California State University, Northridge’s new transit center, on campus at the intersection of Darby Avenue and Vincennes Street, officially opened for service today.

“The station will offer Cal State Northridge public transportation passengers a convenient on-campus location to be dropped off or picked-up on weekdays (with no weekend service),” said Capt. Alfredo Fernandez of CSUN parking and transportation services.

The station is a stop for both local and non-local public transportation. Local Metro lines such as the 741 Rapid and 167 Metro local buses run normal hours. The 741 makes its daily route between the campus and Ventura Boulevard, in the south end of the valley. Bus 167 runs between Studio City and Chatsworth.

“I live in Woodland Hills, this is the first time on this bus,” said Khalid Alhamdan, an intensive english program student at CSUN.  “It’s very easy. I used to come with my cousin, but he left the country, so I can’t use him (for a ride) now.”

Alhamdan used the 741 Metro Rapid for the first time today, and was pleased with the on-campus location.

In addition to the local Metro buses the transit station hosts the AVTA 676 Line, to and from Antelope Valley, and the CSUN Metrolink Shuttle Service. The Metrolink shuttle will still pick students up from both the new transit station and the previous station at the University Student Union.   The afternoon shuttle schedule has remained the same.

“We are pretty close to Bayramian (Hall), and I do like the fact that the buses have their own spot to drop people off at,” said Brett Smith, computer engineering student. Smith travels to school from Ventura County via the Metrolink and he catches the CSUN shuttle from the Metrolink station to campus.

“It’s always good news when we can improve service,” said AVTA board chair Norm Hickling in a press release.  “I am especially pleased that our local students will find their transportation more convenient and I hope it encourages others to consider public transportation if they are heading to CSUN.”

The Transit Station is expected to relieve car traffic on campus and the need for more parking structures said Colin Donahue, facilities and planning director at CSUN.

The transit station does not operate on weekends and campus holidays. The 167 Metro local will still make its normal Reseda-and-Plummer stop seven days a week.

The transit station was relatively empty on its first day but this new addition to the campus is likely to be a bustling hub for student travel in the upcoming fall semester.

For more information regarding schedules and routes visit http://www-admn.csun.edu/parking/transport, www.metrolinktrains.com, www.avta.com, or www.ladottransit.com