Salem, OR — (April 8, 2026) — Cherriots is planning a new transit center in east Salem to better serve the growing transportation needs of people who live, work, study, and visit the area. The proposed facility would be a larger, dedicated transit center designed to enhance transit connectivity, improve accessibility, strengthen safety and security, and provide a more comfortable and reliable passenger experience.

The project is currently in its early planning phase, with initial efforts focused on identifying potential sites and evaluating how each option could best serve the east Salem community. Public input is a key component of this process, and Cherriots is inviting community members to learn more and share their feedback. 

“Community engagement is essential as we plan a transit center that reflects local needs and priorities,” said Shofi Ull Azum, Chief Planning and Development Officer at Cherriots. “This project is an important step toward improving transit access and mobility for east Salem.” 

Community Open House 

Cherriots will host a public open house to provide information about the project, answer questions, and collect community feedback: 

Date: Thursday, April 16 
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. 
Location: 

Chemeketa Community College, Building 2 (adjacent to the existing transit center) 
4000 Lancaster Drive NE 
Salem, OR 

The event will be open-house style, allowing attendees to drop in at any time during the event window.  

Learn More and Stay Involved 

Community members are encouraged to visit the project website to learn more about the planned transit center, view updates, and share feedback online: 

https://www.cherriots.org/east-salem-transit-center 

Additional opportunities for engagement will be announced as planning continues. 

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.