Cascades East Transit (CET) provided the Bend MPO policy board with a status update on scheduled service expansions, fare proposals and legislative items that could affect funding.

Bob (CET director) told the policy board the agency will extend service hours starting Monday, June 2, expand or begin Route 8 in Northeast Bend on July 14, and is planning a pilot airport route that may begin as early as June 20. CET staff said bus stop upgrades — schedule holders, signs, benches and shelters — are in production and that shelters with required ADA work may not be complete until later in the year.

On fares, CET presented draft pricing the board will post for public comment: a base single ride at $2, dial‑a‑ride trips at $4, a $60 monthly pass and a $500 annual pass option. CET staff described a “reduced” fare set at 50% of the full fare for eligible groups and said the transit pass rollout will soft‑start in July with broader implementation planned for September–October. CET staff emphasized the agency will collect public comment for 45 days and hold a public hearing in August before finalizing fares.

At the meeting James Rofe (public commenter) urged the board to consider a lower annual pass price, suggesting $250 rather than $500 to encourage ridership. Bob responded that CET will collect formal public input and that pass levels could be adjusted based on feedback and ridership data.

CET staff also briefed the board on legislative work affecting transit finance, including a proposed change to the definition of “qualified entity” for STIF (Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund) administration; CET and partners are asking that transit providers be allowed to be designated as the qualified entity to reduce administrative layers. Staff warned that alternate legislative proposals — including one from House Republican leaders that would repurpose payroll‑tax transfers currently used to support transit — could significantly reduce available funding if enacted. The transit director said CET’s current reserve and federal COVID funds provide stability for roughly two years but that long‑term service expansions depend on the outcome of state legislation and ongoing federal grant activity.

Board members had questions about ridership assumptions, Dial‑a‑Ride usage and operational details; CET staff said they are conducting route‑level outreach and data collection to target service adjustments and will return with more detailed proposals as funding and public input are finalized.