SCVNews.com | Opinion/Commentary: Upgrades in Progress Throughout City

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside

Weather

Calendar

Today in
S.C.V. History

December 28

2011 - John Ford's 1924 "The Iron Horse," filmed in SCV, added to Library of Congress' National Film Registry [story]

Upgrades in Progress Throughout City

Message from City Manager Ken Striplin

By Ken Striplin | Tuesday, Oct 1, 2013

Click Here to Get Our 'SCV This Morning' Newsletter

Tweet This

Facebook

Digg This

Bookmark

Stumble

RSS

Ken Striplin

I hope this fall season finds you and your family well. It is my pleasure to share with you some of what’s keeping us busy at the City in the final quarter of the year.

A number of construction projects are underway throughout the city right now, and I want to thank you for your patience as we complete each of them.

In Valencia, we are nearing completion of the new Park and Ride facility at the McBean Transfer Station, which will add 270 more parking spaces for commuters. On McBean Parkway, we are widening the bridge by the post office to provide more traffic lanes and a dedicated bike trail. At the Valencia branch library, we are finishing up a new parking lot expansion, landscaping and art addition to ease parking and make this corner more attractive. In Canyon Country, we are working on a beautification project at Sand Canyon and State Route 14 (on and off ramps) that will really spruce up this area of our city.

Also in Canyon Country, we are getting ready to start a project to widen the Golden Valley Road bridge over State Route 14. In Saugus, we are under construction for two new lighted playing fields at Central Park which will open next summer.

The Newhall roundabout is taking shape next to Hart Park. Click to see more.

And in Newhall, the new roundabout will be completed early next spring. Complimented by the recently improved Hart Park frontage project, the roundabout will improve traffic flow and serve as a gateway into Old Town Newhall. There are also numerous median landscape projects around town including projects on Soledad Canyon Road, Sierra Highway, Golden Valley Road and in Newhall.

If you would like to hear first-hand what is happening in our city, I invite you to attend our annual State of the City Luncheon on Oct. 16 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Valencia. Hosted by the Santa Clarita City Council, the luncheon event is open to the public and you can RSVP online at www.santa-clarita.com or by calling 661-255-4939. The cost is $40 per person.

Thank you for your interest in Santa Clarita. I appreciate your taking time to learn more about what is happening in our great City. I would also like to encourage you to check our regularly updated city blog at www.santaclaritacitybriefs.com. Feel free to email me directly with your comments, suggestions and ideas at: kstriplin@santa-clarita.com.

Ken Striplin is city manager of the city of Santa Clarita.

Comment On This Story

COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Click here to cancel reply.

Opinion Section Policy

All opinions and ideas are welcome. Factually inaccurate, libelous, defamatory, profane or hateful statements are not. Your words must be your own. All commentary is subject to editing for legibility. There is no length limit, but the shorter, the better the odds of people reading it. "Local" SCV-related topics are preferred. Send commentary to: LETTERS (at) SCVNEWS.COM. Author's full name, community name, phone number and e-mail address are required. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses are not published except at author's request. Acknowledgment of submission does not guarantee publication.

Kathryn Barger | 2025 Year in Review

Saturday, Dec 27, 2025

At this time last year, we had no idea what changes and challenges 2025 would have in store. What I did know, and what this year reaffirmed, is that whatever 2025 brought our way, we’d get through it together.

Kathryn Barger | Keeping Up With Kathryn

Friday, Dec 19, 2025

There's no better way to celebrate the season than with toys, treats, and rollercoasters. My annual Foster Youth Holiday Party is one of the most special traditions we do each year

Select Keeping Up with Kathryn Barger | Home For the Holidays

Wednesday, Dec 10, 2025

I'm overjoyed to share that as of this week, several Altadena residents have moved back into their newly-rebuilt homes in time for the holidays.

Brittany Barlrog | Wrapping up 2025 for JCI

Wednesday, Dec 3, 2025

As we wrap up this incredible year with JCI Santa Clarita, my heart is truly overflowing with gratitude. This chapter has shown up in such wonderful ways, and I’m so proud of everything we’ve created together.

Ken Striplin | Happy Birthday, Santa Clarita

Tuesday, Dec 2, 2025

It’s hard to believe that our city will turn 38-years-old as of Monday, Dec. 15.

