METRO News Bulletins

 Quarterly Service Changes

Fall Service (Sep 12, 2024 - Dec 18, 2024)

Fall Service starting September 12, 2024

Highlighted Service Changes:

 

Reimagine METRO – Phase 2


Route 73: Service to Capitola Mall

Route 73 will be extended to run between Capitola Mall and Watsonville Transit Center, except for a few weekday trips.


Route 35: Weekend Frequency Improved to Every 30 Minutes

Route 35 will operate every 30 minutes; segments which alternate, such as Hwy 9-Highland Park/Glen Arbor and Mtn Store/Country Club, will now have service every hour instead of every two hours.


Highway 17 Express – Two New Round Trips, Added Service to SJSU, and Connections to Caltrain Electric Trains

Two weekday trips have been added, including one additional trip to downtown San Jose/SJSU each in the morning and the afternoon/early evening. Trips are coordinated for transfers to Caltrain’s new electric train service starting in late September.

 

 


School Term (“ST”) Service:


Route 16 School Term “ST” Service Returns

Route 16 School Term “ST” service returns, providing additional options to/from the UCSC campus, with specific Mon-Wed-Fri and Tues-Thurs schedules.

 

County Fair Service - Route 79F

Special service to the Fairgrounds outside of Watsonville will run for the County Fair Wednesday September 11 – Sunday September 15.

 

 



Route-specific Schedule Changes between Summer and Fall schedules - Routes not specifically mentioned below will continue to operate the same schedule as Summer 2024 Service. Riders are advised to review all the route changes below, and then view the new schedules and maps to see the changes in detail.

Route 1 – Soquel/Cabrillo/Airport

See Route Schedule: 1

STOP CHANGES SCHEDULE CHANGE


Weekdays/Weekends: The following stops that were temporarily discontinued will be added back: Airport & Freedom (Stop ID 2486), E Lake & Sudden (Stop ID 1064), Green Valley & Carnation - Medical Plaza (Stop ID 1100), Green Valley & Stewart (Stop ID 2726), Lincoln & E High (Stop ID 2484), and Lincoln & Stanford (Stop ID 1992). In addition, a new stop was added at Lincoln & E Lake Ave (Stop ID 2769). Departure and arrival times have been adjusted along the route.


Weekdays: The last three trips from Watsonville to Santa Cruz will depart 30 minutes earlier, at 9:30pm, 10:30pm, and 11:30pm.

Route 2 – Capitola/Cabrillo/Main

See Route Schedule: 2

SCHEDULE CHANGE ADDITIONAL WEEKEND EVENING TRIP


Weekdays: The last three trips from Santa Cruz to Watsonville will depart 30 minutes earlier, at 9:25pm, 10:25pm, and 11:25pm.


Weekends: From Santa Cruz, the 9:55pm and 10:55pm trips will depart 30 minutes earlier, at 9:25pm and 10:25pm. An additional trip will depart at 11:25pm.

Route 11 – UCSC via West Gate - High

See Route Schedule: 11

SCHEDULE CHANGE


Weekdays/Weekends: Departure and arrival times have been adjusted along the route.

Route 18 – UCSC via Main Gate – Mission

See Route Schedule: 18

SCHEDULE CHANGE


Weekdays/Weekends: Departure and arrival times have been adjusted along the route.

Route 19 – UCSC via West Gate – Bay

See Route Schedule: 19

SCHEDULE CHANGE


Weekdays/Weekends: Departure and arrival times have been adjusted along the route.

Route 20 – UCSC via Main Gate – Delaware

See Route Schedule: 20

SCHEDULE CHANGE


Weekdays/Weekends: Departure and arrival times have been adjusted along the route.

Route 35 – Highway 9/Scotts Valley

See Route Schedule: 35

MORE FREQUENT SERVICE


Weekdays/Weekends: The bus stop signs for two stops at San Lorenzo Valley High School will be swapped to align them with online records (METRO Real-Time, Google/Apple maps): the on-campus stop serving the 2:55pm departure will change from Stop ID 2692 to 1031, and the northbound stop on Hwy 9 will change from Stop ID 1031 to 2692. Heading into River Front Transit Center in Santa Cruz, the route will continue on Ocean St to Soquel Ave, and serve Ocean & Water Government Center (Stop ID 2605); Ocean & Dakota (Stop ID 2682); and Soquel Ave & Ocean (Stop ID 1782).


