Service Alerts
A Letter From METRO's General Manager
See Route Schedule: 03 07 08 09 16N 17 19N 20 27X 30 31 32 35 35A 40 42 53 54 56 66 68 68N 69 69A 69N 69W 70 71 75 76 91X See Route Map: 03 07 08 09 16N 17 19N 20 27X 30 31 32 35 35A 40 42 53 54 56 66 68 68N 69 69A 69N 69W 70 71 75 76 91X
Effective: Sep 16 2010
Greetings METRO Customers,
The Fall Service contains many changes. Some of the changes are good... and others are not-so-good. As you review the extensive list of fall service changes, I hope that you will keep in mind the careful consideration and public process that went into making some very difficult decisions, under increasingly difficult financial circumstances in California.
Unfortunately, the routes and schedules contained the fall service reflect the reduction and the elimination of some routes. The Board of Directors, METRO staff, and I sincerely regret having to reduce the service that we offer to the community. However, the recession that began in 2008 has resulted in a significantly lower amount of funds available to METRO to provide service. In comparison to 2007, METRO is receiving approximately $4 million per year less in sales tax funding and $1.5 million per year less from the Transportation Development Act funds. Unfortunately, the economic recovery that has been hoped for has not occurred, especially with regard to employment levels, and the sales tax receipts have continued to decline.
Over the past four years, the Governor and the California State Legislature have diverted funds from transit systems to the State General Fund. Even though the state courts have declared these fund diversions illegal, the state has no intention of repaying the transit agencies in California. The fund diversion has cost METRO approximately $31 million in funding.
While many transit systems were implementing severe service cuts over the past two years, METRO was able to sustain the existing service levels. However, due to the continuing recession and loss of state funds, METRO can no longer afford to operate at the previously existing service levels. In reducing service, METRO staff members examined ridership levels, alternative routes available, and considered public comments from 18 public meetings, before recommending the cuts to the METRO Board of Directors.
In the coming months, the METRO Board of Directors will have to evaluate options and alternatives in order to develop a plan that will achieve financial sustainability. These will be difficult discussions and your comments and suggestions will be beneficial to the process. I hope that you will be able to work with us on this difficult task. Please stay informed from METRO’s website and announcements for public meeting dates so that you can provide your comments and express concerns.
Thank you for your continuing use and support of METRO,
Les White
General Manager
Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District
Ride the Bus to the County Fair!
Effective: Sep 14 2010
Tuesday, September 14th, and Saturday & Sunday September 18th & 19th. Look for Buses with this display: "79 - County Fair".
Read moreSanta Cruz County Fair Schedule
Route 79 - County Fair
Monday, September 14th
Departs Arrives Departs Arrives
WTC Fair Fair WTC
11:00 AM 11:20 AM 11:25 AM 11:45 PM
12:00 PM 12:20 PM 12:25 PM 12:45 PM
1:00 PM 1:20 PM 1:25 PM 1:45 PM
2:00 PM 2:20 PM 2:25 PM 2:45 PM
3:30 PM 3:50 PM 3:55 PM 5:15 PM
5:30 PM 5:50 PM 6:00 PM 6:20 PM
Saturday & Sunday September 18th & 19th
Departs Arrives Departs Arrives
WTC Fair Fair WTC
12:00 PM 12:20 PM 12:25 PM 12:45 PM
1:00 PM 1:20 PM 1:25 PM 1:45 PM
2:00 PM 2:20 PM 2:25 PM 2:45 PM
3:30 PM 3:50 PM 3:55 PM 4:15 PM
4:30 PM 4:50 PM 4:55 PM 5:15 PM
5:30 PM 5:50 PM 6:55 PM 6:15 PM
6:30 PM 6:50 PM 7:00 PM 7:20 PM
Regular Fares apply: $1.50 per ride
Older Person & Disabled Fare: $ .75
All METRO Passes accepted.
METRO ParaCruz will run concurrent with Fair Schedule
Call 425-4664 for a reservation
Route 70 Discontinued
See Route Schedule: 70 See Route Map: 70
Effective: Aug 30 2010
Due to losses in revenue, Route 70 Cabrillo has been discontinued and will NOT resume on Monday, August 30, 2010 as previously scheduled. Possible alternative routes to Cabrillo College are 69W, 71 and 91X. These routes do NOT service the Upper Campus bus stop. Please use the bus stops posted on Soquel Drive.
