Schedule - Fall Service
17 - Highway 17 Express

Free Fare to the County Fair!

Santa Cruz METRO is offering free rides on fixed-route and ParaCruz services to the Santa Cruz County Fair, September 10–14, at the Watsonville Fairgrounds. Take Routes 79 or 79F from the Watsonville Transit Center. Wednesday through Friday, departures will run from 10:35am to 9:35pm. On Saturday and Sunday, departures will run from 8:35am to 9:35pm. Return trips from the Fairgrounds will depart hourly, on the hour. Riders may request a voucher from the operator upon arrival at the Fairgrounds for discounted admission. Plan your trip and track your bus in real time using the Transit App. For more information, visit https://scmetro.org/countyfair.

Fall Service Change eff. 9/11!

Route 17 Fall Service (eff. 9/11/25): Weekdays/Weekends: Passengers will be dropped off at River Front Area 2 (Soquel Ave & Front) for easier transfers to Area 1. Buses will continue to depart from Area 4 - Front (Trader Joe''s).

Highway 17 Express

ROUTE CHANGE     SCHEDULE CHANGE

Weekdays/Weekends: Passengers will be dropped off at River Front Area 2 (Soquel Ave & Front) for easier transfers to Area 1. Buses will continue to depart from Area 4 - Front (Trader Joe’s).
Weekdays: Two additional round trips per weekday will increase the total to 29 trips each way. Popular “Express” trips going direct between Santa Cruz and San Jose will increase from 10 to 16. Trips serving Scotts Valley will be reduced from 17 to 13, but four trips per day in each direction will operate exclusively between Scotts Valley Transit Center and San Jose, giving Scotts Valley riders better access to a seat than on trips that begin in Santa Cruz. These trips will also serve Scotts Valley Drive. Santa Cruz customers can access these trips via a timed transfer on Route 35X.