Partner's Corner: The Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District

The Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (Santa Cruz METRO), a mid-sized California system, provides upwards of 6 million rides per year on a budget of $36 million.  Like other California providers, Santa Cruz METRO has faced a “perfect storm” in recent years: the loss of $30 million in state transit funding, shrinkage of other funding sources, a decrease in sales tax revenue, and being forced to implement service cuts and fare increases that most severely impact our most vulnerable transit-dependent riders.

Santa Cruz METRO faced a potential 30% service cut in 2011 and an increase in fares and layoffs, all following a 10% service cut the previous year.  This bleak scenario was unacceptable to General Manager Les White or to the Board of Directors, all of whom took the role of METRO as the dedicated provider of transit service in this unique area seriously enough to consider all alternatives.  The final outcome was a combination of an 8% service cut, service reconfiguration, and a 50-cent fare increase which made the system’s fares on par with surrounding systems’ fares.

This year, an increase in transit-dedicated sales tax revenues and a one-time bump in State Transit Assistance funding may allow Santa Cruz METRO to restore the 8% service cut.  Working with social service agencies, members of the disabled community, various advisory councils, the regional transportation commission, and the regional planning agency, Santa Cruz METRO is hopeful that over the next few years, as the economy improves, we will be able to improve and expand service.

Santa Cruz METRO is excited to be working with TransForm and other transit advocates in Sacramento to identify and secure new sources of dedicated funding that will allow all transit providers in California to provide quality, affordable, accessible service.