Route 74 - Ohlone Parkway / Rolling Hills
See Route Schedule: 74 See Route Map: 74
Effective: Sep 08 2010
Some trips have been adjusted, due to changes in school bell times. The 1:50PM and 3:50PM trips will serve the Social Security Office instead of Pajaro Valley High School. The 2:50PM will serve Pajaro Valley High School prior to serving Rolling Hills Jr. High and will no longer serve the Social Security Office.
Quarterly Service Updates
Fall Service Sep 16, 2010 - Dec 8, 2010
Discontinued Routes and New Routes
See Route Schedule: 07 09 27X 31 32 53 68N 70 76 08 30 See Route Map: 07 09 27X 31 32 53 68N 70 76 08 30
Due to losses in revenue, routes: 7, 9, 27X, 31, 32, 53, 68N, 70, and 76 have been discontinued. New Routes 8 & 30 have been added. Please refer to the system map to find possible alternative routes.
Route 17 - Amtrak Highway 17 Express
See Route Schedule: 17 See Route Map: 17
The weekday northbound trips that previously departed the Soquel Park & Ride at 4:35AM and 5:15AM now depart the Santa Cruz Metro Center at 4:45AM and 5:25AM respectively, and no longer serve the Soquel Park & Ride. The weekday southbound trips that depart San Jose at 5:15PM and 6:15PM and arrive at the Santa Cruz Metro Center at 6:30PM and 7:30PM respectively, do not continue to the Soquel Park & Ride.
Route 3 - Mission / Beach
See Route Schedule: 03 07 See Route Map: 03 07
The Route 3 and the Route 7 have been combined into a new Route 3 Mission / Beach, which will continue to depart at :50 after the hour, but will not serve the Swanton-Chico area or Fair Ave. The 6:50PM trip has been deleted.
Route 7 - Beach / Lighthouse
See Route Schedule: 07 03 See Route Map: 07 03
This route has been discontinued.
Route 8 - Emeline
See Route Schedule: 08 See Route Map: 08
This new route will run once a day at 7:35AM as a commuter trip from the Santa Cruz Metro Center to the County Emeline Complex.
Route 9 - Prospect Heights
See Route Schedule: 09 08 See Route Map: 09 08
This route has been discontinued.
Night Owl Service
See Route Schedule: 16N 19N See Route Map: 16N 19N
The departure times and span of service for Night Owl Routes 16N and 19N have been adjusted. The routing of the 19N has been adjusted in order to provide more service to the Beach Street and 2nd Street areas. All Night Owl Dial-a-Ride service has been discontinued.
Route 19 - UCSC via Lower Bay
See Route Schedule: 19 See Route Map: 19
Weekdays: The 7:30AM trip of the Route 19 will no longer serve the Beach Street area - please see Route 3 . The routing for the evening trips (starting at 6:30PM) has been changed in order to provide more service to the Beach Street and 2nd Street areas. Weekend: The routing for all trips has changed in order to provide more service to the Beach Street and 2nd Street areas.
Route 20D - UCSC via Delaware
See Route Schedule: 20 See Route Map: 20
All trips have been moved to depart Bay & Laguna 5 minutes earlier at :20 after the hour (the same time that the Route 20 leaves the Metro Center). Please see the footnote of the Route 20 schedule referring to Route 20D backup trips.
Route 27X - UCSC Express
See Route Schedule: 27X See Route Map: 27X
This route has been discontinued.
Route 30 - Graham Hill / Scotts Valley
See Route Schedule: 30 31 32 See Route Map: 30 31 32
This new route has replaced the discontinued Routes 31 & 32, and will serve the area along Graham Hill Road, Scotts Valley, and Scotts Valley Drive.
Route 31 - Scotts Valley / Santa Cruz via Hwy 17
See Route Schedule: 31 30 See Route Map: 31 30
This route has been discontinued. See Route 30 regarding service in Scotts Valley.
Route 32 - Graham Hill
See Route Schedule: 32 30 See Route Map: 32 30
This route has been discontinued. See Route 30 regarding service in Scotts Valley.
Route 35/35A - San Lorenzo Valley (SLV)
See Route Schedule: 35 35A See Route Map: 35 35A
The weekday trips departing the Santa Cruz Metro Center at 1:00PM, 1:30PM, 3:00PM, 3:30PM, 4:00PM, 4:30PM, and 5:00PM, which were Route 35 trips are now Route 35A trips serving Scotts Valley Drive. The weekday 10:45PM trip of the Route 35 departing Boulder Creek to Santa Cruz has been deleted.
