Housing Authority Residential Pass Program

Available Now!

The Santa Cruz METRO and the Housing Authority of Santa Cruz County have partnered to give residents living in 19 Housing Authority properties free rides on METRO’s local fixed routes.

Ride METRO to work, doctor appointments, play and more for free! View our routes and schedules.

Signing Up is Easy!

1. Contact the Housing Authority Pass Administrator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (831) 454-5952
2. Download the METRO Splash Pass app on your phone. For details on METRO’s Splash Pass, visit scmetro.org/apps.
   • If you prefer, a METRO Cruz Card to tap on the farebox is available as an alternative.
3. Using Splash Pass, click the 3 bars in the upper right corner, click Profile, and sign up for an account. The email address used to sign up must match the email address provided to the Housing Authority Pass Administrator. Your monthly pass will be sent directly to your Splash Pass app.

* Highway 17 Express and ParaCruz not included

Download the Housing Authority Residential Pass Program flyer

Q: Who qualifies for the Housing Authority Residential Pass Program?

A: Adult residents of 19 specific properties managed by the Housing Authority. Please contact the Housing Authority Pass Administrator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (831) 454-5952 to see if you qualify. A reminder - K-12 students may ride METRO local routes for free as part of the Youth Cruz Free program. Cabrillo College and UCSC students are eligible for passes through their school. Children who are not yet in school but are less than 48” in height may ride free with an adult who has a pass or pays a regular fare.

Q: When does the Housing Authority Residential Pass Program start and end?

A: The Housing Authority Residential Pass Program begins July 1, 2023, and will run as a one-year pilot program until June 30, 2024. After the term of the pilot program, the Housing Authority and METRO will review the success of the program to determine next steps.

Q: How can I view METRO’s routes and schedules?

A: METRO posts all system maps, routes, and schedules on our website at scmtd.com/routes. Additionally, METRO publishes our maps and schedules quarterly in our Rider’s Guide, Headways, available throughout the County and at METRO Transit Centers. A PDF version of Headways is also posted to scmtd.com.

Find other useful trip planning tips here.

Q: How can riders stay up to date with route alerts and schedule changes? Does METRO offer any real-time route alerts?

A: METRO keeps riders informed of route changes through several platforms:

• METRO Real-Time: METRO has launched Santa Cruz METRO Real-Time. METRO Real-Time has bus arrival predictions, a system map showing actual bus locations on the route, trip planner, and option to subscribe to service alerts.
• Schedule-by-Stop: Allows riders to search for any Location (Bus Stop or Transit Center) and view today's scheduled arrival at that location in complete detail.
• Agency Email Alerts: Subscribe to receive email alerts regarding agency announcements and general information, board of directors, and other upcoming agency events.
• METRO News Bulletins shows quarterly service changes and current posted service alerts.

Q: What rules should I follow to ride the bus?

A: For the safety of you, other riders, and our operators, METRO does ask all riders to follow our Code of Conduct Policy while onboard our vehicles, at Transit Centers, and while at a bus stop. Please visit scmtd.com/en/riders-guide/riding-tips for details. To view METRO’s complete Code of Conduct Policy, visit scmtd.com/Code-of-Conduct.

Q: What is METRO’s One Ride at a Time program and how can I participate?

A: Beginning in January 2023, every ride on a METRO bus donates to our partners in protecting the environment, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and the Bay of Life Fund thanks to GO Santa Cruz. Make your impact today. 25 logged rides = $10 donation. To learn more and register, visit One Ride at a Time.

To participate, track your rides on GO Santa Cruz.

Q: Who should I contact if I have a question?

A: METRO’s Customer Service Department is here to assist you 7 days a week from 8AM – 5PM by phone at (831) 425-8600 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

To see additional FAQs,visit.

Reimagine METRO

Waves of change are coming! Santa Cruz METRO is reimagining bus routes and frequencies to better meet our community's needs. Our goals are to:

• Increase the amount of transit service
• Make transit more useful and attractive for many people’s trips
• Make transit more relevant to the community’s needs

The first wave of Reimagine METRO service changes was implemented in December 2023 with Phase 2 services changes beginning in March 2024. As of December 2024, METRO has rolled out 90% of the planned Reimagine METRO service. Thanks to our riders' support of the Reimagine METRO service changes:

• Ridership has increased 23% since the first wave was implemented in September 2023
• Specific segments in FY24 Q3 also witnessed substantial ridership growth, with UCSC, Cabrillo College, and K-12 ridership escalating by 27.1%, 26.8%, and 147.6%, respectively.
• Productivity in FY24 Q3, measured as riders per revenue hour, increased by 4% year over year.

