Santa Cruz METRO

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PLEASE NOTE: UCSC student ID cards, UCSC employee Metro bus passes, and UCSC Quarterly bus passes are not accepted on Highway 17 Express buses. Passes for the Highway 17 Express buses can be purchased online, at the station, or through the Santa Cruz METRO Splash Pass app (iOS, Android)

Student ID Cards for Metro Bus Use

Showing a valid UCSC Student ID card provides students with unlimited rides on Santa Cruz Metro buses. Metro service for students is funded through the Student Transit Fee.

Student ID cards are issued through the ID Card Services office located on the first floor of the Bay Tree Bookstore building near the Express Store. Contact ID Card Services by calling (831) 459-2990 or email idcards@ucsc.edu.

Summer stickers are issued through the Summer Session office located at 140 Hahn Student Services. Contact the Summer Session office by calling (831) 459-5373 or email summers@ucsc.edu.

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

Employee Bus Passes

Employees may elect to purchase a subsidized Santa Cruz METRO bus pass through TAPS:

Annual Bus Passes

$192 per year (7/1 through 6/30; amount will be prorated based on purchase date)
$16 per month for payroll deduction

PLEASE NOTE: When separating from the university for any reason, payroll-deducted employee bus passes that are not returned are subject to incurring a payroll deduction for the remaining cost of the bus pass. Bus passes MUST be returned to stop deductions.

Quarterly Bus Passes

$48 per quarter
Only for employees with limited appointments, or grad students with summer employment
Must be paid in full (no payroll deduction

Purchasing a bus pass

Log in to ucsc.aimsparking.com with your Cruz ID and Gold password.
Update your contact information if prompted.
From your dashboard, select “Order Permits.”
Select the group “Group 11: Bus Passes.”
- Select “25-26 Annual Employee Bus Pass” for annual passes, or
- Select “25-26 Quaterly Employee Bus Pass (<Quarter>)” for the quarter you would like to purchase
Select “Pick up in Office” or “Mail”
Select “Add Permit to Cart.”
Add contact information if prompted.
Complete verification step if prompted.
Select payment type.
- For annual bus passes, selecting “Credit Card” will adjust the amount to the full cost of the bus pass, and selecting “Payroll Deduction” will adjust the amount to $16.
Fill in the requested payment information and select “Checkout.”
A copy of your receipt will be sent to your email address on file. Please keep this for your records.

If you selected “Pick up in Office,” come to the TAPS Sales Office to pick up your bus pass. No refunds will be given if bus passes are not picked up at the TAPS Sales Office. Lost passes will be subject to a replacement fee.

The employee bus pass fee provides funding to assist with the cost of billings that TAPS pays to the SCMTD to accommodate UCSC employee transit ridership.

Spouse and Dependent Bus Passes

TAPS offers a Quarterly Metro Bus Pass ($102 per quarter) for spouses, domestic partners, and eligible family members of UCSC students or employees who reside on campus (includes Laureate Court Apartments). Concurrent Enrollment students may also be eligible. Spouse and Dependent Quarterly Bus Passes must be purchased in person at the TAPS Sales Office.

Highway 17 Express Vouchers

Round-trip Vouchers

Students attending classes or grad students teaching classes at the Silicon Valley Campus may request up to three (3) round-trip vouchers for the METRO Highway 17 Express per quarter.

Eligibility

Must be enrolled at or teaching classes at the Silicon Valley Campus in the current quarter
Must provide documentation to verify enrollment or teaching appointment
Passes may be picked up at the TAPS Sales Office or mailed
Vouchers cannot be replaced if lost or stolen (including those sent via mail)

Request Round Trip Vouchers

One-way Vouchers for Financial Hardship

Students experiencing financial hardship may request two (2) One-way vouchers for METRO’s Highway 17 Express bus each quarter to reach Scott’s Valley and San Jose, or connect to other transportation from Diridon Station in San Jose.

Eligibility will be determined by the Financial Aid Office. Please fill out the application to determine your eligibility.

Program Guidelines

Vouchers should be treated like cash. They cannot be replaced if lost or stolen.
Each voucher is good for one one-way trip on the Highway 17 Express. They can be used on different days.
Vouchers must be picked up in person at the TAPS Sales Office

Request One-way Vouchers

Purchasing Passes from Santa Cruz METRO

You can purchase passes for METRO buses online or in the Splash Pass App

Available Local Passes

1-Ride Fare: $2.00
15-ride Pass: $27.00
Day Pass: $6.00
3-day Pass: $15.00
7-day pass: $32.00
31-day Pass: $65.00

Available Highway 17 Express Passes

1-ride Fare: $7.00
Day Pass: $14.00
15-ride Pass; $94.50
31_day Pass: $145.00