102-477: Monterey–Salinas Transit ( MST ) is the public transit system for Monterey County, California . Service is primarily to the greater Monterey and Salinas areas, but extends as far south as Paso Robles and Big Sur and as far north as Watsonville . Most lines follow a hub-and-spoke system, connecting at hubs in Monterey or Salinas. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 2,470,300, or about 9,500 per weekday as of
204-454: A guideway . This is an uncommon mode of transportation (excluding elevators ) due to the complexity of automation. A fully implemented system might provide most of the convenience of individual automobiles with the efficiency of public transit. The crucial innovation is that the automated vehicles carry just a few passengers, turn off the guideway to pick up passengers (permitting other PRT vehicles to continue at full speed), and drop them off to
306-612: A joint powers authority by cities in Monterey County (initially Carmel , Del Rey Oaks , Monterey, Pacific Grove , and Seaside) and the County of Monterey, took over Bay Rapid Transit lines in 1973; Marina would join the MPTJPA in 1975. Pacific Grove operated its own system (Mini-Monarch Transit) briefly until 1978, when it was absorbed into MPT. In Salinas, the city took over operations from Salinas City Lines in 1976 and operated its routes as
408-481: A 2007 estimate ). Males had a median income of $ 44,751 versus $ 32,699 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 25,758. About 6.6% of families and 16.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over. The 2010 United States Census reported that Santa Cruz had a population of 59,946. The population density was 3,787.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,462.2/km ). The racial makeup of Santa Cruz
510-535: A body of water. A foot-passenger ferry with many stops is sometimes called a water bus . Ferries form a part of the public transport systems of many waterside cities and islands, allowing direct transit between points at a capital cost much lower than bridges or tunnels, though at a lower speed. Ship connections of much larger distances (such as over long distances in water bodies like the Mediterranean Sea ) may also be called ferry services. A report published by
612-420: A decline in public transport usage. A number of sources attribute this trend to the rise in popularity of remote work, ride-sharing services, and car loans being relatively cheap across many countries. Major cities such as Toronto, Paris, Chicago, and London have seen this decline and have attempted to intervene by cutting fares and encouraging new modes of transportation, such as e-scooters and e-bikes. Because of
714-719: A disability preventing them from using MST's regular fixed-route service. It operates under its own fare structure. As of 2020, MST plans to construct a dedicated busway for the SURF! bus rapid transit service on the former Monterey Branch Line between Marina and Sand City. The primary passenger hubs of the MST system are the Monterey Transit Plaza and the Salinas Transit Center, which serve most local and regional services. The Salinas hub will be relocated to Salinas station as
816-436: A dozen buildings being vandalized and numerous storefronts being damaged. Property damages are estimated to top roughly $ 100,000. Prior to the riot, a May Day rally was being held for worker and immigrant rights. According to police, the rally was infiltrated by a local anarchist group, who used the rally as a cover for attacking corporate premises. Occupy Santa Cruz formed as an autonomous organization in solidarity with
918-548: A few stops per city. These services may also be international. High-speed rail is passenger trains operating significantly faster than conventional rail—typically defined as at least 200 kilometres per hour (120 mph). The most predominant systems have been built in Europe and East Asia, and compared with air travel, offer long-distance rail journeys as quick as air services, have lower prices to compete more effectively and use electricity instead of combustion. Urban rail transit
1020-603: A few years after 1833. Even before secularization, the Native American population had declined. Following secularization, mission grazing lands, which once extended from the San Lorenzo River north along the coast to approximately today's Santa Cruz County border, were taken away and broken up into large land grants called ranchos . The grants were made by several different governors between 1834 and 1845 (see List of Ranchos of California ). Two ranchos were totally within
1122-605: A fully professional ensemble of 65 members which presents an annual concert series at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium and the Mello Center in Watsonville. By the 1860s, Pacific Avenue had become the main street of downtown Santa Cruz, and remains so today. Local architect Kermit Darrow and landscape architect Roy Rydell were engaged in 1969 to convert several blocks of Pacific Avenue into a semi-pedestrian street named
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#17331264787821224-505: A member and alternate: The members of the Board elect a Chair and Vice Chair. The Board of Directors appoints the General Manager, who oversees daily operations and maintenance activities. MST currently operates 131 fixed-route lines, two demand-responsive transit services, free seasonal shuttles, and paratransit service, covering a service area of 295 sq mi (760 km). Six of
1326-418: A parish church, the former Santa Cruz mission was unable to maintain its building complex after secularization, and the adobe buildings slowly began to fall apart from wet weather and lack of maintenance. The chapel tower fell in 1840 and the entire front wall was destroyed in the 1857 Fort Tejon earthquake . In 1858 a "modern" church was built next door to the remaining rear portion of the chapel. That remainder
