Bus Service Could Take Big Blow

Rural and nighttime bus service in South County could take a drastic hit as the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District tries to balance its budget.

Metro is expecting a $3 million budget shortfall next fiscal year and $8 million in 2012, according to figures presented to the Watsonville City Council on Tuesday night.

The City Council reviewed a tentative plan to reduce bus service by 30 percent beginning in September.

"Our ridership here is very heavy," Councilman Oscar Rios said. "... Even though you're saying this is only a proposal, only 30 percent, this will be a heavy impact for us."

Seventeen weekday routes and eight weekend service lines are on the chopping block. About 10 other routes will be altered on both weekdays and weekends, according to the working proposal.

Ciro Aguirre, manager of operations for Metro, emphasized that this is not a formal proposal and that other possible plans for service reductions will be introduced later this month.

"These are options," Aguirre said. "Clearly they are designed to provide people such as you to look at the impact finances are having on our services. … We’re looking for more options.”

Mayor Daniel Dodge said that while Metro will maintain service on major transportation corridors and on routes with the highest ridership levels, "here entire routes have been deleted, and many geographical areas are no longer served by mass transit.”

"We want to put the community on alert to what's possible," he said.

The possible cuts would impact about 3,610 riders, or 15 percent, on weekdays and about 964, or 8.7 percent, on weekends, according to Metro figures. Paracruz service would be reduced by nearly 10 percent, largely in Watsonville. The service provides rides to those with disabilities and the elderly.

Council members spoke about the need for public transportation for students, workers and the elderly in South County. Councilman Eduardo Montesino talked about the schedules of students commuting to Cabrillo College's Aptos campus, where many Watsonville residents attend class, while Councilwoman Nancy Bilicich spoke about the adult education programs, which offer night classes.

Metro representatives said they had studied readership data and are aware of the needs of the community.

Bonnie Morr, a union representative for Metro drivers and a bus driver for the past 22 years, also voiced worries about the plans.

"We need to maintain the service across the entire county," she said.

The transportation district recoups about 27 percent of ridership costs through transit fees, according to Aguirre. That's comparable to the rest of the county, excluding the Highway 17 routes, which generate higher returns.

Aguirre said the transit district is "subsisting on grants." The budget is $32 million but Metro spends $40 million annually. Metro has a $21 million reserve, but Aguirre said that money is committed to matching grants and programs.

Morr encouraged Metro to dip into the reserve fund.

"There is an option: The public transportation system is not one of those safety nets that should be negated," Morr said.

Areas of the county that will no longer be served by Metro under the options outlined are:

• Corralitos
• Rio Del Mar/Seascape
• La Selva Beach
• Davenport/Bonny Doon
• North of Boulder Creek
• Lompico/Zayante
• South Felton
• Graham Hill/Lockwood
• Yacht Harbor/Seabright
• Capitola Village

Specifically in South County: The weekday trips of the Route 69A and 69W have remained unchanged. However, the short Route 69s and the Route 69N have been deleted. The weekday Route 71 has stayed the same, except for the deletion of seven inbound trips: the 6:55 a.m., 7:25 a.m., 7:55 a.m., 3:55 p.m., 4:25 p.m., 4:55 p.m. and 5:25 p.m. trips. Finally, the Route 91X Express has been deleted.

In Watsonville: Routes 72, 74 and Route 79 have been deleted. The Route 75 has been renamed and modified into two other routes in order to serve a larger area of Watsonville. These new routes have been tentatively labeled the Route 77A (which would run in a clockwise loop) and the Route 77B (which would run in a counter clockwise loop). The Wheelock area would not be served by either route. The departures for Route 77A have been scheduled for :09 minutes (the current Route 75 departure time) and the Route 77B departures for :39 minutes, but these departures could be adjusted.

Metro will continue to look at proposals. Public hearings about the cuts will be scheduled throughout the county in May. No service reductions will go into effect until the fall.

In other transportation news, the Watsonville City Council got an overview of the $12 million Highway 1-Salinas Road interchanged project. The highway improvements, begun last year, aim to increase safety in the busy intersection by removing the left turn from southbound Highway 1 to Salinas Road by adding an overpass.

The overpass is being built in an area where when her car drifted into oncoming traffic and collided with a big rig. In a five-year period, there were 83 accidents in that intersection, including three fatalities, according to a  study. About 43,000 vehicles pass through the area daily.

The construction should be completed in summer 2012; landscaping will be finished the following year. Detours through the construction zone are slated to start in April.

One interesting detail is that northbound drivers will see a strawberry motif on the overpass as they head into Santa Cruz County; southbound motorists get an artichoke design.