Cherriots Donates Two Accessible Buses To Garten Services, Expanding Community Connections Through A Longstanding Partnership (Photo) - 10/27/26

SALEM, OR – (October 27, 2026 ) — The Cherriots Board of Directors has approved the donation of two surplus 26-foot cutaway paratransit buses from the Cherriots LIFT fleet to Garten Services, helping the nonprofit expand community outings through its Day Support Activity Program. 

The vehicles will support opportunities for people with disabilities to engage with their communities, build relationships, and experience greater independence. The donation gives retired Cherriots vehicles a new purpose serving the community.

“Our partnership with Garten reflects a shared commitment to a community where people with disabilities have opportunities to work, connect, and participate fully,” said Ian Davidson, Cherriots Board Vice President. “Through our Transit Host program, that partnership helps riders find their way every day. Donating these buses builds on that relationship, supporting Garten’s work to make more community experiences possible.”

The donation builds on the longstanding partnership between Cherriots and Garten through the Transit Host program at the Downtown Transit Center. Garten’s Transit Hosts help riders identify the right buses and boarding locations, understand schedules, and make connections. The program supports employment opportunities for people with disabilities while making transit easier to navigate. 

“We are incredibly grateful to Cherriots for their generous donation of two cutaway buses to support Garten’s Day Support Activity Program,” said William Posegate, Chief Executive Officer of Garten Services. “Reliable, accessible transportation is essential to creating meaningful opportunities for individuals with disabilities to engage with their communities, build relationships, and experience greater independence.”

As Garten’s program grows, the additional vehicles will help expand access to community outings and enriching experiences.

“This donation represents so much more than transportation. It represents opportunity, inclusion, and a stronger connection to the communities we serve,” Posegate said. “We sincerely thank Cherriots for their partnership and commitment to making a lasting difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities in our community.”

Garten previously recognized Cherriots with a Community Partnership award for the Transit Host program. The vehicle donation extends that relationship beyond the transit center, supporting Garten’s work to connect people with opportunities throughout the community.

About Cherriots
Established in 1979, Salem Area Mass Transit District (SAMTD) is a special District covering 78 square miles in the Mid-Willamette Valley between Portland and Eugene. Locally known as Cherriots, the District provides vital service to more than 450,000 residents in Marion and Polk counties. SAMTD maintains a total of 124 transit vehicles across its various services and provides approximately 3.3 million passenger trips annually.

For more information, visit www.cherriots.org.

Cherriots Donates Retired Bus To City Of Gervais For Mobile Emergency Operations Center (Photo) - 09/28/26

SALEM, OR – (September 28, 2026) — Cherriots Board of Directors authorized the donation of a retired transit bus to the City of Gervais, where it will be repurposed as a mobile Emergency Operations Center.

The donated vehicle, a 35-foot 2008 Gillig diesel bus identified as Bus #115, has been decommissioned after surpassing its useful-life benchmark. With approval from the Federal Transit Administration, Cherriots will donate the bus rather than send it to auction or scrapping it in favor of repurposing the public asset for an ongoing public-safety benefit.

The City of Gervais plans to convert the bus into a mobile facility that can support incident command, emergency communications, disaster-response coordination, public information, and continuity of government operations during emergencies or disasters.

“Public assets can continue to create value for the community even after their service on the road has ended,” said Cherriots Board President, Maria Hinojos Pressey. “This donation gives a retired Cherriots bus a new purpose while supporting emergency preparedness and resilience for Gervais and the surrounding region.”

Gervais currently does not have an alternate facility from which city leadership, emergency responders, and essential personnel can coordinate operations if City Hall or other municipal facilities become inaccessible. A mobile Emergency Operations Center would help the City maintain command, communication, and continuity during localized or large-scale emergencies. Once converted, the mobile Emergency Operations Center could also support mutual-aid efforts with neighboring jurisdictions, schools, fire districts, and other public safety agencies throughout the Mid-Willamette Valley. 

Chief Robert Morris of the Gervais Police Department shared his appreciation for the donation: 

“This donation is far more than a surplus transit bus; it is an investment in the safety, preparedness, and resilience of our community. Thanks to the generosity of Cherriots, a vehicle that has already spent years serving the public will begin a new chapter as a mobile Emergency Operations Center.” It will strengthen our ability to coordinate critical emergency operations if circumstances render city facilities unusable. The City is tremendously grateful to Cherriots for making this vision possible.”

About Cherriots

Established in 1979, Salem Area Mass Transit District (SAMTD) is a special District covering 78 square miles in the Mid-Willamette Valley between Portland and Eugene. Locally known as Cherriots, the District provides vital service to more than 450,000 residents in Marion and Polk counties. SAMTD maintains a total of 124 transit vehicles across its various services and provides approximately 3.3 million passenger trips annually.
For more information, visit www.cherriots.org.