Bill Miranda | Honored to Serve

Tuesday, Dec 2, 2025

As we wrap up another year, I find myself reflecting on how extraordinary and eventful 2025 has been for our city.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com


Today in SCV History (Dec. 28) 2011 - John Ford's 1924 "The Iron Horse," filmed in SCV, added to Library of Congress' National Film Registry [story]	UPDATE: All Lanes of I-5 Now Open in Castaic, Gas Leak Stopped The California Highway Patrol has announced that all lanes of the Interstate 5 freeway in the Castaic area have been shut down in both directions to a possible ruptured gas line.	Kathryn Barger \| 2025 Year in Review At this time last year, we had no idea what changes and challenges 2025 would have in store. What I did know, and what this year reaffirmed, is that whatever 2025 brought our way, we’d get through it together.	Sunny Weather for SCV, Cool Temps, Roads Reopen The National Weather Service reports that the Santa Clarita Valley was drenched with nearly nine inches of rain from the atmospheric river that brought a soggy Christmas week to most of California.	City Seeks ‘Under the Sea’ Artwork for Valencia Library The city of Santa Clarita is seeking five artists to create artwork on five 60-inches by 60-inches canvases that will be featured above the Valencia Library Branch's children's area for two years, May 18, 2026 through May 23, 2028.	CHP Christmas Holiday Enforcement Period Results During the 2025 Christmas Holiday Enforcement Period, California Highway Patrol officers were on duty across the state, responding not only to enforcement needs but also to significant winter weather impacts, including snow, flooding and mudslides.
Jan. 9: Passport Community Fair at Newhall Library Bring passport applications and all required documents to the Passport Community Fair, 1-5:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9 at the Old Town Newhall Library.	Today in SCV History (Dec. 27) 1936 - Passenger plane crash in Rice Canyon kills all 12 aboard [story]	Sand Canyon Road Closed Due to Road Damage, Rock Slides The city of Santa Clarita has issued a traffic alert for Sand Canyon Road.	Jan. 29: Property Management Professionals Grand Opening, Ribbon Cutting Property Management Professionals will hold its grand opening and ribbon cutting 4-4:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29 at 25124 Springfield Court #220, Valencia, CA 91355.	CHP Highlights Public Safety Laws Taking Effect 2026 The California Highway Patrol is highlighting new public safety laws passed during this year’s legislative session and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom that, unless otherwise stated, take effect Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026.	Kaiser Permanente Presents $12,000 Grant to Bridge to Home Kaiser Permanente has awarded a $12,000 Community Health Grant to Bridge to Home to help address homelessness in the Santa Clarita Valley.
Foothill League Soccer: Holiday Non-League Matches Boys and girls Foothill League soccer teams have been on holiday schedule this past week, with some teams taking time off and others playing non-league matches. Consequently, league standings haven’t changed much.	Cougars Notch Another Victory, 54-46 at Oxnard College College of the Canyons women's basketball notched another mark in the win column, as the Cougars were able to stack a second straight road victory 54-46 at Oxnard College on Wednesday, Dec. 17.	Today in SCV History (Dec. 26) 1873 - Vasquez gang raids Kingston in (now) Kings County; ties up townspeople, makes off with $2,500 in cash and jewels [story]	SCV Sheriff’s Station Issues Traffic Alert on Soledad Canyon Road The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station has issued the following traffic alerts: Due to heavy rains, the westbound right lane is closed on Soledad Canyon Road between Camp Plenty Road and Langside Avenue.	Fostering Youth Independence Hosts Holiday PJ Party Fostering Youth Independence’s recent Charlie Brown Holiday party was attended by dozens of local foster youth and their volunteer Allies.	NWS Issues Flood Watch for SCV Through Friday The National Weather Service as issued the following alerts for the Santa Clarita Valley. Flood Watch until Dec. 26, 4 p.m. PST, High Wind Warning until Dec. 25, 3 p.m. PST.
Today in SCV History (Dec. 25) 1852 - Acton gold mine owner & California Gov. Henry Tifft Gage born in New York [story]	Barger Urges Residents to Stay Alert, Follow Evacuation Orders Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger is urging residents to remain vigilant as a powerful storm system moves through Los Angeles County, bringing periods of heavy rain and rapidly changing conditions.	CHP Makes Multiple Arrests in Organized Retail Theft Investigation Thirteen suspects were arrested, and more than $800,000 in stolen merchandise was recovered following a coordinated, multi-agency operation targeting an organized retail theft network operating across Northern California.	Pilot Program to Crack Down on Extreme Speeding The California State Transportation Agency today announced a new joint effort by two of its departments, the Department of Motor Vehicles and California Highway Patrol, to curb excessive speeding and prevent deadly crashes.	Dec. 27: Holiday Spice Salsa Edition at Canyon Country Community Center The city of Santa Clarita invites the community to heat up the holiday season at the Holiday Spice Salsa Edition on Saturday, Dec. 27, at the Canyon Country Community Center, located at 18410 Sierra Highway Santa Clarita, CA 91351.	Today in SCV History (Dec. 24) 1965 - Signal newspaper owner Scott Newhall shows up for a duel (of words) with rival Canyon Country newspaper publisher Art Evans, who no-shows and folds his paper soon after [story]