METRO Real-Time Soft Launch

See Route Schedule: 10 15 17 18 19 20 35 35E 4 40 41 42 55 66 68 69A 69W 71 72 72W 74S 75 79 UC WC     See Route Map: 10 15 17 18 19 20 35 35E 4 40 41 42 55 66 68 69A 69W 71 72 72W 74S 75 79 UC WC

Effective: Mar 16 2023

Santa Cruz METRO is pleased to announce a first look at METRO Real-Time services. 

Go to rt.scmetro.org to try it out.

During March and early April we are gradually equipping our entire fleet of buses with the necessary equipment to report real-time location and estimated arrival times via website, SMS text message, and Google Transit Real-Time feed for all transit apps. 

During this equpment rollout period, we do caution that NOT ALL buses in service on the road are reporting their location to the real-time system, but we estimate the entire fleet will be equipped by mid-April.

On rt.scmetro.org check the route you are interested in on the map.  If you see a live bus updating it's location on the route map, then arrival predictions will be available.  We encourage you to also register and subscribe to Service Alerts in the new real-time system to receive service alert notifcations. 

If your route of interest DOES NOT show a live bus en route during this interim, then go to cruzmetro.com and look for your route there.  Once we complete rollout, cruzmetro.com will be taken down permananently.

Spring Service starting March 16, 2023

Highlighted Service changes:

Route 69A has been reinstated, but with a modified route to serve Cabrillo College.

Route 69W will return to its previous route (Fall 2022 service) and frequency. Watsonville Hospital will no longer be served by Route 69W, but will be served by Route 69A, as it was in Fall 2022.

Since Route 69A has returned, the Watsonville Circulator will also return to its Fall 2022 routing that did not include Watsonville Hospital.

Three Highway 17 Express weekday morning northbound trips will continue on past San Jose Diridon to San Fernando & 7th St to serve downtown and SJSU. Three weekday afternoon/evening southbound trips will begin from San Jose Diridon and serve Santa Clara St and San Fernando & 7th stops, then continue on to 10th Street, I-280 and Hwy 17 to Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz. All downtown/SJSU trips will include service to both Scotts Valley Transit Center and Scotts Valley Drive.

Route-specific Schedule Changes between Winter and Spring schedules - Routes not specifically mentioned below will continue to operate the same schedule as Winter 2022-23 Service.

Route 19 - UCSC via West Gate -Bay

See Route Schedule: 19     See Route Map: 19

Weekdays: Three trips have been suspended: 6:35am, 11:05pm, and 11:35pm.

Route 69A – Capitola/Airport

See Route Schedule: 69A     See Route Map: 69A

Weekdays/Weekends: This route has been reinstated, but the route has been modified. From Santa Cruz to Watsonville, the bus will exit Hwy 1 at Park Ave to serve the following four stops on Soquel Dr: Soquel Dr & Willowbrook Ln (Stop ID 1836); Soquel Dr & Lower Perimeter Rd (Stop ID 2722); Soquel Dr & Cabrillo College Dr (Stop ID 1840; Soquel Dr & State Park Dr (Stop ID 1848). Then the bus will get back on Hwy 1 at State Park Dr to Airport Blvd to complete the route to Watsonville Transit Center. From Watsonville to Santa Cruz, the route will operate from Watsonville Transit Center through Watsonville as it did in Fall 2022 and then enter Hwy 1 at Airport Blvd. The bus will exit at State Park Dr to serve the following four stops: Soquel Dr & E Ledyard Way (Aptos Library) (Stop ID 1849); Soquel Dr & Cabrillo College Dr (Stop ID 1839); Soquel Dr & Porter Gulch Rd (Stop ID 1838); Soquel Dr & Merrill Rd (METRO Stop ID: 1837). Then the bus will get back on Hwy 1 at Park Ave and continue to Santa Cruz Metro Center via Capitola Mall using the same route as Fall 2022.

Watsonville Circulator

See Route Schedule: WC     See Route Map: WC

Weekdays/Weekends: Due to the return of Route 69A, the Watsonville Circulator will return to its Fall 2022 routing – no service to Watsonville Hospital.