Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District

Santa Cruz METRO
	METRO and Greyhound terminal in downtown Santa Cruz
Headquarters	110 Vernon Street, ; Santa Cruz, CA
Service area	Santa Cruz County
Service type	bus service; paratransit; express bus service;
Stations	Amtrak – METRO Center/Pacific Station, 920 Pacific Ave., Santa CruzCoordinates: 36°58′15.3″N 122°01′29.8″W / 36.970917°N 122.024944°W
Daily ridership	18,900 (Q4 2019)
Website	scmtd.com

Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (SCMTD), or simply Santa Cruz METRO, provides bus service throughout Santa Cruz County, California.

Santa Cruz METRO also operates the Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach Highway 17 Express service between Santa Cruz (city) and San Jose Amtrak Station, thanks to a partnership with Amtrak California, Capitol Corridor, and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.

History[]

Highway 17 Express bus at San Jose Diridon

Santa Cruz METRO was created in 1968 as a special district within Santa Cruz County with taxing authority.^[2] Service was initially to the cities of Santa Cruz, Capitola and Live Oak. Santa Cruz METRO extended service to Watsonville, Scotts Valley and the San Lorenzo Valley in 1974.

In 1979, voters approved a measure to change the financing of Santa Cruz METRO from a property tax to a 1/2 cent sales tax.

The Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach Highway 17 Express service between Santa Cruz and San Jose started as an emergency bus service after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake closed Highway 17.

A strike in September 2005 lasted for 35 days and stranded up to 23,000 riders.^[3]

In 2011 fixed route service was severely cut then restored mere months later.^[4]

In 2012 Santa Cruz METRO received grant funding to construct the Judy K. Souza Operations Facility.^[5]

Year Round Routes[]

Route 4 – Harvey West/Emeline
Route 10 – UCSC via Main Gate - High
Route 15 - UCSC via West Gate - Laurel
Route 17 - Highway 17 Express
Route 18 – UCSC via Main Gate - Mission
Route 19 – UCSC via West Gate - Bay
Route 20 – UCSC via Main Gate - Delaware/Western
Route 22 - UCSC via Main Gate - Almar/Bay
Route 35/35 – Highway 9/Scotts Valley
Route 42 – Davenport/Bonny Doon
Route 55 – Cabrillo - Rio Del Mar
Route 66 – Live Oak/17th
Route 68 – Broadway/Portola
Route 69A/69W – Capitola/Cabrillo/Airport
Route 71 – Soquel/Freedom
Route 72 – Green Valley - Hospital
Route 72W – Green Valley - Corralitos
Route 74S – Pajaro Valley High School/Hospital
Route 75 – Green Valley - Wheelock
Route 79 – East Lake
Route WC - Watsonville Circulator
Route 91X – Cabrillo Express

A Santa Cruz METRO D60LF at the UCSC Colleges 9 & 10 bus stop. Behind it is a Loop bus operated by UCSC Transportation and Parking Services.

Routes operating only during UCSC terms[]

Route 15 – UCSC via Laurel West
Route 20D - UCSC via Delaware
Route 22 - UCSC/Coastal Science Campus

Discontinued Routes[]

