The McBean bus transfer station could become a park-and-ride facility for commuters if the Santa Clarita Planning Commission green-lights the project Tuesday.

The current McBean Regional Transit Center behind the Shell gas station at McBean Parkway and Valencia Boulevard has no parking places. The 12-bay facility accommodates passengers who arrive and depart by bus, often switching from one route to another.

Plans call for the addition of 285 parking spaces to accommodate “multimodal” travel, meaning commuters will be able to drive there and hop on a bus. Five new bus layover pads would be added to the west side of the station, as well.

Additional improvements will include bike lockers, benches, lighting, kiosks, a plasma TV for bus arrival information and public art displays approved by the Arts Commission.

The expansion is being funded with $2.97 million from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (for the purpose of relieving traffic congestion and improving air quality), $1.7 million in federal funds and $1.2 million in Proposition A money.

The Planning Commission is also slated to consider a major change to the city’s historic preservation ordinance Tuesday, as previously reported here: http://scvnews.com/?p=19712