Here is a brief overview of where we are and where we are headed.

Reimagine METRO Phase 2: The Waves of Change Are Bringing You More Buses & More Frequency

View METRO’s Winter Service 2024 System Map

September 2024

• Increased weekend service on Route 35 that matches weekday service levels.

June 2024

• The Wave Hits Route 1 every 15-minutes from 6AM - 9PM and will now serve Soquel Ave. instead of Water St.
• Routes 18 & 19 continue to provide service every 15-minutes.
• Hwy-17 Express will now operate every 30-minutes during peak periods.
• Route 90X will now operate every 30-minutes on weekdays and hourly on weekends (Temporarily Suspended Through September 2025).

March 2024

• More evening service. Routes 2, 3B and 73 will provide service until midnight.
• More express service. Route 90X will operate 6 morning trips and 6 evening trips, in both directions.
• New Route 78. New all-day service on West Beach Street, Ohlone Parkway, and to the new County Social Service offices at Westridge. This route will also serve Watsonville Community Hospital and Freedom Centre.

Reimagine METRO Phase 1: Straighter more direct routes.

December 2023 Improvements

• Higher frequency at UCSC. In September 2023, METRO introduced service every 15 minutes on Routes 18 and 19.
• Simpler and more direct service between Santa Cruz and Watsonville. Routes 1 and 2 now offer faster service from Watsonville to Santa Cruz, by both taking Highway 1 between Watsonville and Aptos. Route 90X provides added express service at peak hours.
• Simpler and more frequent service in Watsonville. Most Watsonville residents now live near a route that runs at least every 30 minutes on weekdays.
• East-west service in Santa Cruz. The introduction of Route 3 piloted a direct service between UCSC, Downtown Santa Cruz, and Live Oak. METRO will suspend the direct service in June 2024 until a layover facility is constructed at UCSC, which will allow buses to maintain better on time performance.
• More direct service between the San Lorenzo Valley and Santa Cruz. All trips on Route 35 now head directly to Downtown Santa Cruz. Emeline St is served by Route 4.

Final Reimagine METRO Phase 2 Improvements 

Changes planned for September 2025:

• Route 73: New routing and service increase in Capitola Village. Route 73 will now serve Capitola Village in both directions between Capitola Mall and Watsonville every hour, seven days a week, following the former 55 routing. That means more frequent service and extended hours in Capitola Village. 
• Route 55: New routing and service increase in Aptos/Seacliff/Rio Del Mar: Route 55 service now starts at Cabrillo College and runs to Aptos/Seacliff/Rio Del Mar every hour, seven days a week with service to Aptos Village in the inbound direction (towards Cabrillo College). Additionally, service will run to La Selva Beach every other hour, seven days a week. 
  • Route 55 will no longer serve Capitola Village. For service to Capitola Village, transfer to Route 73 at the Aptos Library (Stop ID 1849). For service from Capitola Village, transfer to Route 55 at Cabrillo College (Stop ID 1840).
• Highway 17: Additional weekday and weekend service. Highway 17 will now operate two trips per hour from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and 8:00 a.m to 8:00 p.m on weekends, with service until midnight seven days a week.
• Route 16 will be reintroduced, providing service every 30 minutes from downtown Santa Cruz to UCSC via Laurel and Bay.
• Route 90X: More weekday service to support your commute: Trips have been added in the evening to extend service through 7:00 to Watsonville, and 8:00 from Watsonville to Santa Cruz.
• Route 40 and 41: More weekend service connecting to Santa Cruz. Two trips have been added in the 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. hour.
• Route 18 and 19: More weekend service so you can get around town. Service will now run every 15 minutes for most of the day.
• Route 1: Additional evening trips. After 9:00pm, trips will operate every 30 minutes instead of hourly.

Major Service Increases

Santa Cruz METRO intends to increase service by over 40 percent through the Reimagine METRO service restoration and expansion plan, thanks to new funding and intensified operator recruitment. This will make it possible to improve frequencies and increase service in many places. The Reimagine METRO Network includes:

• Frequent service in east Santa Cruz, Live Oak, Soquel, Aptos and Watsonville.
• Saturday and Sunday frequencies that match weekdays on most routes, including Routes 1, 2, 3, 17, 20, 35, 75.
• More consistent service on Highway 17. More service from Santa Cruz to San Jose, every 30 minutes, every day.

