METRO launches new grant-funded Watsonville route, featuring electric buses and free fares for one-year
Santa Cruz METRO announced that it has been awarded a $489,213 grant from the California Department of Transportation’s Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) to launch a new “circulator” route, providing services in a loop format, that exclusively serves stops in Watsonville.
The service will provide 16 daily round trips, seven days a week, 52 weeks out of the year. The route will be operated using zero-emission buses purchased in the LCTOP previous cycles.
What does LCTOP funding mean for Santa Cruz County?
LCTOP funding is designated for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve transportation for disadvantaged and low-income communities.
METRO will use the grant funds to deploy two new battery-electric buses in downtown Watsonville and offer free fares to the public to encourage ridership and promote public transportation through a one-year pilot program. The grant will be used to fund three bus operators for 12 months, providing regularly scheduled service for community members.
“The new Watsonville Circulator Route is designed to increase the number of transit passengers locally by providing more frequent service to desirable destinations in Watsonville between noon and 7:45 p.m. daily,” said METRO’s CEO and General Manager Alex Clifford.
The project will not only reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from fossil-fueled buses, but it will serve one of the lowest income communities in METRO’s service area.
— Alex Clifford, METRO’s CEO and General Manager
Connecting Watsonville
The route will connect the downtown transit center with primary retail and medical destinations in Watsonville. It will operate in a clockwise loop and a counterclockwise loop from Watsonville Transit Center, serving:
- Main Street
- Green Valley Road
- Freedom Centre
- Freedom Boulevard,
- and Lincoln Street , connecting commuters with existing local and intercity Bus Lines 69A, 69W, 71, 72/72W, 74S, 75, 79, and 91X.
Envisioned to become a critical link for our community, service benefits include:
- Improved public health by removing cars off the road and providing passengers with a competitive alternative that will help reduce pollution from single-occupant vehicles.
- Creation of a more sustainable transportation system that reduces vehicles mile traveled, greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion.
- Development of a more integrated and active transportation system that serves the community’s vulnerable populations.
METRO is committed to enhancing mobility for disadvantaged communities as well as reducing its environmental footprint by transitioning to zero-emission buses.
The Watsonville Circulator Route will expand transit service to new residential and commercial areas in Watsonville. This important step will accelerate the use of advanced technologies in heavy-duty vehicles to meet air quality, climate, and health goals.
Join the Ribbon Cutting event!
Event Parking
Parking at the event is limited. Below are options to carpool and an alternative parking location close to the Watsonville Transit Center.
Alternative Parking Near the Watsonville Transit Center:
Civic Plaza Parking Garage, 275 Main St, Watsonville, CA 95076. Map link here.
Parking is free for the first two hours. A METRO ParaCruz vehicle will be shuttling attendees to and from the event continuously starting at 10:30AM. Please meet the vehicle at the 2nd Street side of the parking garage building at the METRO bus stop, located near the garage elevator near Subway If you prefer to walk, the Watsonville Transit Center is 0.3 miles (5 minute walk) away.
About Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District
Established in 1968, Santa Cruz METRO provides fixed-route and Highway 17 commuter service throughout Santa Cruz County, with limited service connecting to Monterey Salinas Transit at our Watsonville Transit Center and Santa Clara County, transporting more than 5 million passenger trips a year.
METRO also operates ParaCruz paratransit service to Santa Cruz County, providing about 73,500 trips per year. METRO’s operating budget in FY21 is almost $55 million and is funded through a combination of farebox revenue, sales tax, and state and federal sources. Today it operates a fleet of 94 buses on at least 24 fixed-routes. For more information, visit www.scmtd.com.
