Transportation & Parking Options for New Employees

All campus affiliates pay to park at University of California campuses, including UC Santa Cruz. The cost of lot construction and maintenance, alternative transportation options, operations, and administration are all paid for by parking permit sales.

There are many ways to get to and from campus, including an external transit system (Metro buses), an on-campus transit system (Campus Transit), a vanpool program, carpools, and a campus-specific rideshare program (Zimride). There are also bike-related commute options, including a bike shuttle from two off-campus locations, a series of bike lanes and bike paths, bike racks throughout the campus, and showers available for those commuting by bike.

If you need to bring a car to campus, there are numerous parking permit options available. The permit types most commonly used by employees are A (faculty/staff close-in) permits, R (remote lot) permits, MC (motorcycle) permits, or N (night parking only) permits.

Best Parking Permit Options for Full-time Employees

• A Permit (quarterly, annual, or multi-year)
• R Permit (quarterly or annual)
• N permits (quarterly or annual) for those who start work after 3:30 p.m.
• MC permit (quarterly, annual, or multi-year)

Best Parking Permit Options for Part-time Employees or Those Who Drive Occasionally

• Daily-A Scratch-off Packets - a half-packet of 25, or a full packet of 50, daily A Permits that are used as needed by the employee.
• Daily-R Scratch-off Packets - a packet of 25 daily R Remote parking permits that are used as needed by the employee.
• A-Limited-Day Parking Permit - those that work a regular schedule of 1, 2, 3, or 4 days per week can consider purchasing an A-Limited-Day Permit, which is valid in all A and remote parking lots on campus. This permit is offered on an Annual or Quarterly basis and requires a pre–designated schedule of 1, 2, 3, or 4 days per week. The permit is valid only on the days of the week the purchaser designates, and the schedule must remain the same for the entire period of purchase. A-Limited-Day Permits may be augmented by purchasing a scratch-off packet.

Application process