Cherriots General Manager Allan Pollock Announces Intent To Retire (Photo) - 01/12/26

• Announcement made during the Jan. 8 Board Work Session

• Retirement effective July 2026 following 19 years of service

• Board to launch national search for next General Manager

SALEM, OR — January 12, 2026 — Last week, during a public Work Session of the Salem Area Mass Transit District (Cherriots) Board of Directors, General Manager Allan Pollock announced his intent to retire this coming July. His departure will conclude a 19-year tenure—one of the most transformative leadership periods in the District’s history.
 

Pollock, who became General Manager in 2007, cited his pride in the evolution of the agency and the dedication of "Team Cherriots" while making his announcement:

"Serving as the Cherriots General Manager these past 19 years has been one of the greatest honors of my career," said Allan Pollock. "We have accomplished much because of the great people who work here as part of Team Cherriots. I thank all of them for their loyalty and commitment to this organization. While there is still much to do in the coming months, I am committed to ensuring we continue to move forward and are prepared for the changes ahead."

A Legacy of Community Connection

Under Pollock’s leadership, Cherriots navigated a period of unprecedented modernization. His tenure saw the successful rebranding of the agency, the restoration of weekend and late-night services, and a pivot toward sustainable, zero-emission transit solutions.
 

Maria Hinojos Pressey, Board President, expressed the Board’s commitment to a steady future:

"Allan has been a cornerstone of this organization and the community for nearly two decades," said Hinojos Pressey. "His stewardship in Cherriots paved the way for a thriving system. His care and intention has created a strong organization and a highly capable team. The Board is committed to a thoughtful transition process that builds on this progress while preparing for the next chapter of mobility in the Salem-Keizer community."

Transition and Search Process

The Cherriots Board of Directors will begin a recruitment process for a new General Manager in the coming weeks. Pollock expressed his intent to lead the District through July to ensure a seamless leadership transition once a successor is selected.

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 Buses Find New Purpose In Public Safety Education (Photo) - 01/02/26

Salem, OR – January 2, 2026 – On October 23, 2025, the Cherriots Board of Directors approved the donation of three retired buses to the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST), helping support training for Oregon’s next generation of public safety professionals. On December 30, 2025, the buses were delivered to DPSST headquarters at the Oregon Public Safety Academy on Aumsville Highway in Salem.

DPSST is the State’s training and certification agency for law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other public safety personnel. Each year, the agency trains approximately 1,500 basic police, corrections, and parole and probation students at the academy. The donated 2008 Gillig buses will be used as stationary training props for a wide range of exercises, including de-escalation, communication, and confined-space scenarios.

“These buses have served our riders and community for many years,” said Tom Dietz, Cherriots Chief Operations Officer. “By donating them to DPSST, we’re giving them a new role in service to public safety and supporting the training of officers and first responders who protect our communities every day.”

DPSST currently uses a collection of retired transit and school buses as part of its hands-on training facilities. The donated Cherriots buses will replace older props that have reached the end of their useful life. While these vehicles will no longer be driven, they play a vital role in helping trainees gain realistic, situational experience before entering the field.

“These buses provide realistic environments that add valuable context to scenario-based training exercises,” said DPSST Director Phil Castle. “We are grateful for Cherriots support of DPSST and Oregon’s public safety professionals.”

“This is a great example of how local and state agencies can work together to benefit Oregonians,” said Maria Hinojos Pressey, Cherriots Board President. “We’re proud that these vehicles will continue to make a difference by helping prepare Oregon’s public safety professionals.”

The Federal Transit Administration approved the donation in lieu of scrapping the vehicles, which would have otherwise been sold at auction for a nominal amount.