacent to the existing parking area.

The available parking for Metrolink will increase to 321 spaces.

McLean says the additional parking will not just benefit commuters and the community center.

“The expansion will also help with the revitalization of Old Town Newhall by providing more parking for events on Main Street,” McLean said.

The expansion project will also include a new half-acre passive recreation park to be located directly behind the Newhall Community Center.

“The new passive park will include benches, picnic tables, trees, lights with glare shields for security, walkways and irrigated planted areas,” said McLean.

According to the McLean, the city received $950,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant funds to construct the additional 95 parking spaces and the new passive recreation park will be funded by special park funds which are from the city’s Quimby funds.

The state Quimby Act, established in the California legislature in 1965, allows local agencies, such as the City of Santa Clarita, to establish ordinances requiring residential subdivision developers to pay impact fees that can be used to purchase and develop land and/or recreational facilities.