Cherriots Recognized Nationally For Strong Performance In Financial Stability, Employee Engagement, And Customer Experience (Photo) - 08/31/26

SALEM, OR – (August 31, 2026 ) — Cherriots has been recognized for outstanding performance in multiple categories at the 2026 TransDASH National Transit Performance Summit, including first-place honors for Most Improved Financial Stability and Most Improved Employee Engagement.

The recognition reflects Cherriots continued commitment to measuring value over volume and delivering meaningful results for riders, employees, and the communities Cherriots serves. Awards were presented this year during the summit’s ceremony luncheon on August 6–7 in Washington, D.C.

Cherriots received the following honors:

• Most Improved Financial Stability (2023 to 2024) - First Place

• Most Improved Employee Engagement (2024 to 2025) - First Place

• Top Performer Customer Experience (2025) - Second Place

• Top Performer Employee Engagement (2025) - Third Place

• Most Improved Customer Experience (2024 to 2025) - Third Place 

This is Cherriots third year receiving awards at the annual performance summit. Cherriots received top honors in community value and customer satisfaction at the annual summits hosted in Long Beach, California in 2024 and in Greensborough, North Carolina in 2025.

“These recognitions are a reflection of the hard work, dedication, and commitment of the entire Cherriots team,” said Cherriots Board President, Maria Hinojos Pressey. “We are proud of the progress we’ve made and grateful for the employees whose efforts continue to strengthen our service and the experience we provide to our 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.