The Baker County Board of Commissioners approved the 2025–2027 STIF (State Transit Investment Fund) formula program agreement between Baker County and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and separately approved a public-transportation services contract with Community Connections in Northeast Oregon (CCNEO).

A consultant who presented the STIF agreement said ODOT approved the county’s plan and a contract between Baker County and ODOT had been prepared to secure transit funding for the next biennium. Commissioners authorized staff to add county contact information to the final plan and to execute the agreement.

Separately, staff described the contract with Community Connections as covering Saturday routes, out-of-town rides to medical appointments (“rides to wellness”), demand-response out-of-town trips, federal-match funding support and fleet maintenance. Commissioners asked whether veterans’ rides and wellness rides could be coordinated on the same vehicles; staff said systems exist to manage multiple funding streams and riders to maximize efficiency.

Both the STIF agreement and the CCNEO services contract were approved unanimously. Staff said timely approval will avoid any interruption of transit services.