Cherriots Holding Public Hearing on Proposed Service Reductions and Fare Increase

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.

No tax support means reduced service and possible fare increases for people in Salem who use public buses 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.

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

Reduce off-peak (between 9:00 AM and 2:15 PM) service schedules from every 30 minutes to every 60 minutes

Route 3 Capitola

Route 6 12th & Sunnyside

Route 7 State& Fairview

Reduce service all day to 60 minute schedules

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 Eliminate late evening trips (after 8:00 PM) 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

Eliminate Park & Ride Routes

Route 81 Market Street P&R

Route 82 South Commercial P&R

Other

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

Eliminate late evening trips (after 8:00 PM)

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

Eliminate Saturday Service

No Cherriot routes would be operated on Saturday

Other

Route 2 Jan Ree, reduce frequency of service in the Jan Ree neighborhood to every 30 minutes

Eliminate Holiday service on current operating holidays such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day

CherryLift

Under both proposals, CherryLift paratransit service for ADA-eligible riders would be reduced identically to the changes made in Cherriot bus routes.

For example, if bus service in an area of West Salem is cut back to 8:00 PM, CherryLift service to that same area would cease after 8:00 PM. Potential ADA service impacts will be addressed specifically at the hearing.

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 Cherriot 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