Cherriots Holding Hearing on Proposed Service Reductions and Fare Increases Thursday

Marion and Polk county voters supported the Salem-Keizer Transit District's 5-year local option tax levy, however with only 38 percent of voters in Marion County casting a ballot during the May Primary Election, the measure failed.

Photo By: Tim King

(SALEM) - The Salem-Keizer Transit District is conducting a public hearing for the purpose of receiving input on proposed service reductions and a fare increase. These actions are intended to help the District maintain a balanced budget for the next two fiscal years.

The proposals are:

Weekday-focused reductions.

These reductions are targeted toward weekday transit service, and would affect specific routes as follows:

Eliminate several 15-minute trips in the morning and afternoon peak periods

• Route 1 South Commercial
• Route 5/5a Royal Oaks/Lancaster Mall
• Route 9 Keizer Central
• Route 16 Four Corners

• Route 3 Capitol
• Route 6 12th & Sunnyside
• Route 7 State & Fairview

• Route 4 Keizer East
• Route 8 Liberty Road
• Route 10 Orchard Heights
• Route 12 Salemtowne
• Route 13 Lansing & Claxter
• Route 14 Sunnyridge
• Route 15 Laurel Springs
• Route 18 Keizer West
• Route 19 Glen Creek
• Route 23 Eola

• Route 10 Orchard Heights
• Route 12 Salemtowne
• Route 13 Lansing & Claxter
• Route 14 Sunnyridge
• Route 15 Laurel Springs
• Route 17 Hayesville
• Route 19 Glen Creek
• Route 21 Turner Road
• Route 22 Battlecreek
• Route 23 Eola
• Route 24 West Salem Loop

• Route 81 Market Street P&R
• Route 82 South Commercial P&R

• Route 2 Jan Ree, reduce frequency of service in the Jan Ree neighborhood to every 30 minutes
• Route 11 Lancaster Drive, eliminate service south of Lancaster Mall
• Eliminate Holiday service on current operating holidays such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day
• Fewer weekday reductions, combined with Saturday service elimination: Eliminate several 15-minute trips in the morning and afternoon peak periods
• Route 1 South Commercial
• Route 5/5a Royal Oaks/Lancaster Mall
• Route 9 Keizer Central
• Route 16 Four Corners
• Reduce service all day to 60 minute schedules
• Route 8 Liberty Road
• Route 10 Orchard Heights
• Route 12 Salemtowne
• Route 13 Lansing & Claxter
• Route 15 Laurel Springs
• Route 19 Glen Creek
• Route 23 Eola

• Route 10 Orchard Heights
• Route 12 Salemtowne
• Route 15 Laurel Springs
• Route 17 Hayesville
• Route 19 Glen Creek
• Route 21 Turner Road
• Route 22 Battlecreek
• Route 23 Eola
• Route 24 West Salem Loop
• Eliminate Park & Ride Routes
• Route 81 Market Street P&R
• Route 82 South Commercial P&R

Fare Increase Salem-Keizer Transit District staff is considering recommending acceleration of the proposed January 2007 fare increase to September.

The proposed fares, in more detail, will be available at the hearing. Tentatively, staff is anticipating a fare schedule as follows:

• Adult $1.00
• Youth $0.75
• Special $0.50(Seniors and disabled persons)

The public hearing will begin on Thursday, June 8th, at 6:00 PM in the Senator Hearing Room, 1st floor of Courthouse Square, 555 Court St. NE, in Salem, OR 97301.

Staff will present the service reduction and fare proposals and then open the hearing to anyone wishing to testify.

Comment from riders and the public is welcome and encouraged. The hearing will not formally close on June 8th, but will continue to the June 22nd board meeting at 5:30 PM in the Senator Hearing Room.

The Board of Directors will conduct this continuation of the hearing. Staff will again present the proposals, and review public input collected to that point in time, before opening the floor for further public comment.

Depending upon the public input received, the final program of service reductions may well incorporate pieces of the two proposals, and may include other changes not currently under consideration.

Any resulting service reductions and fare increases would be implemented in September.

Written comments may be sent to Salem-Keizer Transit, suite 5230, at the above address, or emailed to the District (skt@cherriots.org), and will be accepted for the record up to the final June 22nd hearing date.

At the hearing, an ASL interpreter can be available upon advance request.