How has the STIF been used to maintain and sustain existing and expanded service?
Most Oregon transit agencies receiving STIF funding expanded existing service to give greater access to isolated older adults, people with disabilities, and underserved communities in their service territories. In many cases, that required hiring more bus and van drivers, buying new equipment, paying for more fuel, and compensating for extended service hours.
Transit agencies need additional financial investment to sustain higher baseline costs resulting from service expansion, including earlier replacement of higher-mileage transit fleets. Many transit agencies lack or have inadequate bus barns, bus stops, commuter parking, and operating headquarters.
Here’s a quick overview of how non-metropolitan transit agencies used STIF funding:
Albany Transit doubled service for Linn-Benton Community College and Oregon State University students and for Albany to Corvallis commuters. It added more full-da routes, more service hours (including events) and reduced wait times. Ridership increased 61% over the previous year.
Burns Paiute Tribal Transit purchased an additional vehicle, undertook preventative maintenance with its existing two-vehicle fleet and updated its operating plan.
Cascades East Transit added new routes in Bend and Redmond, provided medical and shopper shuttles in rural areas, increased frequency of Community Connectors between cities, and developed a growing vanpool program serving employees and Warm Springs tribal members.
Columbia Area Transit took over the Columbia Gorge Express that runs seven times per day during fall/winter and nine times per day during spring/summer, featuring a Free Gorge Transit Pass for students and low-income residents. It also started fixed-route service in Hood River and used STIF dollars to leverage federal grants.
Coos County Area Transit was able to pay competitive wages to drivers and increase frequency of vehicle replacements.
Curry Public Transit services residents and tourists along 122 miles of Highway 101 from Smith River, California to North Bend. The Coastal Express runs three times a day, six days a week, stopping at every town along the way. It meets with CCAT in Coos Bay and Redwood Coast Transit in Smith River to provide a seamless route to and from the California Border. It meets with Southwest Point in Brookings for passengers going to Medford. It also coordinates with the Coquille Indian Tribe providing transportation to key destinations and between its reservations.
The Grant County Transportation District operates the People Mover providing a three-day-a-week route between Prairie City and Bend, reaching eight communities across four counties - the only public transit connection between Central Oregon and John Day along Highway 26.
Harney Hub uses STIF funds to offer deviated fixed route and paratransit services six days a week. STIF funding also supports a weekly intercity trip between Burns and Bend.
Josephine County Transit now offers four routes within Grants Pass and three commuter routes serving Cave Junction and other smaller communities as well as a connection with RVTD in Medford. STIF funds helped match an FTA grant.
Lake County Public Transit, operated by the Lake County Senior Citizens Association, provided service from Lakeview and Christmas Valley five days a week. It also offers service to LaPine and in coordination with the Sage Stage a route to Reno. It collaborates with GOBHI to reach clinics in Klamath Falls, White City, Roseburg, Bend, and Portland.
Linx Transit used STIF funding to expand its deviated fixed route service to Saturdays. With expanded routes, ridership increased in the first year by 36% and 58% the following year.
The SRT-Malheur Express, managed by Malheur Council on Aging & Community Services, operated a fleet of 17 vehicles from minivans to cutaway buses serving Ontario, Vale, and Nyssa.
Morrow County Public Transit operated The Loop that serves one of Oregon’s fastest growing rural communities. MCPT ramped up connecting services for residents with specialized clinics in Portland, The Dalles, and Walla Walla, Tri-Cities, and Hermiston. It also launched fixed-route service. MCPT’s challenges are competing for drivers, fleet management, and inefficient deadheads.
Quail Trail Transit, operated by the Klamath Tribes Planning Department, provided service between Chiloquin to Klamath Falls with five weekday routes. It faced challenges replacing old buses that break down and hiring qualified bus drivers.
Sherman County Community Transit now provides a dial-a-ride service for medical appointments for all residents and offers connector service to Bend, Redmond, The Dalles, Portland, and Vancouver. Service includes weekly shopping trips to The Dalles and Hood River.
City of Pendleton Transit, Kayak Public Transit, City of Hermiston, and Milton-Freewater collectively provided service in Umatilla County, with all fixed routes fare-free. Routes connect to hospitals and clinics, job clusters, shopping centers, entertainment venues, and higher education institutions, including Eastern Oregon University in LaGrande. STIF funding financed a new Pendleton bus barn, 12 new programs and routes and almost 50,000 fareless rides.
Umpqua Public Transportation District used STIF funding to overcome shaky financing to hire drivers with competitive salaries and qualify for federal matching funds. It says inflation has eroded its financial base to sustain its mission of providing safe, convenient, and affordable multi-modal options for its service area.
Oregon’s current transit service is inadeuqate