Santa Cruz METRO's Rapid Corridor Project

Santa Cruz METRO is working with the community to identify solutions aimed at making transit faster, more reliable, and easier to access between the cities of Watsonville and Santa Cruz. One of the solutions identified is to replace the three bus routes (69A, 69W, and 71) that travel between Watsonville and Santa Cruz with two new Rapid routes. These Rapid routes would reduce the bus travel time between Watsonville and Santa Cruz by up to 40% through a combination of transit priority improvements and stop changes. The project would also increase the desirability of transit by making stops more comfortable and easier to access.

Survey Closes Thursday, October 26th, 2023

Round 1 Community Input Identified the Need for:

Faster and More Reliable Buses

Shorter Trip Times

Increased Frequency

Improved Bus Stop Amenities

Shelters and Benches at Every Stop

Improved Mobile Applications and Information

Safer Access to Bus Stops

Expanded Bus Service (Bus Goes More Places)

Increased Crosswalks and Sidewalks

Proposed Rapid Corridor Improvement Types

See fact sheets below for more explanation and images of each of the proposed improvement types

Relocate, add, and remove stops to achieve a 1/3-mile stop spacing. Place stops to improve stop accessibility and safety.

  • Relocates/adds/removes stops to lower overall trip time and provide better bus stop coverage.
  • Removes closely spaced or low ridership stops to reduce time at stops and
  • Increases spacing between stops to lower overall trip time.

Install additional bus stop amenities, such as shelters, benches, and lighting, to improve comfort and safety of riders.

  • Installs additional bus stop amenities to improve the comfort and safety of riders.
  • Amenities may include bus shelters, benches, pedestrian-scale lighting, trash cans, wayfinding, branding, transit information signage, bike racks, and sidewalk improvements.

Install bus bulbs and transit islands to allows buses to stop in-lane, removing the need to pull out of traffic to the curb and avoiding the need to wait for a gap in traffic to depart from the bus stop. Where stops are adjacent to bike lanes and space allows, provide a transit island to allow the bikes to travel behind the stop, eliminating bus-bike conflicts

  • Extends the curb into the roadway, closer to the traffic lane, so buses are not delayed by traffic when departing the bus stop.
  • Provides a transit waiting area separate from the sidewalk and additional space for transit amenities.
  • Transit Islands allow for a protected bike lane which eliminates conflict between bikes and buses at stops.


Technologies used to reduce transit vehicle delays at signalized intersections. Examples include holding lights green for a few seconds, if needed to allow a bus to pass through before the light turns red, and turning the light green a few seconds earlier to reduce the wait time at red lights.

  • Technologies used to reduce transit vehicle delays at signalized intersections.
  • Examples include holding lights green for a few seconds until the bus can pass through to reduce its wait time

Install Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs), Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons (PHBs), and high-visibility crosswalks to increase yielding of vehicles to pedestrians and enhance pedestrian safety around bus stops.

A queue jump lane is a travel lane at traffic signals that is specially marked or signed for transit vehicles and allows buses to get ahead of the traffic queue at the signal.

  • Modifies lane geometry and signal operations to provide transit priority treatments.

Bus-only lanes and shared bus/bike lanes are lanes restricted for use by buses and bikes only and are used to separate buses and bikes from traffic congestion.

Modify lane and intersection geometry and signal operations to optimize transit movements.

  • Reconfigures Water Street/Soquel Avenue/Morrissey Boulevard intersection to optimize transit movements.
  • Installs bus and bike lanes on Front Street and River Street.
  • Modifies lane geometry and signal operations to provide transit priority treatments on westbound Soquel Drive approaching Porter Street and Main Street.
  • Installs traffic signal and provides transit signal priority at the intersection of Lincoln Street and Freedom Boulevard to accommodate bus turns. 

Santa Cruz Metro Rapid Corridors Project Virtual Public Meeting

Virtual Public Meeting Presentations

12
October
2023

Virtual Public Meeting / Reunión pública virtual

6:00 - 7:30 pm

Zoom Link: https://kimley-horn.zoom.us/j/...

Enlace de Zoom: https://kimley-horn.zoom.us/j/...


Project Factsheet Library

Bus Bulbs & Transit Islands
Enhanced Bus Stop Amenities
Relocation & Consolidation of Rapid Bus Stops
Transit Signal Priority (TSP)
Pedestrian Crossings
Downtown Santa Cruz Front Street & River Street Transit Lane
Water, Soquel & Morrissey Intersection Improvements
Soquel Queue Jumps
Freedom Boulevard & Lincoln Street Traffic Signal

Biblioteca de hojas informativas del proyecto

Salientes en Las Paradas de autobús e Islas Para el Transporte Público
Servicios Mejorados en La Parada de Autobús
Reubicación/ Consolidación de Paradas de Autobuses Rápidos
Prioridad en Los Semáforos (tsp)
Cruces Peatonales
Carril Adicional en La Intersección
Carril de Transporte Público en Front Street y River Street, en el Centro de Santa Cruz
Mejoras en la Intersección de Water, Soquel, Morrissey
Carriles Adicionales en la Intersección de Soquel
Semáforo en Freedom Boulevard y Lincoln Street

Engagement Pop-Ups

29
September
2023

Pop-up #1: Downtown Santa Cruz & Capitola Mall

9
October
2023

Pop-up #4: Watsonville Transit Center

2
October
2023

Pop-up #2: Cabrillo College

10
October
2023

Pop-up #5: Watsonville Transit Center & Downtown Santa Cruz Transit Center

3
October
2023

Pop-up #3: Watsonville

Project Implementation Process

Phase in Progress
Current Phase

Identify Needs and Develop Solutions

Future Phase

Pursue Grant Funding

Future Phase

Engineering, Environmental, and Approvals

Future Phase

Permitting & Construction

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