Weekends: Service frequency will be improved to every 30 minutes from 7:30am – 9:30pm.

Route 40 – Highway 1 – Davenport

See Route Schedule: 40

SCHEDULE CHANGE


Weekdays: Departure and arrival times have been adjusted along the route.

Route 55 – Capitola/Rio Del Mar/La Selva

See Route Schedule: 55

NEW STOP ADDED


Weekdays/Weekends: A stop has been added: Porter & W Walnut Ave (Stop ID 2289).

Route 73 – Soquel/Freedom/Cabrillo

See Route Schedule: 73

ROUTE CHANGE SCHEDULE CHANGE


Weekdays: Route 73 has been extended to run between Capitola Mall and Watsonville Transit Center, except for a few trips at the peak. Departure and arrival times have been adjusted along the route; from Cabrillo to Watsonville, the time adjustments are up to 15 minutes, and from Watsonville, the time adjustments are up to 20 minutes in the afternoon.


Weekends: The route has been extended to run between Capitola Mall and Watsonville Transit Center all day. With the addition of Capitola Mall to the route, arrivals from Cabrillo College to Watsonville have been adjusted by 10-12 minutes.

Route 78 – Ohlone/Watsonville Hospital

See Route Schedule: 78

ROUTE CHANGE


Weekdays/Weekends: Returning to Watsonville Transit Center from Main St, the route will go right on S Green Valley Rd, left on Harkins Slough Rd, and right on Westridge Dr. S Green Valley Rd & Main (Stop ID 2552) will be served by this route, while Main & S Green Valley Rd (Stop ID 1144) will not be served by Route 78.

Route 79 – East Lake

See Route Schedule: 79

STOP CHANGE


Weekdays/Weekends: The stop at E Beach & Hushbeck Ave (Stop ID 1062) will be replaced by a new stop around the corner, at Hushbeck Ave & E Beach (Stop ID 2770).

Route 90X – Watsonville – Santa Cruz Express

See Route Schedule: 90X

SCHEDULE CHANGE


Weekdays: Departure and arrival times have been adjusted along the route.

Highway 17 Express

See Route Schedule: 17

ADDITIONAL TRIPS TO SJSU NEW CALTRAIN ELECTRIC TRAIN SERVICE ROUTE CHANGE


Weekdays: Trips are coordinated for transfers to Caltrain’s new electric train service that is scheduled to start September 21. Two weekday trips have been added. There will be one additional trip to downtown San Jose/SJSU in the morning and the afternoon/early evening. The afternoon/evening trips from SJSU will now start at E San Fernando & 7th (westbound stop, Stop ID 0914) before heading west along Santa Clara St to San Jose Diridon, so passengers boarding at Diridon will have a shorter trip, and stops at Barack Obama Blvd & Park Ave (Stop ID 0915) and Barack Obama Blvd & W San Carlos Ave (Stop ID 0902) will be served on all southbound trips.


Weekends: Trip times have been adjusted to connect to other regional transit, including the new Caltrain schedule for electric train service.

Summer Service (Jun 20, 2024 - Sep 11, 2024)

Summer Service starting June 20, 2024

Highlighted Service Changes:


River Front Transit Center

Several routes will depart from and/or arrive at a different location at River Front Transit Center. Highway 17 Express will depart and arrive at a new Area 4 on Front St north of Area 3; Area 4 is located in front of the Front St entrance to Trader Joe’s (this entrance to Trader Joe’s is closed). Routes 1, 3A, and 3B will have new departure and/or arrival locations at RFTC. New Route 11 will follow other UCSC routes, departing from Area 1 and arriving at Area 3.


Reimagine METRO – Phase 2


Route 1: 15 Minute Frequency and Return of Service to Soquel Ave

Route 1 will run every 15 minutes on weekdays from 5:30am to 9:15pm from Watsonville to Santa Cruz, and from 6:00am to 9:00pm from Santa Cruz to Watsonville. The route will serve Soquel Ave (instead of Water St) between River Front Transit Center and Morrissey Blvd, bringing back service to that commercial corridor. To provide faster trips, some stops will be discontinued where there are multiple stops close together.


All Day Weekday and Weekend 90X Express Service Between Watsonville and Santa Cruz

Route 90X Express service will be added to the mid-day and weekends; it will now run every 30 minutes from approximately 6am to 6pm on weekdays, and hourly on weekends.


