May 2018: Vote on Transportation Fee Measure 69

Students: Vote on Transportation Fee Measure 69

The TAPS Transit operation (which includes the campus shuttles, the Night Owl, the Disability Van Service, and the contract with the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District, or Metro) is unable to operate within the revenue that comes from the mandatory Student Transit Fee. Fees have not been increased in ten years and operating costs have increased annually. There is a cumulative deficit in transit of $3.3 million.

Students will be able to vote this May on Measure 69, a proposed increase to the Student Transit Fee that will be used to stabilize current levels of transit services and provide a pay-off of the deficit over the next twenty years:

   According to Transporation and Parking Services (TAPS):

If Measure 69 passes:

• The double buses will continue to operate between downtown and the UCSC campus.

• Transit service, both Metro buses and campus shuttles, will be able to adjust to accommodate student growth.

• Service can be improved to underserved locations (e.g., mid-county, Live Oak, Coastal Science Campus).

If Measure 69 doesn't pass:

• There will be approximately 20% service reductions.

• There will be fewer Metro buses and campus shuttles serving the campus.

•  Waiting times for both buses and shuttles will increase

• There will be more full buses passing people by.

Our buses are a crucial part of our campus ecosystem: everyone benefits from faster transit, fewer cars, and more available parking options. SCMTD (Metro) buses provide one-quarter of all passenger trips made to and from our main campus – the single largest sustainable transportation mode.

Be sure to vote in the Campus Elections this Spring, and have your voice heard on Measure 69!