Cascades East Transit remains the safest and cheapest transportation in Central Oregon, providing shuttles to the public with ADA compliant rides. The ADA compliant rides are accessible for anyone with disabilities. With routes across seven different towns, ADA represents a significant chunk of transportation in Central Oregon. The service continues to be free of cost, a policy started during COVID, with the exception of recreation shuttles.
In the past couple years, CET has lost over 50 percent of their ridership due to the pandemic. The CET employees wanted to create more opportunities for community members to be able to ride the bus, especially during financially hard times like COVID.
“We did it as a benefit to the community. Realizing that, you know, it’s tough to live here, especially for people in the service industry.” Derek Hofbauer, the CET outreach and engagement administrator said when asked about the costless transportation service.
Bend dial-a-ride provides curb-to-curb service seven days a week for citizens with disabilities; this service is unlike anything else that Central Oregon has.
Cascades East Transit is working actively towards its 2040 goal. Starting with a new parking lot to “minimize any potential conflicts with pedestrians”, said Hofbauer. Mobility hubs are an extensive part of CET’s plans, with future developments in priority places like OSU cascades and COCC. Mobility Hubs will help CET become more and more sustainable while also increasing transportation available. CET plans to transition away from the current “hub and spoke” system and provide a more “multicentric” system with the mobility hubs.
Cascades East Transit maintains an essential transportation service in central Oregon while making future plans to improve the company. Take advantage of free transportation through CET.
MJ Bundy
Public Health Reporter
