UC Santa Cruz is continuing to move forward with its planned modernization campus shuttles. In the 2023-24 academic year, we added four newer diesel shuttles to our fleet. We expect to begin receiving 12 newer replacement shuttles before the end of 2024, and then continue to do so during winter quarter. We anticipate that this will enable us to phase out and retire all the shuttles from 1993 by the end of the current fiscal year.
Additionally, the campus is in the process of procuring two electric buses, which are expected to enter the production line in September 2025, and be delivered to campus in late caldendar-year 2025 or early 2026.
In an effort to strengthen our fleet maintenance program, we announced in early 2023 several steps we were undertaking. UC Santa Cruz has made significant progress across many fronts:
- UC Santa Cruz once again has a satisfactory designation from the California Highway Patrol. The California Highway Patrol reinspected our shuttles in May and the campus received a satisfactory rating, the highest available. Two shuttles were placed out of service after the brakes were out of alignment. Staff members with Fleet Services have been replacing the slack adjuster on all campus shuttles to support proper brake alignment.
- The campus has developed an enhanced process with additional internal reviews to consistently inspect emergency exits at least every 90 days and to conduct comprehensive shuttle inspections every six months or 6,000 miles. The results can also now be found on the Physical Planning, Development and Operations (PPDO) website.
- The California Highway Patrol will be conducting specialized training this summer for fleet maintenance staff to continue to promote safe transit operations.
- The campus brought in an independent third-party expert to conduct a comprehensive review of our maintenance program.