1428-434: A public safety crisis, a situation that has gathered national attention. The principal industries of Santa Cruz are agriculture, tourism, education (UC Santa Cruz) and high technology . Santa Cruz is a center of the organic agriculture movement, and many specialty products as well as housing the headquarters of California Certified Organic Farmers . Tourist attractions include the classic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on
1530-676: A railway with freight trains . A rapid transit railway system (also called a metro, underground, heavy rail, or subway) operates in an urban area with high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Heavy rail is a high-capacity form of rail transit, with 4 to 10 units forming a train, and can be the most expensive form of transit to build. Modern heavy rail systems are mostly driverless, which allows for higher frequencies and less maintenance cost. Systems are able to transport large numbers of people quickly over short distances with little land use. Variations of rapid transit include people movers , small-scale light metro and
1632-480: A set of trolley poles for mobility. Online Electric Vehicles are buses that run on a conventional battery, but are recharged frequently at certain points via underground wires. Certain types of buses, styled after old-style streetcars, are also called trackless trolleys, but are built on the same platforms as a typical diesel , CNG , or hybrid bus; these are more often used for tourist rides than commuting and tend to be privately owned. Passenger rail transport
1734-563: A settlement grew up near the mission called Branciforte , which came to be known across Alta California for its lawlessness. With the Mexican secularization of the Californian missions in 1833, the former mission was divided and granted as rancho grants . Following the American Conquest of California and the admission of California as a U. S. state in 1850, Santa Cruz was incorporated as
1836-412: A single (or return) trip, or valid within a certain area for a period of time (see transit pass ). The fare is based on the travel class, either depending on the traveled distance, or based on zone pricing . The tickets may have to be shown or checked automatically at the station platform or when boarding, or during the ride by a conductor . Operators may choose to control all riders, allowing sale of
1938-745: A slew of other entheogenic plants on the Federal Schedule 1 Substance List. In 1998, the Santa Cruz community declared itself a nuclear-free zone , and in 2003, the Santa Cruz City Council became the first city council in the U.S. to denounce the Iraq War. The City Council of Santa Cruz also issued a proclamation opposing the USA PATRIOT Act . Notable feminist activists Nikki Craft and Ann Simonton resided in Santa Cruz, where they formed
2040-413: A smaller suburban or town center. The stations are often combined with shuttle bus or park and ride systems. Frequency may be up to several times per hour, and commuter rail systems may either be part of the national railway or operated by local transit agencies. Common forms of commuter rail employ either diesel electric locomotives, or electric multiple unit trains. Some commuter train lines share
2142-574: A station and exchange passengers. There is often a potential conflict between this objective and optimising the utilisation of vehicles and drivers. The main sources of financing are ticket revenue, government subsidies and advertising. The percentage of revenue from passenger charges is known as the farebox recovery ratio . A limited amount of income may come from land development and rental income from stores and vendors, parking fees, and leasing tunnels and rights-of-way to carry fiber optic communication lines. Most—but not all—public transport requires
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#17331264787822244-466: A total of seven registrations for the "Surf City USA" trademark. None of these registrations of the trademark are on the principal register , but on the secondary register , which means that Huntington Beach has no exclusive right to assert ownership over the "Surf City USA" trademark. Two Santa Cruz surf shops, Shoreline Surf Shop and Noland's on the Wharf, sued the city of Huntington Beach in order to protect
2346-638: A town in 1866, and became a charter city in 1876. The completion of the South Pacific Coast Railroad in 1880 and the creation of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in 1904 solidified the city's status as a seaside resort community , while the establishment of the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1965 made Santa Cruz a college town . Indigenous people have been living in the Santa Cruz region for at least 12,000 years. Prior to
2448-431: A tram line. Light rail lines are, thus, essentially modernized interurbans . Unlike trams, light rail trains are often longer and have one to four cars per train. Somewhere between light and heavy rail in terms of carbon footprint , monorail systems usually use overhead single tracks, either mounted directly on the track supports or put in an overhead design with the train suspended. Monorail systems are used throughout
2550-659: Is a system of transport for passengers by group travel systems available for use by the general public unlike private transport , typically managed on a schedule, operated on established routes, and that may charge a posted fee for each trip. There is no rigid definition of which kinds of transport are included, and air travel is often not thought of when discussing public transport—dictionaries use wording like "buses, trains, etc." Examples of public transport include city buses , trolleybuses , trams (or light rail ) and passenger trains , rapid transit (metro/subway/underground, etc.) and ferries . Public transport between cities
2652-507: Is a term used for buses operating on dedicated right-of-way, much like a light rail. Coach services use coaches (long-distance buses) for suburb-to-CBD or longer-distance transportation. The vehicles are normally equipped with more comfortable seating, a separate luggage compartment, video and possibly also a toilet. They have higher standards than city buses, but a limited stopping pattern. Trolleybuses are electrically powered buses that receive power from overhead power line by way of
