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Fares & passes

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Route(s): 19, 19B, 18, 18B

FY26 Spring Service Change, Route 19

Route 19 Spring Service (eff. 3/12/26): Weekdays: Will operate on separate Monday/Wednesday/Friday and Tuesday/Thursday schedules (like Route 16) to account for different class schedules/passing periods. The 7:00am departure from River Front Transit Center will be adjusted to 7:04am.

Route(s): 18, 18B, 19, 19B, 20

2026 Santa Cruz Mile Race

Due to The Santa Cruz Mile road race event running through downtown Santa Cruz from approximately 8:00 AM–11:00 AM on March 15, riders should expect bus delays and temporary route detours near Pacific Avenue and nearby streets. Please allow extra travel time. Download the Transit App for real-time information.

Route(s): 3B, 3A

FY26 Spring Service Change, Route 3B

Weekdays/Weekends: The timepoint for 7th Ave & Capitola Rd will be adjusted three minutes earlier for all outbound trips from River Front Transit Center.

Route(s): 34

FY26 Spring Service Change, Route 34

Route 34 Spring Service (eff. 3/12/26): Weekdays: The 2:40pm departure from Scotts Valley Transit Center will depart five minutes later at 2:45pm.

Route(s): 35X, 35

FY26 Spring Service Change, Route 35X

Route 35X Spring Service (eff. 3/12/26): Weekdays: The 3:16pm and 4:16pm departures from Scotts Valley Transit Center to Boulder Creek will depart three minutes later at 3:19pm and 4:19pm to allow riders coming from Scotts Valley Dr on Route 34 to transfer to Route 35X.

Route(s): 3A

Murray Bridge St Closure, eff. March 2025

Due to the ongoing Murray Street Bridge Seismic Retrofit Project, Route 3A is operating on adjusted routing in both directions. This routing is now reflected in METRO's standard schedules. Visit https://scmetro.org/seabrightshuttle for more information about the Seabright Shuttle. Service on Seabright Avenue will return when construction allows. Riders are encouraged to check current routing and stop locations on the Routes & Schedules page, use the Transit App for trip planning and real-time information and alerts, or visit rt.scmetro.org.

Route(s): 17

FY26 Spring Service Change, Route 17

Route 17 Spring Service (eff. 3/12/26): Weekdays: The 3:00pm, 4:15pm, and 5:35pm northbound departures from River Front Transit Center in Santa Cruz have been adjusted between 5 and 15 minutes earlier to improve connections to a new Amtrak Capitol Corridor schedule.

Route(s): 18, 18B, 19, 19B

FY26 Spring Service Change, Route 18

Route 18 Spring Service (eff. 3/12/26): Weekdays: Will operate on separate Monday/Wednesday/Friday & Tuesday/Thursday schedules (like Route 16) to account for different class schedules/passing periods.

Route(s): 35, 35X

FY26 Spring Service Change, Route 35B

Route 35B Spring Service (eff. 3/12/26): Weekends: Service to Big Basin Redwoods State Park will return for the Spring through Fall schedules. Some departure times from both Scotts Valley Transit Center and Big Basin State Park have been adjusted by up to 15 minutes to accommodate connections to/from the Highway 17 Express.

Fares
Transfers
Buy Tickets & Passes
Free Fare Programs

FARES

Local Service in Santa Cruz County

Adult (age 18 and over)

$2.00 Cash/1 Ride

Day Pass

$6

3-Day Pass

$15

7-Day Pass

$32

31-Day Pass

$65

15-Ride Pass

$27

Day, 3-Day, 7-Day, 31-Day Passes allow unlimited rides on local Santa Cruz County routes (excluding Amtrak/Highway 17 Express).

Carry exact change. Driver does not provide change for larger bills.

Amtrak/Highway 17 Express

Children and Adults (age 61 and under)

$7.00 Cash/1 Ride

Day Pass

$14

31-Day Pass

$145

15-Ride Pass

$94.50

Carry exact change. Driver’s do not provide change for larger bills.

