The METRO Pacific Station complex in the city of Santa Cruz is slated for demolition and redevelopment during the period February 2024 through February 2026. Current METRO operations at Pacific Station includes 10 active bus bays, 14 layover bus bays, a site-specific circulation system, and facilities for public/customer service interaction, operators, and security staff. METRO operates county-wide fixed-route and Highway 17 commuter service from its Santa Cruz Pacific Station complex with connections to Santa Clara County and Monterey Salinas Transit at METRO’s Watsonville Transit Center. METRO operates a fleet of 94 buses on at least 24 fixed routes and 32 paratransit vehicles.

Per the terms of the 2020 Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Santa Cruz (City) and METRO, the City is coordinating the development of a METRO Downtown Transit Center Interim Operations Plan (Plan). The Plan will design temporary traffic circulation patterns, determine associated traffic and sidewalk revisions, and identify locations for ancillary facilities to support METRO’s operations during the redevelopment of Pacific Station. Key elements include establishing a clockwise traffic flow around the area bounded by Soquel Ave., Front St., River St. and River St. South, the removal of the traffic island at the River St. South/Front St. intersection to facilitate METRO bus movements, general traffic restriping, and conversion of River St. South to one-way southbound. The Plan will subsequently be released for bid to construct the operational design elements so that the demolition and redevelopment of the METRO Pacific Station complex may proceed.

The METRO Interim Downtown Transit Center Operations plan will utilize curbside space on Soquel Ave., Front St, River St. and River St. South to create two new bus stops and create multiple bus layover spaces. On Front Street and River St., the plan will create a shared bus/bike lane adjacent to the curb to facilitate bus movements, bus layover, bus station service, and bicycle movements. METRO plans to board and deboard passengers at two bus stops, located at the Front St/Cooper St intersection and near the midblock crossing on River St South. Layover spaces will be generally used between 5am and midnight, when most of the bus routes are out of service.

To install the shared bus/bike lane, there will need to be a reduction of on-street parking. Existing loading curbside spaces will be maintained. A description of these parking changes is detailed below.

Economic Development and Housing Staff will provide project and contract management services and Public Works staff will provide technical support and inspection services.