COMMUTER ALERT The Northbound Highway 17 offramp will close for two months beginning in March. Visit Caltrans for details.
ONLINE RIDEMATCHING	FIND A CARPOOL OR VANPOOL PARTNER - INSTANTLY Commute Solutions provides an instant online ridematching service to help Santa Cruz County commuters find carpool or vanpool partners. Log on 24 hours a day and create a personalized ridematch list of other commuters who share your same route and schedule. Ridematching is provided through a partnership with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's 511.org Program. In addition to the greater Bay Area, the program serves Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties.
Emergency Ride Home Program	GET HOME QUICKLY IN AN EMERGENCY Santa Cruz commuters registered for online ridematching are eligible for the Emergency Ride Home Program. If you need to leave work due to an emergency on a day you have used alternative transportation to get to work, the ERH Program will provide you with a free taxi ride home! Pre-register for the Emergency Ride Home Program here.
	FIND YOUR SOLUTION TO A BETTER COMMUTE The "Find Your Solution" brochure provides an introduction to alternative commuting. It also is a way to request more information and a free matchlist from Commute Solutions.
	TAKE THE BUS OVER THE HILL HWY17 EXPRESS BUS Most trips of the Santa Cruz Metro Transit District's Highway 17 Express bus start in downtown Santa Cruz Metro Center and ends at Cahill St. Station in San Jose. Service runs every day, including holidays. The Highway 17 Express services the Metro Center nearly every trip. Single ride fare is $4. For more information and schedules, visit Santa Cruz Metro's web site.
	CALCULATE YOUR COST OF DRIVING ONLINE How much is your driving costing you and your community? Commute Solution's online commute calculator can help you figure out your true cost of driving including the driver's direct expenses and the hidden costs borne by society. Simply fill in your daily miles traveled and your actual cost of driving will be calculated instantly. Does driving cost more than you think?
	TRUE COST OF DRIVING BROCHURE The "True Cost of Driving" brochure identifies both the direct costs a driver pays and those hidden costs borne by society. Most people think the cost of driving is limited to purchasing and maintaining a car, gas, oil, insurance, registration, parking, and toll fees. Less obvious are the costs associated with automobiles that are paid for by society, taxpayers and the environment. Find out more!

Ways to Get Around
Carpooling	Get a FREE customized matchlist of other commuters going to your same work or school location. Carpool everyday or just once a week - it's up to you. Commute Solutions is linked with San Francisco/San Jose Bay Area and can assist commuters traveling into or out of Santa Cruz County. Complete the form to get a list of other commuters who share a similar commute or call 831/429-POOL. If you live and work outside of Santa Cruz County, check out the Regional Rideshare Program for Bay Area Commuters, Commute Alternatives for Monterey County Commuters or San Benito Rideshare for San Benito County. Want to carpool, but don't know where to meet? Check out our online map to see where free, public park and ride lots are located.
Vanpooling	Join an existing vanpool or start a new one. Commute Solutions can help you discover one of the most relaxing commute modes around. Vanpools may be leased, employer-owned, or commuter owned. Information on joining a vanpool or starting a new vanpool is available by sending us an email or calling 831/429-POOL.
Public Transit	Using the bus is relaxing, reliable and a bargain. Whether you are riding the bus over Highway 17 or within Santa Cruz County, you'll find you can read, sleep or day dream instead of driving alone and fighting traffic and weather and paying high gasoline and maintenance costs. Be ready for your day - ride the bus. For schedule information and ticket prices visit Santa Cruz Metro's website. If you are traveling out of the area check the following sites: Monterey Salinas Transit Santa Clara County Valley Transit Authority Caltrain AMTRAK Also, look at this local guide to riding the bus.
Bicycling	Get a FREE bike map and try bicycling to work or to your carpool, vanpool or transit pick up points. Take a look at the Regional Transportation Commission's bike page. Or learn more about the spring and fall Bike to Work Week events. Bicyclists who encounter a cycling hazard may submit a Bicycle Hazard Report. Look at the Bicycling page for further information about Bike Program subsidies and other bike issues. You can also apply for a discount on Folding Bikes, which can be carried aboard local buses.
Walking	Walking is a free and healthy way to get where you want to go. Take the time to appreciate your commute by traveling on foot, and improve your health as you do it! If you encounter problems in your walking commute, please take the time to fill out a Pedestrian Access Report to alert us to any pedestrian problems or hazards.
Park and Ride	These lots serve as conveniently located pick up points for your carpool, vanpool or transit use and are free for public use during specified hours. Receive a map of park and ride lots in Santa Cruz County by emailing us or viewing the map online.
Telecommuting	More and more companies are open to allowing their employees to work one or two days from home or from a remote location. Telecommuting allows greater flexibility for employees with families, as well as reduces emissions and highway traffic. If you would like to know more, please email us to receive information.
Don't Drive One in Five	Don't Drive One in Five, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission's outreach and advertising campaign, was launched in 2003 to encourage county residents to use alternative transportation modes such as walking, bicycling, taking the bus, carpooling, vanpooling or telecommuting at least one day a week. FREE: "DON'T DRIVE ONE IN FIVE" POSTERS STILL AVAILABLE ENGLISH             SPANISH

To take advantage of any Commute Solutions services, or for help planning your commute, please call 831/429-POOL - or email us.

If you have comments or suggestions about the website, please contact the websmith.

Commute Solutions is a program of the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission. For more information about other Commission activities, programs or projects, please visit the SCCRTC website