Local Service in Santa Cruz County

Discount Fare (adults age 62 and over, people with disabilities)

$1.00 Cash/1 Ride

Day Pass

$3

3-Day Pass

$7.50

7-Day Pass

$16

31-Day Pass

$32

15-Ride Pass

$13.50

Day, 3-Day, 7-Day, 31-Day Passes allow unlimited rides on local Santa Cruz County routes (excluding Amtrak/Highway 17 Express).

Carry exact change. Driver does not provide change for larger bills.

View Discount Fare Eligibility & Apply

Amtrak/Highway 17 Express

Discount Fare (adults age 62 and over, people with disabilities)

$3.50 Cash/1 Ride

Carry exact change. Driver does not provide change for larger bills.

Local Service in Santa Cruz County

K-12 Students (Youth Cruz Free Pilot Program)

FREE on all routes within Santa Cruz County

Learn More

Local Service in Santa Cruz County

College Students

FREE on all routes within Santa Cruz County

Learn More

Must show student ID.

TRANSFERS

METRO Transfer Policy

  • Transfers are free between METRO buses for riders on all local routes.
  • If you are paying with cash or a pass, you must request a transfer from the bus operators when boarding.
  • Transfers will be available for two hours.
  • METRO Splash Pass fares are available for two hours in the mobile app.
  • Transfers from a local to a Highway 17 bus will require payment of an “upgrade fare” equal to the difference between a local and Highway 17 fare.
  • Clipper Cards are not honored on METRO buses.

Amtrak/Highway 17 Express Transfers

Day  & 31-Day Passes

  • Allow unlimited rides on all METRO routes and local VTA service

1-Ride and 15-Ride Passes

  • Are not honored on any VTA Service.

Amtrak through-tickets to or from Santa Cruz 

  • Are honored on the Highway 17 Express route.

VTA Light Rail Transfers 

  • Are issued by request only with Highway 17 Express Day Pass, Highway 17 Express Cruz Pass, or Cruz Cash cards.

Student ID Cards and Passes

  • Cabrillo College student ID cards, UCSC student ID cards, and other UCSC bus passes are not honored on the Amtrak/Highway 17 Express route.

Transfers to Other Transit Operators

Monterey Salinas Transit (MST)

MST will honor a free valid METRO transfer as payment for passengers boarding lines 28 and 29 at the Watsonville Transit Center from Lane 2. 

METRO will honor free valid MST transfers for one-way travel within the METRO service area as far as the Temporary Riverfront Transit Center in downtown Santa Cruz.

Buy Tickets and Passes

Pass and Ticket Vendor Locations

METRO passes and tickets can be purchased in-person at the Customer Service Windows at:

  • Temporary Riverfront Customer Experience Center
    603 Front St., downtown Santa Cruz
    (831) 425-8600
    Served by all routes except 72-79
  • Watsonville Transit Center
    475 Rodriguez St., Watsonville
    (831) 425-8600
    Served by routes 1, 2, 72-79, plus MST 28 & 29

The fastest way to purchase passes and tickets is by using METRO’s mobile ticketing app, the METRO Splash Pass, valid for all fixed-route trips. Download Splash Pass from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

METRO’s online store offers a selection of reloadable plastic CRUZ Cards and disposable paper METRO Passes for purchase on all fixed routes. Additionally, METRO offers ParaCruz Coupons for purchase for all paratransit riders. All passes and coupons are valid for purchase with a VISA or Mastercard.

TERMS & SHIPPING

  • There is an additional charge of $1.50 for postage & handling
  • Please allow 5 business days from the date the order is received by Metro Staff
  • All sales are final. Fares and passes/tickets are non-transferable, non-refundable, and non-exchangeable.
  • Santa Cruz METRO assumes no responsibility for lost, misused or stolen passes.
  • METRO will not replace lost or stolen passes
  • For further information, please read METRO’s SMART CARD POLICY
Online Store

Download and complete the Fixed-Route Mail Order Form to order tickets and passes by mail. Instructions are listed on the form.

