Further cuts to bus services likely in SV, SLV

Faced with a rapidly-desiccating revenue stream, the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District is considering a 12 percent reduction in bus services that would affect riders up and down the San Lorenzo Valley.
At the Scotts Valley City Council’s June 1 meeting, Metro Junior Transportation planner Erich Friedrich presented the proposed reductions — specifically in regards to routes 34, 35, 35A and 42, which serve Bonny Doon, Scotts Valley and the San Lorenzo Valley.
The proposed cuts, if approved, would represent a 22 percent reduction in services over the past two fiscal years, said Scotts Valley Mayor Dene Bustichi, who also serves on the district’s board.
“We have to all be vigilant about what we’re going to do,” Bustichi said. “We could be doing this again next year, too.”
Since 2007, Friedrich said, the district has lost some $4.7 million in operating revenue due to a combination of sales tax losses, fare box losses and massive cuts in both state and federal funding.
The aim of the proposal, Friedrich said, is to maintain as much geographic coverage as possible while simultaneously reducing the frequency of buses.
If the proposal is approved, beginning Sept. 15, Route 34, which serves South Felton during the school term, could leave 45 minutes later in the afternoon than it currently does. It will leave the San Lorenzo Valley High School campus at 3:20 p.m., rather than 2:35 p.m. Routes 35 and 35A will both see longer waits between buses and the last bus of the day will leave at an earlier time.
The cuts also call for chopping weekend services completely on Highway 236 in Boulder Creek between China Grade and Big Basin State Park.
Route 42, which serves the Bonny Doon and Empire Grade area, would have services reduced from two trips per day to one, based on the proposal.
The impact on riders would definitely be felt, said Scotts Valley City Councilman Jim Reed.
“Those who are going to be impacted (by the reduction in services) are going to be majorly impacted,” Reed said.
Friedrich said that while efforts to focus service around school and commute hours, there would be no impact to ParaCruz services.
For more information, visit www.scmtd.org/agency-info/planning.