General Announcements
A Note from the CEO
Effective: Dec 18 - Mar 11 2015
Over the next two service quarters I will share with you information that we have been presenting to the Santa Cruz METRO Board of Directors as we endeavor to understand the contributing factors to the structural deficit and begin looking at potential solutions. We have now completed four workshops in a planned series of eight. As we strive to achieve transparency, I encourage you to take advantage of our website and follow our Board presentations by going to our Board Agenda and Minutes Archives and then choose the Agenda Packet you are interested in reviewing. Please note that the Structural Deficit Workshops started on August 8, 2014 and occur at the second week of the month Board Meeting (Agenda Packet 2nd Week column of the 2014 calendar table).
Read moreThese are a few key points contained in the recent workshops:
- A structural deficit occurs when recurring expenses exceed recurring revenues.
- Since about 2011, reserves and capital eligible revenues have been used on an annual basis in order to achieve a balanced budget.
- A major contributing factor to the structural deficit is a reduction in sales tax revenues since the economic downturn in 2008.
- Labor accounts for a little over 80% of the total operating budget.
- If we do nothing, in 2016/2017 we may not have enough resources available to cover expenses.
- Service productivity: Intercity routes represent 52% of the service hours and produce 41% of the ridership; UCSC represent 20% of the service hours and produces 45% of the ridership; Highway 17 commuter service represent 11% of the service hours and produces 7% of the ridership; Local servicerepresent 15% of the service hours and produces 6% of the ridership; and Rural routes represent 2% ofthe service hours and produces 1% of the ridership.
- The cost per Revenue Service Hour (RSH) has increased from $139.07/RSH in 2010 to $178.05 in 2014.
- Systemwide farebox recovery is 23% (% of total operating costs recovered from the fares paid by customers).
- ParaCruz (paratransit service) cost per trip is $57.26 and operates at a 3.55% farebox recovery.
- When benchmarking our service against our peer transit agencies, our bus service ranks in the upper third in system performance and farebox recovery. That’s not at the top where we’d like to be, however our cost-per-RSH is highest and subsidy-per-passenger is slightly higher than average. On the Paratransit side of the business, we rank second highest in cost-per-trip.
- Finally, our unfunded capital needs through 2025 are preliminarily projected to be $130 million, inclusive of an estimated need for over $82 million to replace buses and vans.
Please continue to follow this discussion monthly as we present additional material to the Santa Cruz METRO Board of Directors and work diligently to resolve the funding challenges ahead. All Board Meetings and the workshops are open to the public.
Alex Clifford, CEO
Santa Cruz METRO
METRO Youth Art Poster Contest
Effective: Dec 05 - Jan 31 2015
This year’s theme “Cruz with METRO”
Open to all students, Kindergarten to 12th grade in Santa Cruz County
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2015
Poster entry form and contest rules may be downloaded here, or picked up free of charge at either SC Metro Administration, or Pacific Station Customer Service
Read moreRULES:
- Students must create their own original artwork- no copyrighted clip art, computer generated graphics, or copyrighted characters
- Posters must reflect the theme of the contest: Cruz with METRO
- All entries must be submitted on quality paper or poster board
- Poster dimensions should be 10”H x16”W (Use an 11”x17” sheet with a 0.5 inch border)
- All entries must be 2-dimensional; no glued on pieces will be accepted
- Any medium (paint, crayon, marker, colored pencil, etc.) is acceptable, but remember that bright solid colors will reproduce better!
- Students may only submit one entry
ENTRY:
- Each poster must have an entry form firmly attached to the back of the poster
- Entries must be mailed or delivered to the Santa Cruz METRO
JUDGING: Judging will be based on the following criteria:
- Appropriateness to “Cruz with METRO” theme
- Support of SC Metro or transit in general
- Originality and creativity
- Overall visual appeal
PRIZES TO BE AWARDED:
- One 1st , 2nd, and 3rd Place winner will be selected from each school level: 3 winners each from elementary, middle, and high school entries
- 1st Place winners will have his or her artwork displayed on the exterior of SC Metro buses!
- 2nd and 3rd Place winners will have his or her artwork displayed inside SC Metro vehicles!
- Best of Show winner will be displayed on the Spring Headways Cover!
- All winners will receive a fun prize pack!
Winners will be notified by March 7, 2015
For more information contact Halle Evans (hevans@scmtd.com) Phone: (831) 420-2593
Notice of Intention to Amend the Conflict-of-Interest Code
Effective: Jan 23 - Mar 13 2015
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO) intends to amend a conflict-of-interest code pursuant to Government Code Section 87300 and 87306. Pursuant to Government Code Section 87302, the code will designate employees who must disclose certain investments, income, interests in real property and business positions, and who must disqualify themselves from making or participating in the making of governmental decisions affecting those interests.
METRO’s Board of Directors will review all public comments and consider whether to implement the amendments at the Board Meeting on March 13, 2015 at METRO’s Administrative Offices, 110 Vernon Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Complete details and public comment instructions are posted here.
Quarterly Service Updates
Winter Service Dec 18, 2014 - Mar 11, 2015
Route 35 - San Lorenzo Valley (SLV)
See Route Schedule: 35 35A See Route Map: 35 35A
Weekends: Service to Big Basin State Park will be discontinued for the Winter. Service will resume on Saturday, March 14, 2015.
Route 40 - Davenport / North Coast Beaches
See Route Schedule: 40 See Route Map: 40
Weekends: Service to Waddell Creek will be discontinued for the Winter. Service will resume on Saturday, March 14, 2015.
Service Alerts