Send all mail order requests and payment by check to:

Santa Cruz METRO

110 Vernon Street
ATTN: Customer Service
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Santa Cruz METRO is proud to support our community partners and businesses by offering bulk rate discounts on select fare products. Whether you’re purchasing for employees, clients, or a large group, we make it easy and cost-effective to buy in bulk. Discounts are available for 1-Day and 31-Day Adult passes, with savings starting at quantities as low as 12.

Eligible Pass Types & Discount Rates

1-Day Pass, Local Service, $6 adult

  • 100+ passes: 20%

31-Day Pass, Local Service, $65 adult

  • 12-50 passes: 10%
  • 51-100 passes: 15%
  • 101+ passes: 20%

All other fare types may be purchased in bulk quantities, too! Please note: Customer Service Booths only sell quantities up to 50 passes at any time.

*Discounts apply only to full-fare, adult passes. Other fare types do not currently qualify.*

How to Place a Bulk Order

  1. Email your request to: bulkorders@scmetro.org
    Include the following:
    • Your name, address, phone, email, and business/organization
    • Pass type(s) and quantity
    • Desired pickup date (Please allow at least 5 business days for processing. Smaller orders may be processed quicker.)
    • Preferred payment method (cash, check, or credit card)
  2. A METRO team member will respond with:
    • Confirmation of your order
    • Date of pickup
    • An invoice for any PO requirements you may have

Pickup & Payment Details

Pickup location:

METRO Customer Experience Center, 603 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA

*pickup from Watsonville Transit Center is available, if arranged at time of order.

Payment: Due at time of pickup (check, card, or cash)

Please do not pay from the digital invoice.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Certain bulk orders may be eligible for shipping, for an added fee. Please include this in your initial request for review, if desired.

Need fewer than 50 passes?

You may also purchase them in person at:

Santa Cruz METRO Customer Service (Santa Cruz & Watsonville booths)

Discounts on 31-Day passes (starting at 12 passes) apply in person, too!

Important Terms

  • All sales are final.
  • Fares and passes/tickets are non-transferable, non-refundable, and non-exchangeable.
  • Santa Cruz METRO is not responsible for lost, stolen, or misused passes.
  • For full policy details, visit our Terms & Conditions: https://scmtd.square.site/

Check Cashing Policy

  • We accept personal checks as payment for bus passes only.
  • We only accept personal checks at our Santa Cruz and Watsonville Transit Center Customer Service Windows.
  • Your check must be local to the METRO service area, including counties that are contiguous to Santa Cruz County.
  • You must also present a valid California Driver’s license or legal photo ID when writing a check.
  • There is a $15.00 service charge on all returned checks.
  • View METRO’s Check Cashing Policy here.

Credit Card Policy

  • Visa, Mastercard, and Discover are accepted for the purchase of bus passes only
  • Please have a legal photo ID available when using this method of payment

Free Fare Programs

Boy entering bus smiling

Youth Cruz Free
College student standing on bus holding hand strap smiling at the camera

COLLEGE STUDENTS
RIDE FREE
Woman wearing sunglasses entering the bus

FREE FARES FOR LEGALLY
BLIND RIDERS

Free Fare Days

To show our appreciation to our customers and community, we offer several free fare days throughout the year. On these special days, every METRO route and service is completely free. It’s our way of saying thank you for your commitment to cleaner, greener transportation for all.

2026 Free Fare Days  

  • Transit Equity Day Feb. 4, 2026
  • Earth Day April 22, 2026
  • Santa Cruz County Fair – TBD (September 2026) (Only Applies to Routes 79 & 79F servicing the Fairgrounds)
  • CA Clean Air Day, – TBD (October 2026)