University of California - Merced
- Transportation

RT
Currently attending or alumni?
Review this school!
Are you interested
in this school?
Saving your decision
Yes
Maybe
No

We will attempt to notify this
school of your interest.

This school has been saved to your schools list.

This school has been removed from your recommended schools list.

For your next recommendation, check out .

University of California - Merced - Transportation - Transportation - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.08

Transportation

Quick Stats

Best Ways to Get Around Town
  • CatTracks (school bus)
  • Personal car
Best Ways to Get to the Airport
  • One can call up a taxi from Merced Taxicab Co. to get to the airport. The cost from campus to the airport would be about $25.
  • Using either your own car or getting a ride from a friend is probably the best way to get to the airport, which is about 10 miles from campus. The only cost to bear then is gas money.

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

UCM is located outside of town, so a mode of transportation is a must to get off campus and to run errands. Having a car is by far the best option, but there are a couple of other options for those who do not have a car. The school provides a bus system known as CatTracks, which consists of buses that take different routes into town. Students can take CatTracks an unlimited number of times and it is free of charge, since all students pay $87 per semester as part of their tuition to have CatTracks running.

If students want to go back home, they often take the train. CatTracks stops by the Amtrak train station in the evening. During the day, CatTracks will drop students off at the local community college to transfer to Merced’s public buses that take them to the train station. There is a taxi company in Merced, but it is not commonly used by students, perhaps because they find cheaper options to get around. There is also an airport in town, but there are not too many international or out-of-state students at UCM, so there usually is not much of an issue of getting transportation to the airport.

See how you stack up against students who were accepted to this school . . .And calculate your chances!Register to get started

UC Merced Student ReviewsWhat's This?

Sort by:

Loading...

Transportation at University of California - Merced

Sstitch

Physiology '15

3.8
B+

Buses Are Good, but Having a Car Would Be Helpful

UC Merced has its own bus line, Cattracks, that is free for students. The city buses are also convenient, but if you don't get a bus pass the dollar fare can add up. However, Cattracks can take you pretty much anywhere the city buses take you. During the week, the Cattracks buses come around frequently and there is more than one line to take you to various places. On the weekends, the times are a little less varied and it takes some planning and time management to get from point A to B.

May 09, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Transportation at University of California - Merced

ejmagana

Cognitive Science '13

3.5
B

Cat Tracks

Transportation services at UC Merced are decent. As with any bus schedules, they don't satisfy everybody's needs. The transportation has increased in its convenience of more buses. There are different buses that go to different parts of Merced to reach out to all of the students living needs.

Mar 18, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Transportation at University of California - Merced

yramoaht

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology '15

3.8
B+

Cat Tracks Are Useful

The cat-tracks are extremely useful if a student needs transportation to school or a certain place around town.

Jan 18, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate
User rating for University of California - Merced - Transportation is 3.5 out of 5 based on 16 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the cost of the following transit options

Rate the convenience of the following transit options

Rate the convenience of long-distance transportation to travel between home and school

How convenient is the campus-provided transportation?

How necessary is it to have a car on campus?

How easy is it to get around town?

Campus ShuttleWhat's This?

E Line

This daily shuttle service runs between UC Merced's main campus, Moraga Housing, Starbucks/Millennium Sports Club, Merced College "The Bus" terminal, Bellevue Ranch, Village Apts, Merced Mall Target, Merced Mall Theatre, Amtrak, Granville Apts, Barnes & Noble and Walgreens/Savemart/Rite Aid.

Monday–Friday 7:20 p.m.–12:41 a.m.

NiteCat

This shuttle service runs between UC Merced main campus, Village Apartments, Merced Mall Theatre, Applebee's, Main Place Theatre, Walgreens/Save Mart/Rite Aid and Plaza at El Portal Plaza.

Friday 10 p.m.–2:35 a.m.

C2 Lines

This daily shuttle service runs between Village Apartments, Merced Mall Target, Merced College "The Bus" Terminal, Bellevue Ranch, UC Merced's main campus, Moraga Housing and Starbucks.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7 a.m.–7:34 p.m.

Tuesday and Thursday 6:05 a.m.–7:34 p.m.

A/B Lines

This daily shuttle service runs between UC Merced's main campus, Bellevue Ranch, and Castle Research Facilities.

Monday–Friday 6:50 a.m.–8:45 a.m.

C1 Lines

This daily shuttle service runs between Granville Apartments, Walmart, Save Mart, Swiss Colony Apartments/College Green, Rite Aid/Walgreens, El Portal Plaza Urgent Care, Merced College "The Bus" Terminal, Millennium Sports Club, Surgery Center, Moraga Housing and UC Merced's main campus.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7 a.m.–8:02 p.m.

Tuesday and Thursday 5:40 a.m.–8:02 p.m.

Public TransitWhat's This?

Merced County Transit

Receive real-time service announcements by following The Bus on Twitter.

(209) 384-3111 – Dial-A-Ride

(209) 385-7600 – Transit Administration

(209) 725-3813 – Fixed Route Service

880 Thornton Rd.

www.mercedthebus.com

Nearest AirportWhat's This?

Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT/KFAT)

This is the closest major airport to Merced; it's 56 miles away.

5175 E. Clinton Way, Fresno

(800) 244-2359; (559) 621-4500

www.fresno.gov/DiscoverFresno/Airports

Nearest Passenger BusWhat's This?

Greyhound Station (Merced)

Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–11:59 a.m., 1:30 p.m.–7 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.–3 p.m.

710 W. 16th St.

(209) 772-2121

www.greyhound.com

Nearest Passenger TrainWhat's This?

Amtrak Station (Merced)

324 W. 24th St.

(800) USA-RAIL

www.amtrak.com

Become a Contributing Author Learn more »

Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Harini Kompella
Hometown
Santa Clarita, California
Major
Human Biology

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

Buy the eBook "University of California - Merced 2012: Off The Record"
Download a FREE Printable Summary (PDF)