Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District


Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District, 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 and San Jose Amtrak Station, thanks to a partnership with Amtrak California, , and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.

History

Santa Cruz METRO was created in 1968 as a special district within Santa Cruz County with taxing authority. 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.
In 2011 fixed route service was severely cut then restored mere months later.
In 2012 Santa Cruz METRO received grant funding to construct the Judy K. Souza Operations Facility.

Year Round Routes

Routes operating only during UCSC terms

Fleet NumbersYearManufacturerModel NumberEngineTransmissionNotes
811–8161971GMCTDH-3301Toro-Flow II DH478
817–8181973GMCTDH-3302ADetroit Diesel 6v53Alison AT 540?
  • Renumbered to 824–825
819–8231973GMCT6H-4523NDetroit Diesel 6v71Allison VH-9
826–8271974GMCT8H-5307ADetroit Diesel 8v71Allison VS-2-8
  • Delivered with air-conditioning units, but never used.
    • 828–8331974–75GMCT6H-4523NDetroit Diesel 6v71Allison VH-9
    834–8361975GMCT6H-4523NDetroit Diesel 6v71Allison VH-9
    837–8391975GMCT8H-5307ADetroit Diesel 8v71Allison VS-2-8
  • Also delivered with air-conditioning units, but never used.
    • 840–8451976GMCT6H-4523NDetroit Diesel 6v71Allison VH-9
    846–8511977AMG9635B-8Detroit Diesel 8v71Allison V730
  • 848–850 To United Airlines
    • 858–8801979Grumman Flxible870 Detroit Diesel 8v71Allison V730
    881–8861974Highway ProductsTC-31Dodge 440Propane
    • These buses used the Twin Coach name plate
    8004–80051974Highway ProductsTC-31Dodge 440Propane
    • Also used the Twin Coach name plate
    8050–80641981GilligPhantom Detroit Diesel 6v92TAllison HT740
    80651982GilligPhantom Detroit Diesel 6v92TAllison HT740
    8066–80681984GilligPhantom Detroit Diesel 6v92Allison HT747
    8069–80741980Grumman Flxible870 Detroit Diesel 8v71Allison V730
  • Ex Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines 4700 Series
    • 8075–80991988New FlyerD35Detroit Diesel 6v92Allison V731
  • Re-powered to Detroit Diesel Series 50 Retired circa 2011
    • 8100–81071989New FlyerD40Detroit Diesel 6v92Allison V731
  • First buses designated for use on the HWY 17 Express
    • 81081981FlyerD901A Detroit Diesel 6v92Allison V730
  • Demo bus. Originally had a Cummins VTB 903 Engine
    • 8301-83081982GMC RTST8J 204Detroit Diesel 6v92Allison V730
  • Ex Golden Gate Transit buses purchased for the HWY 17 Express.
  • Original fleet numbers are unknown.
    • 9831–98401984GilligPhantom Cummins ISCAllison B400R
  • Ex-SamTrans 853, 856, 858, 866, 869, 871, 873, 877, 878, & 880.
  • Originally had Detroit Diesel 6V92TA and Allison HT-747.
    • 102002New FlyerC40SCummins 8.3L C-Gas Plus
  • This prototype was created from a 1998 C40 that had its section converted to suburban configuration.
    • 2201–22082002New FlyerC40LFCummins Westport C Gas PlusAllison B400R
    2301–23112003Orion05.501John Deer 6081HAllison 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
    • 2003Ford/GoshenGC-II