Santa Cruz METRO also operates the Highway 17 Express service for Amtrak Thruway between the city of Santa Cruz and San Jose Diridon station, in partnership with Amtrak California and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.

[3] Service was initially to the cities of Santa Cruz, Capitola and Live Oak.

The Amtrak Thruway Highway 17 Express service between Santa Cruz and San Jose started as an emergency bus service after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake closed Highway 17.

[4] In 2011 fixed route service was severely cut then restored mere months later.

[5] In 2012 Santa Cruz METRO received grant funding to construct the Judy K. Souza Operations Facility.