After a winter setback, Santa Cruz Metro’s plan to boost service and double ridership is fully underway, with some new hydrogen fuel-cell buses hitting the road. Now, the transit agency will have to find money to sustain it in future years – likely in the form of a sales tax ballot measure in 2026.
Santa Cruz Metro
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz Metro offers free fares next Wednesday for California Clean Air Day
Santa Cruz Metro is again participating in California Clean Air Day by offering free fares countywide, including trips on the Highway 17 Express and ParaCruz, on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Santa Cruz Metro CEO appointed to board of public transportation nonprofit
Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District CEO Corey Aldridge has been appointed to the board of directors of the American Public Transportation Association, the agency announced in a news release.
Posted inLatest News
Metro celebrates Earth Day with free rides countywide, including Highway 17 Express
On Tuesday, April 22, Santa Cuz Metro will offer free fares for all riders across Santa Cruz County in celebration of Earth Day.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: When will Santa Cruz Metro’s new hydrogen buses be road-ready?
The 53 new hydrogen-fuel cell buses will slowly trickle in to Santa Cruz Metro throughout the year, but each must go through a testing process before it is ready to hit the road. The agency is also working out plans for fueling stations and maintenance facility upgrades necessary for the new vehicles.
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Reimagine Metro hits speed bump due to aging buses, but expansion plans on tap for fall, CEO says
The major service changes to Santa Cruz Metro are still doable, said CEO Corey Aldridge, even if few of the transit agency’s new hydrogen buses are road-ready. Additional maintenance staff and shifts will help turnaround on the current aging fleet’s repairs, and Metro is confident it can complete its service changes by September.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Santa Cruz Metro and I owe Lookout readers and Metro riders an apology
The exciting, new transportation services planned by Santa Cruz Metro are not happening, at least not yet, writes Lookout politics columnist Mike Rotkin. The plans included 15-minute service time on major routes, bus-priority traffic signals and more. But the poor state of the current fleet makes the timeline impossible until at least summer, when 53 hydrogen-fueled buses Metro purchased in September 2023 are due to arrive. That is reduced from the planned 57, due to costs. Metro apologized for the delay at a December meeting of the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission meeting, but Rotkin thinks the board, of which he is a member, should have seen this problem coming and asked better questions.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz Metro fares are free Wednesday for Clean Air Day
The Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District will participate in California Clean Air Day by offering free fares throughout Santa Cruz County, including trips on the Highway 17 Express and ParaCruz, on Wednesday, Oct. 2.
Posted inLatest News
Metro offers free rides, ticket discounts to Santa Cruz County Fair
The Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District will offer free Metro fares and discounted tickets to the Santa Cruz County Fair at the Watsonville Fairgrounds Sept. 11-15.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: Santa Cruz Metro hits hiring goal; changes aimed at doubling ridership will be complete by end of year
Santa Cruz Metro’s sweeping system changes are heading toward completion, with final pieces coming in September and December. The agency has now reached a goal to increase its total number of drivers from 150 to 235.