2754-496: Is a transit technology that moves people in motor-less, engine-less vehicles that are propelled by a steel cable. There are two sub-groups of CPT— gondola lifts and cable cars (railway) . Gondola lifts are supported and propelled from above by cables, whereas cable cars are supported and propelled from below by cables. While historically associated with usage in ski resorts , gondola lifts are now finding increased consumption and utilization in many urban areas—built specifically for
2856-438: Is also stage to many street performers, musicians, and artists, oftentimes creating the presence of background music and miscellaneous street side entertainment when visiting downtown. Consequently, Pacific Avenue serves as an outlet for the artistic and unique culture that Santa Cruz possesses. As of 2023 , the top employers within the city were: Santa Cruz has a number of cultural institutions and other attractions, including
2958-421: Is an all-encompassing term for various types of local rail systems, such as these examples trams , light rail , rapid transit , people movers , commuter rail , monorail , suspension railways and funiculars . Commuter rail is part of an urban area's public transport. It provides faster services to outer suburbs and neighboring satellite cities . Trains stop at train stations that are located to serve
3060-638: Is an annual festival of contemporary music for orchestra that has been called a "new music mecca" by The New York Times . Santa Cruz Shakespeare is an annual summer festival that performs William Shakespeare plays every summer. Other notable events include the Santa Cruz Film Festival, the Santa Cruz Blues Festival, the Santa Cruz Digital Arts & New Media Festival, and Santa Cruz Pride. The O'Neill Cold Water Classic
3162-399: Is annual surfing event that draws crowds at the popular Steamer Lane . The Open Studios Art Tour is an art fair has been run for more than three decades and draws artists and patrons from around the area. First Friday Santa Cruz is a monthly event features dozens of art openings in the Santa Cruz area on the first Friday of the month. The Santa Cruz County Symphony , founded in 1958, is
Monterey–Salinas Transit - Misplaced Pages Continue
3264-474: Is common with roads for automobiles. Interchanges are locations where passengers can switch from one public transport route to another. This may be between vehicles of the same mode (like a bus interchange), or e.g. between bus and train. It can be between local and intercity transport (such as at a central station or airport). Timetables (or 'schedules' in North American English ) are provided by
3366-498: Is commonly accepted to be anything west of the San Lorenzo River and the "eastside" east of the San Lorenzo River all the way to neighboring towns of Soquel and Capitola . And the beginning of Aptos is seen as the end boundary for the "eastside". Santa Cruz has mild weather throughout the year, experiencing a warm-summer Mediterranean climate characterized by mild, wet winters and warm, mostly dry summers. Due to its proximity to Monterey Bay , fog and low overcast are common during
3468-610: Is dominated by airlines , coaches , and intercity rail . High-speed rail networks are being developed in many parts of the world. Most public transport systems run along fixed routes with set embarkation/disembarkation points to a prearranged timetable, with the most frequent services running to a headway (e.g.: "every 15 minutes" as opposed to being scheduled for any specific time of the day). However, most public transport trips include other modes of travel, such as passengers walking or catching bus services to access train stations. Share taxis offer on-demand services in many parts of
3570-430: Is especially valuable in cases where there are capacity problems for private transport. Investments in infrastructure are expensive and make up a substantial part of the total costs in systems that are new or expanding. Once built, the infrastructure will require operating and maintenance costs, adding to the total cost of public transport. Sometimes governments subsidize infrastructure by providing it free of charge, just as
3672-656: Is reasonably comfortable (seats, toilets, services), and can thus be scheduled and used pleasurably, productively or for (overnight) rest. Chauffeured movement is enjoyed by many people when it is relaxing, safe, but not too monotonous. Waiting, interchanging, stops and holdups, for example due to traffic or for security, are discomforting. Jet lag is a human constraint discouraging frequent rapid long-distance east–west commuting, favoring modern telecommunications and VR technologies. An airline provides scheduled service with aircraft between airports. Air travel has high speeds, but incurs large waiting times before and after travel, and
3774-444: Is the conveyance of passengers by means of wheeled vehicles specially designed to run on railways. Trains allow high capacity at most distance scales, but require track , signalling , infrastructure and stations to be built and maintained resulting in high upfront costs. Intercity rail is long-haul passenger services that connect multiple urban areas. They have few stops, and aim at high average speeds, typically only making one of
3876-721: Is therefore often only feasible over longer distances or in areas where a lack of surface infrastructure makes other modes of transport impossible. Bush airlines work more similarly to bus stops; an aircraft waits for passengers and takes off when the aircraft is full. Bus services use buses on conventional roads to carry numerous passengers on shorter journeys. Buses operate with low capacity (compared with trams or trains), and can operate on conventional roads, with relatively inexpensive bus stops to serve passengers. Therefore, buses are commonly used in smaller cities, towns, and rural areas, and for shuttle services supplementing other means of transit in large cities. Bus rapid transit (BRT)
