The Transit Maintenance Facility (TMF) is the first state-of-the-art “green” building built by City of Santa Clarita and was designed and constructed using a variety of high-quality, environmentally sensitive methods.

One of the peices from the California Bear Project is on-site.

The facility is also designed to accommodate more than 150 buses and nearly 160 staff with room for future expansion.

Design features that were incorporated in the Transit Maintenance Facility include: straw bale insulated exterior walls, under-floor heating and cooling systems, recycled building materials, water efficient landscaping, day lighting features, facility shading devices, high-efficiency lighting fixtures with motion sensors and daylight dimming controls, and compressed natural gas fuel technology.

TMF is 40% more energy-efficient than required by California’s Energy Code thanks to sustainable building methods, which help reduce operating costs and conserve natural resources.

In 2002, the City of Santa Clarita Transit committed to improving air quality in the community by converting its bus fleet from diesel running vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, which burn cleaner and produces less green house gases.

The energy-efficient building includes a 22,000 sq. ft. administration building, 25,000 sq. ft bus maintenance building, automated bus wash, diesel and compressed natural gas (CNG) stations, and an on-street CNG fueling station for use by the general public.

In 2011, with the help of a $4.6 million award through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transit Investments in Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) program, the City installed a 65,000 square foot solar power canopy system at the TMF.

More than 3,200 photovoltaic panels now cover the facility’s four bus ports.  The canopies are expected to generate enough electric power to offset up to 97% of the facility’s electric use – equivalent to half of Santa Clarita Transit’s cumulative energy use.

For more information about the City of Santa Clarita’s Transit Maintenance Faciltiy, visit SantaClaritaTransit.com.

Yesterday, the City of Santa Clarita held its 9th Annual Bike to Work Day Challenge in conjunction with LA Metro’s Bike to Work Week.

The City teamed up with Newhall Bicycle and Performance Cyclery to host bicycle pit stops all over Santa Clarita.

Chik-Fil-A helped out at the City Hall pit stop by providing water and healthy snacks to cyclists.

Participants had a chance to win prizes at each of the pit stops.

Christ Lutheron Church and Marzocchi USA were two of the many businesses that participated in this year’s Bike to Work Day Challenge.

Click image for event website.

The public is invited as thousands of Santa Clarita students, community members, and even some celebrities, converge on College of the Canyons Cougar Stadium Friday, May 18, for Rock the Rhythm, Beat the Odds.  Gates open at 10 a.m. with the free event starting at 11 a.m.

The event will entail 7,000 sixth and seventh grade students of the Santa Clarita Valley coming together at College of the Canyons to set a new world record when they participate in the largest drum circle ever assembled by youth, demonstrating the power of community and bringing national focus on the arts as a crucial element of K-12 education.

Community members are invited to join friends and neighbors for fun and exciting activities at tonights Toga! Toga! , the Greek themed SENSES block party happening on Main Street from 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. in Old Town Newhall.

Local businesses on Main Street will offer discounts and specials throughout the night at the block party.

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The Vu bar and lounge offers a wide variety of authentic greek drinks.

Party goers are encouraged to dress in anything from a simple sheet to a figure of Greek mythology as they enjoy activities, food trucks, live music from the Scattered Suns and themed drinks! Check out a step-by-step guide to help you don the toga fashion here and here.

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For event updates, contest giveaways and special promotions, visit SensesOnMain.com, follow SENSES on Twitter or like us on Facebook.

Click image for Lucille’s website.

Today, Lucille’s Bar-B-Que  restaurant opens their newest location in Santa Clarita at the Westfield Valencia Town Center. Located on the outside area of the patios section, Lucille’s offers a wide variety of southern barbeque.

For more information about the Lucille’s Bar-B-Que’s menu, hours and location, or options for catering, visit LucillesBBQ.com.

Today, Mayor Frank Ferry and City Manager Ken Pulskamp visited North Park Elementary to recognize one of three 25th anniversary coloring contest winners.

Mayor Ferry with contest winner Camille Pagkalinawa and family member.

The winner got the opportunity to be lifted on one of the City’s lift trucks to be recognized by her peers.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff showed off their vehicles along with the Fire Department’s powerful fire truck hose. 

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The Friends of the Santa Clarita Public Library are inviting community members to meet Catherine Bybee, Award Winning Author, to talk about her latest book “Wife by Wednesday” on Wednesday, May 23, at the Canyon Country Library at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information on future events at the Santa Clarita Public Library, visit the events page at SantaClaritaLibrary.com.

Click image for flyer.

On Thursday, May 17, the City of Santa Clarita is challenging businesses and community members to ride their bikes for the 2012 City of Santa Clarita’s Bike to Work Day Challenge. This challenge takes place during the biggest bicycle commute in California – during LA Metro’s Bike to Work Week Monday, May 14 through Friday, May 18.

The City has teamed up with Newhall Bicycle and Performance Cyclery to host bicycle pit stops. Cyclists can stop for refreshments, get energized, receive giveaways, and obtain information on cycling. The following Santa Clarita pit stops will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Thursday morning:

• Camp Plenty – (Hosted by City of Santa Clarita) Just off of Soledad Canyon Road Next to CVS (19424 Soledad Canyon Road) Across from Starbucks (19409 Soledad Canyon Road).
• Bouquet Junction - (Hosted by Performance Cyclery) Corner of Bouquet Canyon Road and Valencia Boulevard, next to ARCO station (23105 Valencia Boulevard) across from McDonald’s (23110 Valencia Boulevard).
• South Fork Trail -(Hosted by Newhall Bicycle) Newhall Avenue and 16th Street, next to the riverbed four-way intersection.
• City Hall - (Hosted by City of Santa Clarita) Front of City Hall – 23920 Valencia Boulevard, next to water fountain/glass doors.

Check out ‘This Week in Santa Clarita’ preview of the 2012 City of Santa Clarita’s Bike to Work Day.

Valencia Boulevard Median Improvement Project

The City of Santa Clarita recently completed landscape refurbishments to the median located on Valencia Boulevard between Creekside Road and the Santa Clara river adjacent to Toyota and the Subaru dealerships. 

Soledad Canyon Road Median Improvement Project

This project utilized savings from the Soledad Median Refurbishment Project.