Metro is trying to overcome a key reason people tend to prefer their own cars over public transportation – what it calls the “first mile” and the “last mile,” i.e., the inconvenience of getting to and from a bus or train.

Metro released its draft Active Transportation Strategic Plan on Friday and wants to know what people think about it. The agency is asking members of the public to share their experiences and offer constructive criticism of Metro services, including Metrolink and bus stations.

“The Active Transportation Strategic Plan is Metro’s county-wide effort to identify strategies to increase walking, bicycling and transit use in Los Angeles County,” the report states. “The plan’s policy and infrastructure recommendations will require collaboration between Metro, local and regional agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure implementation.

“The plan will focus on improving first and last mile access to transit and propose a regional network of active transportation facilities, including shared-use paths and on-street bikeways, and develop a funding strategy to get them built.”

The Santa Clarita Valley has numerous commuter bus stops four of the county’s 12 Metrolink train stations, including Newhall, Santa Clarita (Saugus), Via Princessa (Canyon Country) and Acton.

Three main components of this plan include the first last mile station area access improvements, Regional Active Transportation Network and support programs, including performance metrics and monitoring, according to the plan.

The plan states that “many people who could potentially take transit choose to drive instead when transit stops are not conveniently located at their starting points and final destinations. These situations require “first last mile” connections. Enabling people to walk or ride a bicycle to or from transit expands the menu of transportation choices and makes taking transit convenient and accessible.”

This specially highlights the “661” area. The analysis includes an online portal http://gis.fehrandpeers.com/metroatsp, and “is a publicly-accessible resource, home to existing conditions analysis for the 661 transit stations and stops.”

Objectives of the plan include: identifying improvements that increase access to transit for people who walk and bike; creating a regional active transportation network; developing supporting programs and policies related to education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation; guiding future investments; and developing a funding strategy, according to the plan.

To submit input via email to nguyentha@metro.net or mail to Tham Nguyen, One Gateway Plaza, Mail Stop 99-22-6, Los Angeles, CA 90012. All written comments must be by Friday, March 25, 2016.

For more information, visit this website: https://www.metro.net/projects/active-transportation-strategic-plan/

To view the full plan: http://scvtv.com/pdf/metro_atsp_031116.pdf

For information about the Santa Clarita section: http://scvtv.com/pdf/metro_santaclarita_031116.pdf

For information about the Newhall section: http://scvtv.com/pdf/metro_newhall_031116.pdf

For information about the Via Princessa section: http://scvtv.com/pdf/metro_viaprincessa_031116.pdf

To view the map: http://gis.fehrandpeers.com/metroatsp/