3978-626: The American Civil War . The extensive complex built on the San Lorenzo River upstream of Santa Cruz used charcoal and powder kegs manufactured from local forests. The Works later manufactured smokeless powder used in United States Army Krag-Jørgensen rifles and guns of the United States Navy Pacific and Asiatic fleets. Santa Cruz was hard hit by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake that killed three people. It
4080-501: The California Register of Historical Resources include Mission Santa Cruz , Villa de Branciforte , and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk . After Huntington Beach, California , trademarked the "Surf City USA" name, Santa Cruz politicians tried to stop the mark from being registered by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office because of a 10-year-old controversy over Santa Cruz's nickname "Surf City." Huntington Beach has obtained
4182-410: The Mexican secularization act of 1833 , governor Figueroa attempted to rename the community that had grown up around the mission after himself, to Pueblo de Figueroa . The pueblo designation was never made official, however. The new name did not catch on and Santa Cruz remained Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz mission, along with the rest of the twenty-one Alta California missions, was secularized within
Monterey–Salinas Transit - Misplaced Pages Continue
4284-561: The Monterey Bay Aquarium . MST's demand-responsive transit service, MST On Call , covers areas away from MST's standard routes. MST On Call Marina provides timed transfers at Marina Transit Exchange. MST On Call South County serves the cities of Gonzales, Greenfield and King and provides connections to the Line 23 serving the highway 101 corridor from King City to Salinas. MST RIDES is a paratransit service available to persons who have
4386-723: The University of California, Santa Cruz, Arboretum ; Mission Santa Cruz ; the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History ; the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History ; the Santa Cruz Art League (which includes an art gallery, theater, and classroom); the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum (housed in a lighthouse near Steamer Lane ); and the Tannery Arts Center. Santa Cruz hosts numerous cultural events and festivals every year. The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music
4488-511: The county seat of Santa Cruz County , in Northern California . As of the 2020 census , the city population was 62,956. Situated on the northern edge of Monterey Bay , Santa Cruz is a popular tourist destination, owing to its beaches, surf culture , and historic landmarks. Santa Cruz was founded by the Spanish in 1791, when Fermín de Lasuén established Mission Santa Cruz . Soon after,
4590-478: The stagecoaches traveling a fixed route between coaching inns , and the horse-drawn boat carrying paying passengers, which was a feature of European canals from the 17th century onwards. The canal itself as a form of infrastructure dates back to antiquity. In ancient Egypt canals were used for freight transportation to bypass the Aswan cataract. The Chinese also built canals for water transportation as far back as
4692-833: The warring States period which began in the 5th century BCE. Whether or not those canals were used for for-hire public transport remains unknown; the Grand Canal in China (begun in 486 BCE) served primarily the grain trade . The bus , the first organized public transit system within a city, appears to have originated in Paris in 1662, although the service in question, Carrosses à cinq sols (English: five-sol coaches), which have been developed by mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal , lasted only fifteen years until 1677. Buses are known to have operated in Nantes in 1826. The public bus transport system
4794-685: The "Praying Mantis Brigade". This collection of activists organized the "Myth California Pageant" in the 1980s protesting the objectification of women. Myth California was staged concurrently with the Miss California pageant held in Santa Cruz since the 1920s. The protests ran for nine years and eventually contributed to the Miss California pageant leaving Santa Cruz. Riots occurred on May 1, 2010, sparked when anarchist extremists threw paint at police cars and painted anarchist symbols and anti-capitalist phrases onto buildings, resulting in more than
4896-747: The Monterey-Carmel Bus Line; a younger upstart, Bay Rapid Transit, was formed in 1922. Bay Rapid Transit aggressively challenged existing streetcar lines, operating over the same routes and offering promotions and lower fares to attract passengers. The facilities of the Monterey and Pacific Grove Railway were destroyed in a mysterious fire and that streetcar line ceased operations in December 1923. Bay Rapid Transit expanded their coverage to Carmel in 1925 and other motorbus services started at this time, including East Monterey Bus Lines (EMBL, 1932), providing service to Seaside and Fort Ord. EMBL folded in 1947 after
4998-509: The Netherlands many individuals use e-bikes to replace their car commutes. In major American cities, start-up companies such as Uber and Lyft have implemented e-scooters as a way for people to take short trips around the city. All public transport runs on infrastructure, either on roads, rail, airways or seaways. The infrastructure can be shared with other modes, freight and private transport, or it can be dedicated to public transport. The latter
5100-594: The Pacific Garden Mall. The Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 destroyed nearly all of the 19th-century buildings in the downtown area. The Pacific Avenue Historic District had been recognized by the National Register of Historic Places ; it was delisted in 1991. After the earthquake, the Pacific Garden Mall theme was eliminated, and an updated downtown design plan by ROMA Design Group was implemented. As of 2016, only one empty lot remains on Pacific Avenue from