View Phase 2 Report

Project Timeline

• March 2023 (Complete): Phase 1 Public Outreach and Existing Conditions
  • View the Public Forum Presentation
• May 2023 (Complete): Early Wins defined
• July 2023 (Complete): Alternatives Report
• July-August (Complete): Phase 1 Public Outreach:
• September 22 (Complete): Public Hearing Meeting
  • METRO Board approved Phase 1 of Reimagine METRO service changes, which are being implemented December 2023
• December 2023: Phase 1 Reimagine METRO begins with Winter Service Schedule
• February 2024(Complete) Public Review and Feedback on Phase 2 Plan
  • View Phase 2 Report
• March 2024 (Complete): Additional Phase 1 changes
• June 2024 – December 2024 (Complete): Additional service increases will be implemented based on public feedback on the Phase 2 Plan

Subscribe

At Santa Cruz METRO, we care about moving people. Part of that mission is providing accurate, timely information about your regional transportation provider. Please check back on this page for the news you need to help you plan your public transit trips, engage on transportation issues, and get involved!

To receive METRO alerts, please subscribe to our platforms:

1. Service Alerts: To receive customized route and stop specific alerts for your regular commute, subscribe at rt.scmetro.org. Available on desktop or mobile.)
2. Agency Info: To receive alerts on METRO Board of Director meetings, BOD agendas, public hearings, marketing campaigns, and the METRO newsletter, subscribe here.

Additionally, riders can use METRO’s text-by-stop feature, for predicted arrivals within 30-minutes, by texting “41411”. To use this feature text message:

“SCM XXXX” to 41411 (where XXXX is either a numeric stop ID, or transit center lane such as “scmc1” or “wtc2”) for predicted arrivals within 30 minutes.

METRO also supports several real-time platforms that enable riders to know exactly when the bus will arrive, whether there are disruptions to service, such as traffic incidents, and how full the bus is before it arrives

Travel with greater ease by taking advantage of real-time information that will help you make better trip decisions, using any platform you prefer:

• Transit App and other popular smartphone apps
• Google Maps and Apple Maps Trip Planners
• METRO Real-Time website, rt.scmetro.org
• SMS Text message“SCM XXXX” to 41411 (where XXXX is either a numeric stop ID, or transit center lane such as “scmc1” or “wtc2”) for predicted arrivals within 30 minutes

For additional information on METRO supported apps visit scmetro.org/apps or for general information visit scmetro.org.

We look forward to seeing you on the road!

METRO Celebrates Launch of ‘One Ride at a Time’ with Special Public Event

Event Held March 29, 2023 at the Exploration Center in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz County transportation, environmental and civic leaders gathered on March 29, 2023, to launch METRO’s One Ride at a Time (ORAT) campaign to the community, an innovative campaign to showcase the environmental benefits of transit, encourage bus ridership and protect Santa Cruz County’s extraordinary natural resources with every logged ride on a METRO bus donating to program partners in protecting the environment, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and the Bay of Life Fund.

The event, which was held at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center in downtown Santa Cruz, offered the public, press, environmental advocates and local leaders an opportunity to learn about and sign up for the program, view the beautifully wrapped ORAT buses, and hear from the organizations leading the effort. A public event was held from 2-4 p.m. followed by a private reception from 4-6 p.m.

Speakers included: Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson, Santa Cruz Councilmember and METRO Board Chair; Lisa Wooninck, Ph.D. Superintendent Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary; Michael Tree, METRO CEO/General Manager; Manu Koenig, County Supervisor and Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission Board Chair and METRO Board Member; Featured Campaign Photographer Frans Lanting and Writer Chris Eckstrom, Founders of the Bay of Life Fund; Ginaia Kelly, Chapter Director of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Foundation; and Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley.

One Ride at a Time is made possible by a partnership between METRO, Santa Cruz County Regional TransportationCommission (SCCRTC), Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Bay of Life Fund, and renowned photographer-writer team Frans Lanting and Chris Eckstrom.

To learn more about the event, see our event wrap up here.

To learn more on METRO’s One Ride at a Time campaign and register for the program, visit scmtd.com/onerideatatime