Route 1 - University
Route 1B - University/Lower Bay
Route 1H - University/High
Route 1L - University/Laurel
Route 1W - University/Walnut
Route 1Y - University Shuttle
Route 2 - Western Drive
Route 3A - Mission/Delaware
Route 3B - Mission/Natural Bridges
Route 3C - Mission/Lighthouse
Route 4 - Harvey West
Route 5 - Delavega
Route 6 - Seabright
Route 7 - Beach
Route 7N - Beach Night
Route 8 - Emeline
Route 9 - Stroke Center
Route 11 - UC/Westside
Route 12 - UCSC/East Side Direct
Route 13 - UCSC via Walnut
Route 27X - UCSC Express
Route 30 - Graham/Scotts Valley
Route 31 - Scotts Valley via Highway 17
Route 33 - Lompico SLV/Felton Faire
Route 34 - South Felton
Route 36 - Valley/Santa Cruz Express
Route 51 - Soquel/Clares
Route 52 - Capitola/Soquel
Route 54 - Aptos/La Selva
Route 54A - Aptos
Route 56 - Depot Hill
Route 56 - La Selva
Route 57 - Capitola
Route 58 - Park Avenue
Route 60A/B - Soquel
Route 61 - Dominican
Route 62 - Dominican/17th
Route 63 - Dominican
Route 65 - Live Oak via 30th
Route 67 - Live Oak via East Cliff
Route 69 - 41st Avenue
Route 69C - Cabrillo
Route 69N - Cabrillo Night
Route 70 - Santa Cruz/Cabrillo
Route 73 - Airport/Buena Vista
Route 74 - Shady Oaks
Route 76 - Bay Village
Route 77 - Industrial
Route 80 - Westridge Drive
Route 81 - Capitola Mall/Watsonville
Route 88 - Armory Shuttle
Route 93 - Watsonville Express

Metro Bus Fleet[]

Current Fleet
Year	Manufacturer	Model Number	Engine	Transmission	Notes
1998	New Flyer		Detroit Series 50	Allison B400R	Most are retired
1998	New Flyer	D40LF	Detroit Series 50	Allison B400R	Most are retired
2010	New Flyer	C40LFR	Cummins Westport ISL G	Allison B400R	Used on the HWY 17 Express Suburban configuration with no rear door.
2012	New Flyer	C40LFR	Cummins Westport ISL G	Allison B400R	2011 Models
2013	New Flyer	XN35	Cummins Westport ISL G	AllisonB400R
2012	New Flyer		Cummins Westport ISL G	Allison B400R	Ex 1610-1612; Bought in 2018
2019	Gillig	CNG 40 (G27ND102N4)	Cummins Westport L9N	Alison B400R
2020	Gillig	CNG 40 (G27ND102N4)	Cummins Westport L9N	Alison B400R
2003	New Flyer		John Deere 6081H	Allison B400R	2002 Models. Formally had Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGR engines Originally diesel and then were Converted to CNG. Currently being retired.
2003	New Flyer	C40LF	John Deere 6081H	Allison B400R	2002 Models. Formally had Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGR engines Originally diesel and then converted to CNG. Currently being retired.
2002	New Flyer	D60LF	Cummins ISL	Allison B500R	Ex Santa Clara VTA 2316, 2318, 2322, 2333; Bought in December 2018. Entered service in early 2019
2006	New Flyer	C40LF	Cummins Westport C Gas Plus	Allison B400R
2008	New Flyer	C40LF	Cummins ISL G	Allison B400R	2801–2805 Used on Hwy 17 Express. Suburban Configurations with no rear door.
2014	Gillig	G30D102N4	Cummins ISB6.7		Ex Santa Clara VTA 4201-4010; Bought in December 2018 Entered Service in Early 2019 Used on the Hwy 17 Express