5202-676: The Robb Transportation Company, which continued to provide public transportation services in the City of Salinas until 1953, when the privately-owned Salinas Transportation Company took over routes in Salinas and Alisal , starting from 1954. By 1972, it was apparent that Bay Rapid Transit, like other privately-owned transportation services in California, would need public subsidies to continue operations. Monterey Peninsula Transit (MPT), formed as
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#17331264787825304-611: The Salinas Intermodal Transportation Center in 2022 when Caltrain service is extended to Salinas . Smaller hubs include Watsonville Transit Center, Marina Transit Exchange, Sand City Station, CSUMB , Del Monte Center , and Carmel Plaza. MST performs maintenance and refueling at four facilities: [REDACTED] Media related to Monterey–Salinas Transit at Wikimedia Commons Public transit Public transport (also known as public transportation , public transit , mass transit , or simply transit )
5406-566: The Salinas Transit System. Monterey–Salinas Transit was formed in 1981 when Salinas Transit was absorbed into Monterey Peninsula Transit and Salinas joined the MPTJPA. The JPA was dissolved and re-formed as the Monterey-Salinas Transit District on July 1, 2010. MST is governed by a board of directors, with one member and one alternate from each municipality (the listed cities); in addition, the County of Monterey has
5508-715: The Santa Cruz Cannabis Buyers Club opened its doors in April 1995. Santa Cruz also became one of the first cities in California to test the state's medical marijuana laws in court after the arrest of Valerie Corral and Mike Corral, founders of the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana , by the DEA . In January 2020, Santa Cruz became the third city in the US and second city in California to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms in addition to
5610-573: The Spanish colonial period (the other two became Los Angeles and San Jose), the Villa was located across the San Lorenzo River , less than a mile from the Mission. Its original main street is now North Branciforte Avenue. Villa de Branciforte later lost its civic status, and in 1905 the area was annexed into the City of Santa Cruz. In the 1820s, newly independent Mexico assumed control of the area. Following
5712-528: The UK National Infrastructure Commission in 2018 states that "cycling is mass transit and must be treated as such." Cycling infrastructure is normally provided without charge to users because it is cheaper to operate than mechanised transit systems that use sophisticated equipment and do not use human power . Many cities around the world have introduced electric bikes and scooters to their public transport infrastructure. For example, in
5814-437: The age of 18 living in them, 7,310 (33.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,833 (8.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 862 (4.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,802 (8.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 379 (1.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships . 6,773 households (31.3%) were made up of individuals, and 1,862 (8.6%) had someone living alone who
5916-426: The age of 18 living with them, 37.0% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.1% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.98. In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 17.3% under
6018-451: The age of 18, 20.5% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males age 18 and over. The median income for a household in the city was $ 50,605, and the median income for a family was $ 62,231 (these figures had risen to $ 59,172 and $ 80,496 respectively as of
6120-479: The arrival of Spanish soldiers, missionaries and colonists in the late 18th century, the area was home to the Awaswas nation of Ohlone people, who lived in a territory stretching slightly north of Davenport to Rio Del Mar. The Awaswas tribe was made up of no more than 1,000 people and their language is now extinct. The only remnants of their spoken language are three local place names: Aptos , Soquel and Zayante ; and
6222-402: The arrival of immigrants from the eastern United States. Elihu Anthony (1818–1905) arrived in Santa Cruz in 1847 and opened many firsts for the city, including the first Protestant Church and the first blacksmith foundry. He built the first wharf and was the first postmaster. He developed the first commercial blocks in downtown Santa Cruz with his early blacksmith foundry located at what is now
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#17331264787826324-539: The beach, the redwood forests in the Santa Cruz Mountains above the town, and Monterey Bay, which is protected as a marine sanctuary . Technology companies have made Santa Cruz their home since the 1980s. Examples from that era include the Santa Cruz Operation (later Tarantella, Inc. ), Plantronics , and Parallel Computers, Inc. Downtown Santa Cruz houses a variety of storefronts and businesses. It
6426-424: The boundaries of today's city of Santa Cruz. Rancho Potrero Y Rincon de San Pedro Regalado consisted mostly of flat, river-bottom pasture land north of Mission Hill ("potrero" translates as "pasture"). Rancho Tres Ojos de Agua was on the west side. Three other rancho boundaries later became part of the modern city limits: Rancho Refugio on the west. Rancho Carbonera on the north, and Rancho Arroyo del Rodeo on
6528-479: The city. The population density includes 1,682.2/km (4,357/sq mi). There were 21,504 housing units at an average density of 1,715.8 units per square mile (662.5 units/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 78.7% White , 17.4% Hispanic or Latino , 1.7% African American , 0.9% Native American , 4.9% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 9.1% from other races , and 4.5% from two or more races. There were 20,442 households, out of which 25.1% had children under