Route 40 - Davenport / North Coast Beaches
See Route Schedule: 40 See Route Map: 40
A weekday 12:30PM trip has been added. This trip serves Davenport and Cement Plant Road, but does not serve Waddell Creek, or Santa Cruz High School.
Route 42 - Davenport / Bonny Doon
See Route Schedule: 42 See Route Map: 42
The 12:30PM, 7:15PM and 10:00PM weekday trips have been deleted. An 8:30PM weekday trip has been added. The weekend 10:00PM trip has been deleted.
Route 53 - Capitola / Dominican
See Route Schedule: 53 See Route Map: 53
This route has been discontinued.
Route 54 - Capitola / Aptos / La Selva Beach
See Route Schedule: 54 See Route Map: 54
Weekdays: The 5:30PM trip continues in service from Cabrillo College to the Capitola Mall. From La Selva Beach inbound to the Capitola Mall, this trip will only make the following limited stops: Soquel at State Park Drive, Cabrillo College, and Capitola Mall. Weekends: Service has been reduced to three trips departing Capitola Mall at 8:20AM, 10:55AM and 6:40PM, using the same routing as the weekday 5:30PM trip, with the same limited stops.
Route 56 - La Selva
See Route Schedule: 56 See Route Map: 56
Service has been reduced to two weekday trips departing Capitola Mall at 8:45AM and 1:55PM.
Route 66 - Live Oak via 17th
See Route Schedule: 66 See Route Map: 66
Most departure times have been changed.
Route 68 - Live Oak via Broadway / Portola
See Route Schedule: 68 See Route Map: 68
Most departure times have been changed. Weekdays: A new trip departing the Santa Cruz Metro Center at 6:30PM to the Capitola Mall has been added. Weekends: All trips will resume regular weekend routing using San Lorenzo Blvd. to Ocean St. instead of the summer routing from Broadway to Ocean St. A new trip departing the Santa Cruz Metro Center at 6:30PM to the Capitola Mall has been added. The trip departing Capitola Mall at 6:45PM for the Santa Cruz Metro Center has been deleted.
Route 68N - Beach Night / Capitola Mall
See Route Schedule: 68N See Route Map: 68N
This route has been discontinued.
Route 69 - Capitola Rd. / Cabrillo
See Route Schedule: 69 See Route Map: 69
Weekdays: The 6:00AM trip that departs the Capitola Mall for the Santa Cruz Metro Center has been deleted. The trips that depart the Santa Cruz Metro Center at 9:52AM and 10:22AM for the Capitola Mall have been deleted. Weekends: The 7:37AM trip that departs the Santa Cruz Metro Center for the Capitola Mall has been deleted. The 8:00AM trip that departs the Capitola Mall for the Santa Cruz Metro Center has been deleted.
Route 69A/69W - Capitola Rd. / Watsonville
See Route Schedule: 69A 69W See Route Map: 69A 69W
The Route 69A weekend trip that departs Watsonville at 7:50AM to Santa Cruz will be changed to a 69W.
Route 69N - Night Capitola Rd. / Cabrillo
See Route Schedule: 69N See Route Map: 69N
The weekday trip that departs Cabrillo College at 9:40PM to the Santa Cruz Metro Center has been deleted.
Route 70 - Santa Cruz / Cabrillo
See Route Schedule: 70 See Route Map: 70
This route has been discontinued.
Route 71 - Santa Cruz / Watsonville
See Route Schedule: 71 See Route Map: 71
The daily summer 11:35PM trip from the Boardwalk to the Santa Cruz Metro Center has ended. The last trip to Watsonville still departs the Santa Cruz Metro Center at 11:45PM.
Route 91X - Commuter Express Santa Cruz / Watsonville
See Route Schedule: 91X See Route Map: 91X
The weekday trip that departs Watsonville at 6:25AM to Santa Cruz has been deleted. The weekend trip that departs Watsonville at 7:15AM to Santa Cruz has been deleted.