Retired Fleet:
Fleet Numbers	Year	Manufacturer	Model Number	Engine	Transmission	Notes
	1971	GMC		Toro-Flow II DH478
	1973	GMC		Detroit Diesel 6v53	Alison AT 540?	Renumbered to 824–825
	1973	GMC		Detroit Diesel 6v71	Allison VH-9
	1974	GMC	T8H-5307A	Detroit Diesel 8v71	Allison VS-2-8	Delivered with air-conditioning units, but never used.
	1974–75	GMC		Detroit Diesel 6v71	Allison VH-9
	1975	GMC		Detroit Diesel 6v71	Allison VH-9
	1975	GMC	T8H-5307A	Detroit Diesel 8v71	Allison VS-2-8	Also delivered with air-conditioning units, but never used.
	1976	GMC		Detroit Diesel 6v71	Allison VH-9
	1977	AMG	9635B-6	Detroit Diesel 6v71	Allison V730	848–850 To United Airlines
	1979	Grumman Flxible	870 (45102-8-1)	Detroit Diesel 8v71	Allison V730
	1974	Highway Products	TC-31	Dodge 440 Propane		These buses used the Twin Coach name plate
	1974	Highway Products	TC-31	Dodge 440 Propane		Also used the Twin Coach name plate
	1981	Gillig	Phantom (3596T)	Detroit Diesel 6v92T	Allison HT740
	1982	Gillig	Phantom (3596T)	Detroit Diesel 6v92T	Allison HT740
	1984	Gillig	Phantom (30TB96)	Detroit Diesel 6v92	Allison HT747
	1980	Grumman Flxible	870 (53102-8-1)	Detroit Diesel 8v71	Allison V730	Ex Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines 4700 Series
	1988	New Flyer		Detroit Diesel 6v92	Allison V731	Re-powered to Detroit Diesel Series 50 Retired circa 2011
	1989	New Flyer	D40	Detroit Diesel 6v92	Allison V731	First buses designated for use on the HWY 17 Express
	1981	Flyer		Detroit Diesel 6v92	Allison V730	Demo bus. Originally had a Cummins VTB 903 Engine
	1982	GMC	RTS T8J 204	Detroit Diesel 6v92	Allison V730	Ex Golden Gate Transit buses purchased for the HWY 17 Express. Original fleet numbers are unknown.
	1984	Gillig	Phantom (40TB966V92)	Cummins ISC	Allison B400R	Ex-SamTrans 853, 856, 858, 866, 869, 871, 873, 877, 878, & 880. Originally had Detroit Diesel 6V92TA and .
10	2002	New Flyer	C40S	Cummins 8.3L C-Gas Plus		This prototype was created from a 1998 C40 that had its section converted to suburban configuration.
	2002	New Flyer	C40LF	Cummins Westport C Gas Plus	Allison B400R
	2003	Orion	05.501	John Deere 6081H	Allison B400R	Last high floor buses purchased. Suburban configuration with no rear door. Used on the HWY 17 Express. Originally had Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGR. Converted to GNG Retired 2015-2019
	2003	Ford/Goshen

References[]

^ "Ridership Report - American Public Transportation Association" (PDF). Retrieved April 18, 2021.
^ "History of the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District". Santa Cruz Public Libraries. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
^ "Strikes halts Santa Cruz bus service, strands 23,000 riders". Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
^ "Just-enacted METRO route cuts may be revisited: Unexpected revenues may lead to restored services". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
^ "Final portion of METROBase pie to break ground Oct. 26". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Retrieved 2012-11-06.

External links[]

Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District
United Transportation Union Local 23 represents SCMTD bus operators.
Santa Cruz Metro routes and descriptions
Local 521 – Santa Cruz METRO SEIU

[apta-stats-1] "Ridership Report - American Public Transportation Association" (PDF). Retrieved April 18, 2021.

[2] "History of the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District". Santa Cruz Public Libraries. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-24.

[3] "Strikes halts Santa Cruz bus service, strands 23,000 riders". Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-06-24.

[4] "Just-enacted METRO route cuts may be revisited: Unexpected revenues may lead to restored services". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Retrieved 2012-11-06.

[5] "Final portion of METROBase pie to break ground Oct. 26". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Retrieved 2012-11-06.

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METRO and Greyhound terminal in downtown Santa Cruz
Headquarters	110 Vernon Street, Santa Cruz, CA
Service area	Santa Cruz County
Service type	bus service paratransit express bus service
Stations	Amtrak – METRO Center/Pacific Station, 920 Pacific Ave., Santa CruzCoordinates: 36°58′15.3″N 122°01′29.8″W / 36.970917°N 122.024944°W / 36.970917; -122.024944
Daily ridership	18,900 (Q4 2019)^[1]
Website	scmtd.com