6630-713: The commuter rail hybrid S-Bahn . More than 160 cities have rapid transit systems, totalling more than 8,000 km (4,971 mi) of track and 7,000 stations. Twenty-five cities have systems under construction. People movers are a special term for grade-separated rail which uses vehicles that are smaller and shorter in size. These systems are generally used only in a small area such as a theme park or an airport. Trams (also known as streetcars or trolleys) are railborne vehicles that originally ran in city streets, though over decades more and more dedicated tracks are used. They have higher capacity than buses, but must follow dedicated infrastructure with rails and wires either above or below
6732-643: The corner of Pacific Avenue and Mission Street. With Frederick A. Hihn , Anthony built the first private water supply network in the city and serving nearby communities. The establishment of railroad lines in Santa Cruz in 1875–76 with the Santa Cruz & Felton Railroad and the Santa Cruz Railroad provided market access for the city's timber, leather and limestone industries. California Powder Works began manufacturing blasting powder for California mining when normal supplies were interrupted by
6834-447: The day or part of the day (known as clock-face scheduling ). Often, more frequent services or even extra routes are operated during the morning and evening rush hours . Coordination between services at interchange points is important to reduce the total travel time for passengers. This can be done by coordinating shuttle services with main routes, or by creating a fixed time (for instance twice per hour) when all bus and rail routes meet at
6936-916: The destruction of the 1989 earthquake. Landmarks on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Santa Cruz County, California include the Branciforte Adobe , the Cowell Lime Works Historic District , the Golden Gate Villa , the Hinds House , Mission Santa Cruz , the Neary-Rodriguez Adobe , the Octagon Building , and the Santa Cruz Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster , among others. Landmarks on
7038-627: The east. After secularization put most California land into private hands, immigrants from the United States began to arrive in steadily increasing numbers, especially in the 1840s when overland routes like the California Trail were opened. In 1848, following the Mexican–American War , Mexico ceded the territory of Alta California to the U.S. in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo . Demoted to
7140-582: The fixed routes are long-distance intercity commuter routes that connect to destinations outside the county, including Santa Cruz , Paso Robles , and Templeton . Supplemental service is offered on relevant lines during major events and is usually free for event ticketholders. During the summer and select holidays, the MST Trolley , formerly the Waterfront Area Visitor Express (WAVE), a free shuttle, serves Old Town Monterey, Cannery Row , and
7242-456: The location of their choice (rather than at a stop). Conventional transit simulations show that PRT might attract many auto users in problematic medium-density urban areas. A number of experimental systems are in progress. One might compare personal rapid transit to the more labor-intensive taxi or paratransit modes of transportation, or to the (by now automated) elevators common in many publicly accessible areas. Cable-propelled transit (CPT)
7344-400: The lost time and statistically higher risk of accident in private transport , together with the initial, running and parking costs. Loss of control , spatial constriction, overcrowding , high speeds/accelerations, height and other phobias may discourage use of public transport. Actual travel time on public transport becomes a lesser consideration when predictable and when travel itself
7446-622: The name of a native shellfish – abalone . At the time of colonization, the Indigenous people belonged to the Uypi tribe of the Awaswas -speaking dialectical group. They called the area Aulinta . The first European land exploration of Alta California , the Spanish Portolá expedition led by Gaspar de Portolá , passed through the area on its way north, still searching for the "port of Monterey" described by Sebastian Vizcaino in 1602. The party forded
7548-562: The name, and is known today as Laurel Creek because it parallels Laurel Street. It is the main feeder of Neary Lagoon . In 1797, Governor Diego de Borica , by order of the Viceroy of New Spain , Miguel de la Grúa Talamanca y Branciforte, marqués de Branciforte , established the Villa de Branciforte , a town named in honor of the Viceroy. One of only three civilian towns established in California during
7650-460: The night and morning hours, especially in the summer. Santa Cruz frequently experiences an Indian summer , with the year's warmest temperatures often occurring in the autumn. Since the city faces south rather than west with mountains to its north, temperatures are usually several degrees warmer than in coastal areas to its northwest. Recorded from the census of 2000, there were 54,593 people total with 20,442 households and 10,404 families residing in
7752-506: The northern edge of Monterey Bay . The area is losing several feet of beach a year. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city covers an area of 15.8 square miles (41 km ), of which 12.7 square miles (33 km ) is land, and 3.1 square miles (8.0 km ) (19.51%s) is water. To Santa Cruz locals the area is often discussed in terms of distinct regions: east side and west side. The "westside" of Santa Cruz
7854-492: The public transport leg of their journey and how close it leaves them to their desired destination. Timeliness is how long they must wait for the vehicle. Directness records how far a journey using public transport deviates from a passenger's ideal route. In selecting between competing modes of transport , many individuals are strongly motivated by direct cost (travel fare/ ticket price to them) and convenience , as well as being informed by habit . The same individual may accept
7956-481: The purchase of a ticket to generate revenue for the operators. Tickets may be bought either in advance, or at the time of the journey, or the carrier may allow both methods. Passengers may be issued with a paper ticket, a metal or plastic token , or a magnetic or electronic card ( smart card , contactless smart card ). Sometimes a ticket has to be validated, e.g. a paper ticket has to be stamped, or an electronic ticket has to be checked in. Tickets may be valid for