Highway 17 Express – More Service, Including More Direct Santa Cruz – San Jose Trips

Trips have been added both on weekdays and weekends, resulting in trips around every 30 minutes during peak times. More trips go direct Santa Cruz – San Jose, providing faster trip options. Service later into the evening will allow for longer stays in Santa Cruz or the San Francisco Bay Area.


New Route 11 Replaces Route 3 UCSC Service

Due to frequent delays around UCSC, Route 3 Live Oak/Capitola Mall service has been separated from the UCSC service. Route 11 will replace the former Route 3 service along High St; it will run every 30 minutes and enter UCSC at the West Gate.


New Route 4W Provides Weekend Service to Costco, Harvey West Park, and Pogonip (from Harvey West Trail)

Route 4W will serve River St and the Harvey West loop, but will not serve Emeline.


School Term (“ST”) Service:


San Lorenzo Valley School District

Weekdays: The school term “ST” trips which have operated only when school is in session will now operate all weekdays other than METRO holidays. The afternoon trips which formerly departed from SLV HS will now start first at Scotts Valley Transit Center.

 



Route-specific Schedule Changes between Spring and Summer schedules - Routes not specifically mentioned below will continue to operate the same schedule as Spring 2024 Service. Riders are advised to review all of the route changes below, and then view the new schedules and maps to see the changes in detail.

Route 1 – Soquel/Cabrillo/Airport

See Route Schedule: 1

ROUTE CHANGE MORE FREQUENT SERVICE

Weekdays/Weekends: The route will serve Soquel Ave (instead of Water St) between River Front Transit Center and Morrissey Blvd, bringing back service to that commercial corridor. Route 1 will now depart River Front Transit Center from Area 1. Trips from Watsonville will start from WTC Lane 1 and arrive at River Front Area 2. To provide faster trips, some stops will be discontinued where there are multiple stops close together.


Weekdays: Will run every 15 minutes from 5:30am to 9:15pm from Watsonville to Santa Cruz, and from 6:00am to 9:00pm from Santa Cruz to Watsonville.


Weekends: Will run every 15 minutes from 6:00am to 8:45pm from Watsonville to Santa Cruz, and from 7:00am to 9:00pm from Santa Cruz to Watsonville.

Route 2 – Capitola/Cabrillo/Main

See Route Schedule: 2

ADDITIONAL EVENING SERVICE


Weekdays: Trip departure times have been adjusted: from Santa Cruz and from Watsonville, trips will depart at :25 and :55 past the hour. Two late evening trips have been added from Watsonville to Santa Cruz.

Weekends: Trip departure times have been adjusted: from Santa Cruz and from Watsonville, trips will depart at :25 and :55 past the hour, with a few exceptions in the early morning and late evening.

Route 3A –Capitola Mall/Live Oak via East Cliff

See Route Schedule: 3A

ROUTE CHANGE


Weekdays/Weekends: Route 3A will no longer serve UCSC. Route 11 will serve High St to UCSC. Returning to Capitola Mall, the route will continue on 38th Ave to Capitola Road instead of turning right on Brommer St to 41st Ave. Departure and arrival times have been adjusted along the route.

Route 3B –Capitola Mall/Live Oak via 17th/Brommer

See Route Schedule: 3B

ROUTE CHANGE


Weekdays/Weekends: Route 3B will no longer serve UCSC. Route 11 will serve High St to UCSC. Returning to Capitola Mall, the route will continue on 38th Ave to Capitola Road instead of turning right on Brommer St to 41st Ave. Departure and arrival times have been adjusted along the route.

Route 4 – River/Harvey West/Emeline

See Route Schedule: 4

ROUTE CHANGE


Weekdays: The route will no longer loop around the Harvey West area twice per trip. The first three morning trips will serve River St to Metro Admin, then the Harvey West loop, then Emeline, and return to River Front Transit Center via Hwy 1 and River St. The remainder of the day, the route will go River St to Hwy 1 to Emeline, then Metro Admin, Harvey West, and return to River Front Transit Center on River St. Departure times from River Front Transit Center have changed.

Route 4W – River/Harvey West Weekend

See Route Schedule: 4W

NEW ROUTE


Weekends: Route 4W will serve River St and the Harvey West loop but will not serve Emeline.

