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Highway 17 Express
The Highway 17 Express is a regional bus service in the San Francisco Bay Area, operated by Santa Cruz Metro as part of the Amtrak Thruway network. The route connects Santa Cruz and San Jose via California State Route 17, with intermediate stops in Pasatiempo and Scotts Valley.
The Highway 17 Express service began in 1989 as a commuter bus service, and was merged with an Amtrak Thruway intercity bus service in 2004. As a result, the route's schedules and ticketing are integrated with both local and long-distance transport networks. The service is jointly funded by Santa Cruz Metro, Caltrans, and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.
Highway 17 Express buses operate between San Jose and Santa Cruz 365 days per year, with hourly departures on weekends and midday weekdays, and more frequent service during weekday rush hours. Schedules are coordinated with Capitol Corridor train schedules, and are adjusted seasonally based on travel demand to San Jose State University and UC Santa Cruz.
All trips serve the River Front Transit Center in downtown Santa Cruz and San Jose Diridon station, with an intermediate stop in Pasatiempo. Approximately half of all trips serve the Caballaro Transit Center in Scotts Valley. During weekday peak hours, the service's northern terminal is extended to San Jose State University.
Highway 17 Express service is fully accessible to individuals with disabilities. Additionally, buses are equipped with bicycle racks, which are available free of charge.
The regular fare for the Highway 17 Express is $7.00. Daily and monthly unlimited passes and multiple-ride tickets are also available, and discounted fares are available for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Unlimited passes for the Highway 17 Express are also valid for local bus and light rail services in San Jose and Santa Cruz.
Amtrak and Greyhound sell tickets for the Highway 17 Express, for trips that connect to their national networks. Santa Cruz Metro services, including the Highway 17 Express, do not accept the Clipper card. Tickets are also sold through the METRO Splash Pass mobile app.
Direct transportation services over the Santa Cruz Mountains from Santa Cruz to San Jose have operated since 1858, when stagecoach services began. The stagecoach route over the mountains represented a significant improvement over the former route via San Juan Bautista and Watsonville, which had been driven by Charley Parkhurst among others. Travel times were cut from three days to one, and one-way fares dropped from $4.00 ($149 in 2025) to $2.50 ($93).
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Highway 17 Express
The Highway 17 Express is a regional bus service in the San Francisco Bay Area, operated by Santa Cruz Metro as part of the Amtrak Thruway network. The route connects Santa Cruz and San Jose via California State Route 17, with intermediate stops in Pasatiempo and Scotts Valley.
The Highway 17 Express service began in 1989 as a commuter bus service, and was merged with an Amtrak Thruway intercity bus service in 2004. As a result, the route's schedules and ticketing are integrated with both local and long-distance transport networks. The service is jointly funded by Santa Cruz Metro, Caltrans, and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.
Highway 17 Express buses operate between San Jose and Santa Cruz 365 days per year, with hourly departures on weekends and midday weekdays, and more frequent service during weekday rush hours. Schedules are coordinated with Capitol Corridor train schedules, and are adjusted seasonally based on travel demand to San Jose State University and UC Santa Cruz.
All trips serve the River Front Transit Center in downtown Santa Cruz and San Jose Diridon station, with an intermediate stop in Pasatiempo. Approximately half of all trips serve the Caballaro Transit Center in Scotts Valley. During weekday peak hours, the service's northern terminal is extended to San Jose State University.
Highway 17 Express service is fully accessible to individuals with disabilities. Additionally, buses are equipped with bicycle racks, which are available free of charge.
The regular fare for the Highway 17 Express is $7.00. Daily and monthly unlimited passes and multiple-ride tickets are also available, and discounted fares are available for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Unlimited passes for the Highway 17 Express are also valid for local bus and light rail services in San Jose and Santa Cruz.
Amtrak and Greyhound sell tickets for the Highway 17 Express, for trips that connect to their national networks. Santa Cruz Metro services, including the Highway 17 Express, do not accept the Clipper card. Tickets are also sold through the METRO Splash Pass mobile app.
Direct transportation services over the Santa Cruz Mountains from Santa Cruz to San Jose have operated since 1858, when stagecoach services began. The stagecoach route over the mountains represented a significant improvement over the former route via San Juan Bautista and Watsonville, which had been driven by Charley Parkhurst among others. Travel times were cut from three days to one, and one-way fares dropped from $4.00 ($149 in 2025) to $2.50 ($93).