8058-600: The purposes of mass transit. Many, if not all, of these systems are implemented and fully integrated within existing public transportation networks. Examples include Metrocable (Medellín) , Metrocable (Caracas) , Mi Teleférico in La Paz , Portland Aerial Tram , Roosevelt Island Tramway in New York City, and the London Cable Car . A ferry is a boat used to carry (or ferry ) passengers, and sometimes their vehicles, across
8160-611: The reduced emissions and other environmental impacts of using public transportation over private transportation, many experts have pointed to an increased investment in public transit as an important climate change mitigation tactic. Conveyances designed for public hire are as old as the first ferry service . The earliest public transport was water transport . Ferries appear in Greek mythology writings. The mystical ferryman Charon had to be paid and would only then take passengers to Hades . Some historical forms of public transport include
8262-522: The river (probably near where the Soquel Avenue bridge now stands) and camped nearby on October 17, 1769 . Franciscan missionary Juan Crespí , traveling with the expedition, noted in his diary that, "This river was named San Lorenzo." (for Saint Lawrence ). Next morning, the expedition set out again, and Crespi noted that, "Five hundred steps after we started we crossed a good arroyo of running water which descends from some high hills where it rises. It
8364-408: The smoke filled subway tunnels from the steam engines. In 1894, Boston built the first subway in the United States, an electric streetcar line in a 1.5-mile tunnel under Tremont Street's retail district. Other cities quickly followed, constructing thousands of miles of subway in the following decades. In March 2020, Luxembourg abolished fares for trains, trams and buses and became the first country in
8466-871: The third quarter of 2024. The first public transportation services for Monterey County were provided by Southern Pacific Railroad passenger trains, including the Del Monte to and from San Francisco along the Monterey Branch Line connecting Pacific Grove to Castroville . The Monterey and Pacific Grove Railway provided the first intra-county services using horse cars starting on August 5, 1891. Independent streetcar systems in Monterey (the Monterey and Del Monte Heights Railway Company , connecting Monterey to Seaside ) and Salinas (the "Dingy" for Spreckels Sugar Company employees and their families) started around 1912. The first motorbus services began in 1918, provided by
8568-411: The ticket at the time of ride. Alternatively, a proof-of-payment system allows riders to enter the vehicles without showing the ticket, but riders may or may not be controlled by a ticket controller ; if the rider fails to show proof of payment, the operator may fine the rider at the magnitude of the fare. Santa Cruz, California Santa Cruz ( Spanish for "Holy Cross") is the largest city and
8670-504: The track, limiting their flexibility. In the United States, trams were commonly used prior to the 1930s, before being superseded by the bus. In modern public transport systems, they have been reintroduced in the form of the light rail. Light rail is a term coined in 1972 and uses mainly tram technology. Light rail has mostly dedicated right-of-ways and less sections shared with other traffic and usually step-free access. Light rails line are generally traversed with increased speed compared to
8772-517: The transport operator to allow users to plan their journeys. They are often supplemented by maps and fare schemes to help travelers coordinate their travel. Online public transport route planners help make planning easier. Mobile apps are available for multiple transit systems that provide timetables and other service information and, in some cases, allow ticket purchase, some allowing to plan your journey, with time fares zones e.g. Services are often arranged to operate at regular intervals throughout
8874-408: The use and extent of public transport. The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) is the international network for public transport authorities and operators, policy decision-makers, scientific institutes and the public transport supply and service industry. It has over 1,900 members from more than 100 countries from all over the globe. In recent years, some high-wealth cities have seen
8976-513: The wartime boom (providing transportation for sailors and soldiers at Ford Ord and Monterey) ended, despite booming Cannery Row sardine operations. Canneries began closing in the early 1950s after the sardine population collapsed and passenger traffic began to decline. Meanwhile in Salinas, the Robb and Baily Transit Company were granted a franchise to service Salinas Airport in 1937 but filed for bankruptcy three years later; its assets were purchased by
9078-527: The world (especially in Europe and east Asia , particularly Japan ), but apart from public transit installations in Las Vegas and Seattle, most North American monorails are either short shuttle services or privately owned services (With 150,000 daily riders, the Disney monorail systems used at their parks may be the most famous in the world). Personal rapid transit is an automated cab service that runs on rails or
9180-544: The world to make all public transport free. The Encyclopædia Britannica specifies that public transportation is within urban areas, but does not limit its discussion of the topic to urban areas. Seven criteria estimate the usability of different types of public transport and its overall appeal. The criteria are speed, comfort, safety, cost, proximity, timeliness and directness. Speed is calculated from total journey time including transfers. Proximity means how far passengers must walk or otherwise travel before they can begin