Route 11 – River/Harvey West Weekend

See Route Schedule: 11

NEW ROUTE

 

Weekdays/Weekends: Route 11 will replace the former Route 3 service along High St; it will run every 30 minutes and enter UCSC at the West Gate. Returning from UCSC, the route will enter downtown using Mission St to Water St, to River St South and end at Area 3 with the other UCSC routes. The route will begin at Area 1 with the other UCSC routes.

Route 18 – UCSC via Main Gate – Mission

See Route Schedule: 18

Weekdays/Weekends: Departure and arrival times have been adjusted along the route.

Route 19 – UCSC via West Gate – Bay

See Route Schedule: 19

Weekdays/Weekends: Departure and arrival times have been adjusted along the route.

Route 20 – UCSC via Main Gate – Delaware

See Route Schedule: 20

Weekdays/Weekends: Departure and arrival times have been adjusted along the route.

Route 35 – Highway 9/Scotts Valley

See Route Schedule: 35

ADDITIONAL SERVICE


Weekdays: Afternoon routes serving San Lorenzo Valley schools will operate all weekdays (excluding Metro holidays) – not just when school is in session. Those trips will start at Scotts Valley Transit Center instead of SLV High School, but will continue to pull into the High School stop.

Route 40 – Highway 1 – Davenport

See Route Schedule: 40

ADDITIONAL SERVICE


Weekdays/Weekends: Trips have been added to provide direct Santa Cruz – Davenport service, replacing Route 42 service.

Route 41 – Empire Grade – Bonny Doon

See Route Schedule: 41

ADDITIONAL SERVICE


Weekdays/Weekends: Trips have been added to provide direct Santa Cruz – Bonny Doon service, replacing Route 42 service.

Route 42 – Davenport/Bonny Doon

ROUTE DISCONTINUED


Weekdays/Weekends: Route 42 has been discontinued. Those trips have been replaced by additional Route 40 and Route 41 trips to provide more direct trips between Santa Cruz and Davenport, and Santa Cruz and Bonny Doon.

Route 55 – Capitola/Rio Del Mar/La Selva

See Route Schedule: 55

ROUTE CHANGE


Weekdays/Weekends: Due to the closure of the Capitola Ave Highway 1 overcrossing, the route has been changed: from Capitola Ave & Bay Ave, the route will use Bay Ave and Porter St to Soquel Dr in the Soquel village. New stops have been added on Capitola Ave near Hill St, and Porter & Walnut near Soquel Elementary.

Route 78 – Ohlone/Watsonville Hospital

See Route Schedule: 78

ROUTE CHANGE


Weekdays/Weekends: From the South County Government Service Center on Westridge Dr, the route will go right on Harkins Slough Rd, left on Ohlone Parkway, and left on Main St, then continue its normal route to Freedom Centre. Returning from Main St, the route will go right on Ohlone Parkway, right on Harkins Slough Rd, left on Westridge, then continue its normal route back to Watsonville Transit Center.

Route 90X – Watsonville – Santa Cruz Express

See Route Schedule: 90X

NEW MID-DAY AND WEEKEND SERVICE


Weekdays: Mid-day service has been added: from Watsonville to Santa Cruz, the route will now run every 30 minutes from 5:40am – 5:40pm; from Santa Cruz to Watsonville, the route will now run every 30 minutes from 6:10am – 5:40pm.

Weekends: Weekend service has been added: the route will now run hourly from 6:40am – 6:40pm in both directions.

Highway 17 Express

See Route Schedule: 17

MORE FREQUENT SERVICE, MORE DIRECT TRIPS, AND ADDITIONAL EVENING TRIPS


Weekdays: Six round trips have been added, providing service approximately every 30-45 minutes at peak hours. More direct Santa Cruz – San Jose trips have been added. Service now runs later into the evening, with the last trip departing from Santa Cruz at 10:00pm, and from San Jose at 11:10pm.

Weekends: Seven round trips have been added, providing service approximately every 30-45 minutes at peak hours. More direct Santa Cruz – San Jose trips have been added. Service now runs later into the evening, with the last trip departing from Santa Cruz at 9:43pm, and from San Jose at 11:15pm.

Service Alerts Service Alerts

None at this time.

General Announcements General Announcements

None at this time.

Public Hearings Public Hearings

None at this time.