College Students Ride Free

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Nearby Transit Routes

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Route(s): 2

Stop 1899 Relocation

Effective April 14, 2026, Stop 1899 at Water & N Branciforte (inbound to Santa Cruz) has been temporarily relocated due to nearby construction. The temporary stop is located further up the hill, before the intersection, at approximately 917 Water Street. Thank you for your patience.

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): All

2026 Earth Day

Santa Cruz METRO is celebrating Earth Day by offering free fares countywide on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Riders can take advantage of free METRO services across all fixed-route, ParaCruz, and Highway 17 Express buses. Join METRO in embracing green mobility and making a positive impact on our community's air quality and environmental health.

How It Works

Simply show the driver your college ID as you enter the bus. It’s that easy!

Students at UC Santa Cruz and Cabrillo College can ride METRO for free on any fixed-route bus serving Santa Cruz County.* This program is made possible thanks to cooperative agreements between METRO and the participating colleges.

*College Students Ride Free does not apply to Highway 17 Express service.