9282-745: The world, which may compete with fixed public transport lines, or complement them, by bringing passengers to interchanges. Paratransit is sometimes used in areas of low demand and for people who need a door-to-door service. Urban public transit differs distinctly among Asia, North America, and Europe. In Asia, profit-driven, privately owned and publicly traded mass transit and real estate conglomerates predominantly operate public transit systems. In North America, municipal transit authorities most commonly run mass transit operations. In Europe, both state-owned and private companies predominantly operate mass transit systems. For geographical, historical and economic reasons, differences exist internationally regarding
9384-400: The worldwide Occupy movement , a broad-based protest against economic and social inequality. The organization gained most of its notoriety when members barricaded themselves in an empty bank building owned by Wells Fargo and occupied the building for 72 hours, causing $ 30,000 in damages. Eleven criminal charges were filed, at least seven of which have since been dropped. Santa Cruz is on
9486-856: Was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.4%. 22,861 people (38.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 28,796 people (48.0%) lived in rental housing units. The median price of a home being $ 640,000 as of April 2013. Santa Cruz has one of the highest rates of homelessness in the US, with 9,041 estimated homeless in Santa Cruz county in 2011, approximately 3.5% of the total county population. with over 52% of homeless experiencing some form of mental illness, including clinical depression or PTSD and over 26% suffering unspecified mental illness . Additionally, 38% of homeless surveyed in Santa Cruz county in 2011 experienced drug and/or alcohol dependency . In recent years, citizen groups such as Take Back Santa Cruz, established in 2009, have lobbied city government and officials to address what they view as
9588-536: Was 29.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males. By one estimate, Santa Cruz had in 2023 the least affordable rental market in the United States, pushing past San Francisco which was previously the most unaffordable rental market. There were 23,316 housing units at an average density of 1,473.0 units per square mile (568.7 units/km ), of which 9,375 (43.3%) were owner-occupied, and 12,282 (56.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate
9690-547: Was 44,661 (74.5%) White , 1,071 (1.8%) African American , 440 (0.7%) Native American , 4,591 (7.7%) Asian , 108 (0.2%) Pacific Islander , 5,673 (9.5%) from other races , and 3,402 (5.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11,624 persons (19.4%). The Census reported that 51,657 people (86.2% of the population) lived in households, 7,910 (13.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 379 (0.6%) were institutionalized. There were 21,657 households, out of which 4,817 (22.2%) had children under
9792-430: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39. There were 10,005 families (46.2% of all households); the average family size was 2.92. The age distribution of the population shows 8,196 people (13.7%) under the age of 18, 17,449 people (29.1%) aged 18 to 24, 15,033 people (25.1%) aged 25 to 44, 13,983 people (23.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 5,285 people (8.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
9894-410: Was again hit by ocean surges caused by 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai eruption and tsunami , that caused damages to the harbor. Santa Cruz became one of the first cities to approve marijuana for medicinal uses. In 1992, residents overwhelmingly approved Measure A, which allowed for the medicinal uses of marijuana. Santa Cruz was home to the second above-ground medical marijuana club in the world when
9996-480: Was also hit by ocean surges caused by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami , wherein the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor sustained an estimated $ 10 million of damage, with another $ 5 million of damage to docked boats there. Following the earthquake, a former building chief urged the city government to consider relocating to a safer location with lower risk of damage from seismic activity. It
10098-761: Was built for 11 miles of track for the Union Passenger Railway in Tallahassee, Florida, in 1888. Electric streetcars could carry heavier passenger loads than predecessors, which reduced fares and stimulated greater transit use. Two years after the Richmond success, over thirty two thousand electric streetcars were operating in America. Electric streetcars also paved the way for the first subway system in America. Before electric streetcars, steam powered subways were considered. However, most people believed that riders would avoid
10200-442: Was demolished in 1889, when today's Holy Cross church was built on the site, in a gothic style. California was the first portion of the former Mexican territory to become a state, in 1850. Santa Cruz County was established the same year, and Santa Cruz became the county seat. Santa Cruz was incorporated as a town in 1866, and became a charter city in 1876. Following the U.S. Conquest of California , Santa Cruz steadily grew with
10302-692: Was introduced to London in July 1829. The first passenger horse-drawn vehicle opened in 1806. It ran along the Swansea and Mumbles Railway . In 1825 George Stephenson built the Locomotion No 1 for the Stockton and Darlington Railway in northeast England, the first public steam railway in the world. The world's first steam-powered underground railway opened in London in 1863. The first successful electric streetcar
10404-638: Was named "El Arroyo de la Santísima Cruz, which translates literally as "The Stream of the Most Holy Cross". In 1791, Father Fermín Lasuén continued the use of Crespi's name when he declared the establishment of La Misión de la Exaltación de la Santa Cruz (also known as Mission Santa Cruz ) for the conversion of the Awaswas of Chatu-Mu and surrounding Ohlone villages . Santa Cruz was the twelfth mission to be founded in California . The creek, however, later lost
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