Where Your Transit and Parking Fees Go

TAPS operates similar to a non-profit. Any year-end operational balances are carried into annual operational budgets for the following year, and are not reported as profit or contributed to other university units.

If you are interested in being involved with TAPS, please send an email to taps@ucsc.edu to indicate your interest in joining the Advisory Committee for Campus Transportation & Parking (ACCTP). 

If you would like to discuss any of these budgets in further detail, please submit a meeting request or email taps@ucsc.edu. 

All information is subject to change without notice.

Transit Operations 

Transit Operations Highlights

In Fiscal year 2024, TAPS worked with Gillig to order two new electric buses, which are scheduled to arrive in early 2026. To help bridge the gap between a transition to an EV fleet and accelerate the retirement of older buses, TAPS also purchased 16 diesel and diesel/hybrid buses with model years ranging from 2007 to 2010. Our 2007 buses are currently in service, and the 2010 buses arrived in Fall 2024. All 2010 buses began to be deployed in winter 2025.

TAPS added a Safety & Driver Training Manager position, and UCSC Fleets has also added bus maintenance and inspection tracking to its website. 

Parking Operations & Sustainability

Parking Operations Highlights

In Fiscal Year 2024, TAPS began transitioning from physical to virtual permits using the AIMS system. Employees and Grad Students were able to transition beginning in June 2024. In the beginning of Fiscal Year 2025, the West Remote was repaved and other lot repaving is planned. 

The end of year Parking Fees balance is placed in reserve for future large-scale projects including parking construction, safety improvements, equipment replacement, program expansion, and for budget stabilization in the case of unforeseen events. 

Sustainable Transportation Program Highlights

In addition to the TAPS funds that support Sustainable Transportation Programs, a number of grants were received which also supported sustainable transportation. The Slug Bike Life program was awarded over $700,000 through the CalTrans Active Transportation Program to continue providing free bike safety education and encouragement through 2027. TAPS also received grants to purchase three new Disability Van Service vehicles, three solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations, and to implement real-time tracking on campus shuttles. 

Parking Enforcement 

Parking Enforcement Highlights

Fiscal Year 24 was the first full budget year that Parking Enforcement was under TAPS management. 

The end of year Parking Enforcement balance is placed in reserve for equipment upgrades and budget stabilization in the case of unforeseen circumstances. Parking Enforcement funds are also used to give back to the UCSC community such as the now annual RSS Fair which was launched by TAPS in spring of 2024.