For Council Member Marsha McLean there just wasn’t enough time to discuss transportation issues when she attended meetings downtown.

“Individuals are given somewhere around 45 seconds up to 90 seconds, if you’re lucky, to make the case,” said McLean.

Her long held desire to form an advocacy group was fulfilled when the Santa Clarita Valley Transportation Coalition held its first meeting at City Hall on Monday.

“The goals and objectives for this coalition will be that it will function as an advisory, information sharing and strategizing body of decision makers regarding transportation needs that impact the Santa Clarita Valley,” McLean said..

The Coalition will also be called upon to advocate for transportation projects at the local, Regional, State and Federal levels on behalf of the community to provide a unified position on significant transportation projects and needs that affect the Santa Clarita Valley.

“The vision for the new Coalition is to be strategic in our advocacy of transportation funding and projects that make sense for Santa Clarita.  This will better position our community to receive coveted transportation dollars and projects,” said Santa Clarita Mayor Laurie Ender.

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The Coalition includes representatives from the offices of Federal and State Senate and Legislative offices, the County of Los Angeles, including the 5th District and Public Works, College of the Canyons, the William S. Hart Union School District, the Newhall, Sulphur Springs, Saugus Union and Castaic School Districts, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Golden State Gateway Coalition, The Walt Disney Company, Caltrans, the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Building Industry Association, the SCV Economic Development Corporation, the Valley Industry Association and a local transportation consultant.

“We have not had an advocacy group specifically to address our needs, but now we do. The coalition will be called upon to fill that need,” said McLean.

The Coalition agreed to meet quarterly and noticing will be provided through the City of Santa Clarita.  For more information regarding the new Transportation Coalition, contact Ian Pari at: ipari@santa-clarita.com.