(Photo Above Courtesy of CET)
Ten years ago, Hannah Montana was more well-known than Miley Cyrus, the first tweet was ever sent, and flip phones were all the rage. And most importantly, Bend’s transit system was born.
Over the past decade, much has changed in the world—and for our region. Our communities have grown. More tourists come to play on our slumbering volcanoes and in our vast open spaces And a four-year university has just opened its doors.
Bend’s transit system has been there every mile of the way, and will continue to be there for the road ahead.
After Bend’s transit system was launched in 2006, Cascades East Transit (CET) officially began service to connect Central Oregon communities and enhance vitality for our region in 2008. Eventually, Bend’s transit system, community connector shuttles, and rural dial-a-ride services were all housed under one roof in 2010. The coordination of a regional transit system was no easy task; thanks to the support of local organizations committed to ensuring Central Oregon’s quality of life today and tomorrow, CET was founded.
Since its inception, our transit system has kept pace with our region’s growing and changing needs, including opening the Hawthorne Station in 2013, adding services to Mt. Bachelor, and expanding service in Bend by 30 percent in 2015. With improvements coming to the community connector shuttles and new regional hubs in Redmond and La Pine on the horizon, CET continues to anticipate and plan accordingly for our region’s growing needs.
Our communities are on board with transit. In fact, since transit service began in Bend, more than three million rides have been provided on the Bend fixed-route service alone. Despite the convenience of cheap gas prices, rides on community connector shuttles increased last year by 36 percent. Central Oregonians are choosing transit to move around our region.
For nearly 10 years, Cascades East Transit has connected people to jobs, seniors to more active lives, students to education, visitors to recreation and our communities to the future. With new routes, new technology, and improved comfort, service and convenience, Cascades East Transit will continue to drive our region forward. Here’s to the next decade—and beyond.
Judy Watts is the Outreach & Engagement Administrator for Central Oregon Governmental Council (COIC).
www.cascadeseasttransit.com
