New Bus Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and Reception

Unveiling the new Cherriots Local buses

Come be the first to see our new Cherriots Local buses at the Keizer Transit Center! Congressman Kurt Schrader and other government officials will also be on hand to celebrate these great new additions to the Cherriots fleet. All of the new buses run on compressed natural gas (CNG) which means you have even more green transportation options in Salem and Keizer. Join us Thursday, September 20 at 2 p.m. at 5860 Keizer Station Blvd.

Cherriots and other public transit providers are the beneficiaries of the stalwart actions of federal and state legislators, who secured funding for new vehicles, infrastructure and expanded service.

In April, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Congressman Kurt Schrader, secured more than $6.5 million in Federal Transit Administration grant funding for Oregon’s public transit agencies. Of that amount, Cherriots received nearly $2.5 million to purchase six new buses.

In June, Oregon legislators passed Oregon House Bill 2017, which provides Cherriots a new funding source through a statewide employee payroll tax. The funding will allow Cherriots to significantly expand its service, including weekend, holiday, and later evening.

Several of the vehicles scheduled to be replaced are approaching 17 years of age, which far exceeds the 12-year useful life benchmark set by the Federal Transit Administration and the 15-year useful life benchmark established by the District’s transit asset management targets.

Cherriots expects to have 20 new vehicles arrive in time for the launch of expanded service in 2019; 12 buses for local (fixed-route) service; three buses for regional service; and five paratransit vehicles. At $8.4 million, this is the District’s largest equipment purchase in 15 years.