Santa Cruz METRO will join with other public transportation agencies nationwide to participate in the 13th annual National Dump the Pump Day on Thursday, June 21.

The motto for this year’s National Dump the Pump Day is “Dump the Pump. Ride Public Transit.”

“We encourage Santa Cruz County residents to ‘dump the pump’ on Thursday and take a bus instead,” said Alex Clifford, CEO of Santa Cruz METRO. “Public transportation is a great option for connecting with the community, saving money and protecting the environment.”

METRO operates 26 year-round routes throughout Santa Cruz County. Fares are $1-2 with day passes available for $6 or less.

Communities that invest in public transit reduce the nation’s carbon emissions by 37 million metric tons annually. As part of this commitment to the environment, METRO recently acquired three additional CNG buses, which produce just 3 percent of the emissions as a standard diesel bus. METRO’s fleet now includes 80 CNG buses. The agency will add at least seven zero-emission electric buses by 2021.

Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the 2018 National Dump the Pump Day is a day that encourages people to ride public transportation and to take them where they need to go, instead of driving a car.

Started in June 2006 when gas prices were $3 per gallon, Dump the Pump Day emphasizes that public transportation is a convenient travel option that also helps people save money. According to the March APTA Transit Savings Report, individuals in a two-person household can save an average of more than $9,894 annually by downsizing to one car. Gas prices nationwide are 60 cents more expensive per gallon than a year ago, according to AAA.

ABOUT SANTA CRUZ METRO

Established in 1968, Santa Cruz METRO provides public transportation service that enhances personal mobility and creates a sustainable transportation option in Santa Cruz County through a cost-effective, reliable, accessible, safe, clean and courteous transit service. METRO operates 26 year-round routes throughout the county and one additional route when UC-Santa Cruz is in session. Learn more at www.scmtd.com.