Route 74 - Ohlone Parkway / Rolling Hills
See Route Schedule: 74 See Route Map: 74
Some trips have been adjusted due to changes in school bell times. The 1:50PM and 3:50PM trips will serve the Social Security Office instead of Pajaro Valley High School. The 2:50PM will serve Pajaro Valley High School prior to serving Rolling Hills Jr. High and will no longer serve the Social Security Office
Route 75 - Green Valley
See Route Schedule: 75 See Route Map: 75
The weekday and weekend trips departing the Watsonville Transit Center at 7:09AM, 9:09AM, 11:09AM, 1:09PM, 3:09PM, 5:09PM and 7:09PM will not serve the loop on Wheelock Road and Green Valley Road. The weekend trip departing the Watsonville Transit Center at 8:09PM has been deleted.
Route 76 - Corralitos / Buena Vista
See Route Schedule: 76 See Route Map: 76
This route has been discontinued.
Summer Service Jun 10, 2010 - Sep 15, 2010
Amtrak Highway 17 Express Fare Increase
See Route Schedule: 17 See Route Map: 17
Fare increases for Amtrak Highway 17 Express will take effect on June 10, 2010.
Read moreIMPORTANT NOTICE - ADOPTED FARE INCREASES FOR HIGHWAY 17 EXPRESS
On March 26, 2010, the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District Board of Directors adopted an increase in the following fares for Highway 17 Express service provided by Santa Cruz METRO.
| Fare Type | Old Rate | New Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Single Ride | $4.00 | $5.00 |
| Discounted Senior/Disabled Ride | $2.00 | $2.50 |
| Highway 17 Express Day Pass: | $8.00 | $10.00 |
|
with exchange of METRO or VTA Day Pass |
$3.50 | $4.00 |
|
with display of Caltrain Monthly Ticket for two or more Zones |
$3.50 | $4.00 |
|
with display of VTA Express Pass |
$1.50 | $2.00 |
| Monthly Pass | $90.00 | $113.00 |
Route 19 - UCSC via Lower Bay
See Route Schedule: 19 See Route Map: 19
During Summer Service, weekend trips that depart between 11:50AM and 4:50PM will not serve the Beach Street loop to avoid long delays due to weekend beach traffic.
Route 56 - La Selva
See Route Schedule: 56 See Route Map: 56
Starting June 11th, 2010 the 2:05 PM trip will not serve the inbound Soquel and Daubenbiss bus stop when Soquel High is not in session. Service to the Soquel and Daubenbiss bus stop will resume at the beginning of the school year August 24th, 2010.
Route 68 - Live Oak via Broadway / Portola
See Route Schedule: 68 See Route Map: 68
During Summer Service, the weekend Route 68 will use Broadway to Ocean instead of San Lorenzo Blvd. in order to avoid beach traffic.
Route 71 - Santa Cruz / Watsonville
See Route Schedule: 71 See Route Map: 71
During Summer Service, the last Route 71 to Watsonville will begin service 10 minutes earlier at 11:35pm, departing from Cliff & Beach (the Boardwalk), then continuing to Santa Cruz METRO Center, Pacific Station for the normal 11:45pm outbound departure.
General Announcements
Cabrillo Cart/Tram Service
See Route Schedule: 54 55 56 69 69W 69N 71 91X See Route Map: 54 55 56 69 69W 69N 71 91X
Effective: Mar 18 2010
Cart/Tram service is available weekdays at Cabrillo College to individuals with disabilities.
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Thursday: 8:00am to 9:00pm
Friday: 8:00am to 4:00pm
Call: (831) 479-6379 or (831) 479-6370
Why Low Floor Buses?
See Route Schedule: 17 See Route Map: 17
Effective: Dec 10 2009
Santa Cruz METRO has received numerous inquiries as to the reasons for purchasing Low Floor buses for use on the Highway 17 Express Service. Many of the concerns center around insufficient seating capacity given the popularity of the service.
Read moreMETRO's decision to purchase the New Flyer (2800) Low Floor buses was made because Standard Floor “Suburban” buses are no longer manufactured. Bus designs have undergone an evolutionary redesign process resulting in the Low Floor bus becoming the standard of the transit industry. On Low Floor buses, external luggage bins are not available, therefore internal luggage racks and overhead storage bins are required due the numerous travelers we transport with luggage. The accommodation of luggage is a requirement of our agreement with AMTRAK which contributes financial support for this service. METRO is well aware of the reduced seating arrangement on the Low Floors buses so every attempt is being made to schedule our high capacity buses for peak periods of commuter service. Thank you for your understanding, METRO Management.
