Friends of Santa Cruz Metro says it has gathered enough signatures to submit its citizens’ initiative to fund the transit agency’s service expansion. The group submitted the signatures to the county clerk’s office Tuesday. If an adequate number of signatures are verified, the county board of supervisors will move at an upcoming meeting to place it on a ballot, though perhaps not until 2028.
Santa Cruz Metro
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz Metro passes on November sales tax measure, bets on citizen initiative instead
The Santa Cruz Metro board of directors decided against advancing its own resolution to place a half-cent sales tax measure on the November ballot, citing cost concerns and little time to build and promote an effective campaign. The board will instead throw support behind the ongoing citizen’s initiative effort to place its own measure on a ballot by 2028.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Carmageddon: Metro board to hold public hearing for own sales tax measure for November ballot, separate from citizens’ initiative
To pursue as many potential paths to a local funding source as possible, the Santa Cruz Metro board discussed moving to put a half-cent sales tax on the November ballot on its own accord, while Friends of Santa Cruz Metro continues its push to gather enough signatures for a citizens’ initiative ballot measure. If the board does decide to put a sales tax on the November ballot, it will require a two-thirds majority.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
As state grants dry up, future of Santa Cruz Metro’s popular ‘Youth Cruz Free’ program hinges on a sales tax push
Santa Cruz Metro advocates are continuing their push for signatures to get a sales tax ballot measure before county voters in order to secure a local funding source to maintain Metro’s major service increases over the past three years. One program in jeopardy without local funding is Youth Cruz Free, offering free rides to K-12 students, which has shown to be a success among local students and their families.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Santa Cruz County finally built a bus system people want to ride. Now what?
Volunteers have already gathered roughly 7,000 signatures to qualify a ballot measure aimed at protecting and expanding Santa Cruz Metro service, write elected officials Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson, Manu Koenig and Melinda Orbach. Pushing back against recent claims that the campaign is falling short, the three argue the volunteer-driven effort remains on pace to qualify for either a special election or the March 2028 ballot. They say the signature drive reflects growing public support for transit as ridership surges across Santa Cruz County. Without new funding, however, they warn that Metro could face severe service cuts that would undermine affordability, mobility and the county’s future.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Friends of Santa Cruz Metro unlikely to collect enough signatures for ballot measure with deadline a week away
With less than a week to go, Friends of Santa Cruz Metro expects it will not be able to gather the signatures needed to get its proposal for a half-cent sales tax on this November’s ballot.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Carmageddon: Sales tax to prevent major cuts to Santa Cruz Metro aimed for November ballot
Supporters of Santa Cruz Metro have begun gathering signatures to get a sales tax on the November ballot by way of a citizens’ initiative, in order to lower the threshold for the number of votes needed to pass. Without local funding, the county transit agency faces potentially major cuts to its personnel and level of service.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Letter to the editor: Help us recognize Metro employees
In a letter to the editor, a Santa Cruz Metro board member urges residents to share messages of appreciation for the county transit agency’s employees.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz Metro hosts ‘Stuff the Bus’ food drive Dec. 3
The Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District’s annual Stuff the Bus Food Drive will return for another year to support local families facing food insecurity during the holidays.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz Metro ridership campaign video wins statewide award
A video promoting Santa Cruz Metro’s “One Ride at a Time” campaign, which showcased the agency’s efforts to support environmentally sustainable transit, won the California Association of Public Information Officials’ 2025 STAR Award for Best Promotion of a Public Agency.
