About Metro Bus Service For UC Santa Cruz

Through an agreement between the University and the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District students that display a valid UCSC ID card ride Metro buses fare-free*. Faculty, staff and other eligible UC affiliates may purchase a Metro bus pass through TAPS to ride Metro buses. All Metro routes are wheelchair accessible.

*Metro service for students is funded through the Student Transit Fee. Showing a valid UCSC Student I.D. Card provides students unlimited rides on Santa Cruz Metro buses. Student ID cards are issued through the ID Card Services office located on the first floor of the Bay Tree Bookstore building in between the Digital Copy Center and the Express Store. Contact ID Card Services by calling 831-459-2990 or idcards@ucsc.edu

A valid quarter sticker is necessary when showing a UCSC Student ID Card to ride Metro buses; stickers are available each quarter at your college office or board of study.

TAPS provides temporary bus passes to each college at the start of Fall and Winter quarters for new students that have not obtained their Student ID Card; new students receive temporary bus passes in their college orientation packets.

About Metro Bus Routes and Service to Campus

University route Metro buses serve the campus every five to eight minutes on academic days, and three to four times an hour on weekends and during summer and quarter breaks. Metro buses run both directions through campus. Even numbered routes enter campus through the east gate (main entrance) and travel in a counter–clockwise direction on campus. Odd numbered routes enter through the west gate and travel in a clockwise direction. Routes signs on campus bus shelters identify where to wait for each route.

Routes that serve the campus during Fall, Winter and Spring quarter include routes 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20 and 27X; get schedules for these routes.

Routes that serve the campus during Summer include routes 10, 16, 19, and 20; get schedules for these routes.

Special supplemental Route 15 service has been added during Summer Session, Monday through Thursday, from June 23 to August 28, 2008. Get a printable schedule for this service.

Metro Night Owl Late-Night Bus Service

Santa Cruz Metro provides late–night bus service to campus during fall, winter and spring quarters. Students show a valid UCSC Student I.D.card to ride Metro Night Owl buses; UCSC faculty and staff show a UCSC Metro bus pass; others pay the $1.50 one–way cash fare.

• On Friday and Saturday nights buses operate on the 16 University Laurel Street route until 2:25 a.m. and on the 19 University Lower Bay route until 2:55 a.m.

• Sunday through Thursday nights buses operate on the 16 University Laurel Street route until 2:00 a.m.

• From certain areas of town you may also get a ride by using the dial–a–ride option. Dial–a–ride service areas include downtown Santa Cruz, River Street locations, the Boardwalk area, West Santa Cruz locations, and the area between Mission Street and campus. Call Metro at 831–426–6738 to request dial–a–ride service.