News & Updates

The COIC Board of Directors will review and approve CET’s Fare Guidelines during their August 7th meeting in Redmond (time and location TBD). If you have comments regarding the Draft Fare Guidelines presented in the text and PDF link below, please send an email to CET’s Transit Director Bob Townsend at rtownsend@coic.org.

Draft Fare Guidelines April 2025

BACKGROUND

Cascades East Transit (CET) Policy 10 outlines procedures for Fare Increases and Major Service Reductions.  This document is a supplement to the policy.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this supplemental document is to provide details on fares, fare guidelines, and reduced fare programs.

FARES

Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Governed Routes

*Eligible for Reduced Fare Program, Children 5 & Under Ride free if accompanied by adult, all operate under the same umbrella for max rate, monthly pass, and annual pass.

Recreational Routes

INDIVIDUAL REDUCED FARE PROGRAMS

Individuals who meet one of the following criteria will be eligible for a 50% reduction on qualifying routes.  Annual verification of criteria is required.  Criteria and verification outlined below all require Photo ID in addition to the specific requirements.  Acceptable Photo ID includes driver’s license, State ID, Passport, Armed Services ID, Tribal ID, or other state or federal ID that includes a photo.

1. Persons Aged 60 and older
   1. Official Verification of Age/Birth Date (Valid Driver’s License, Passport, State ID Card)
2. Medicare Cardholders
   1. Medicare Card
3. Persons who receive Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Benefits as long as they continue to receive these benefits.
   1. Letter of Authorization
4. Disabled Veterans
   1. Veteran ID Card, DD 214, or equivalent detailing 50 percent disability or greater
5. Students
   1. Current School ID Card, or Homeschool Verification
6. People who meet the FTA definition of people with disabilities “Means any individual who, by reason of illness, injury, age, and congenital malfunction, or other permanent or temporary disability (including any individual who is a wheelchair user or has semi-ambulatory capabilities), are unable, without special facilities or special planning or design to utilize mass transportation and services as effective as persons who are not so affected.
   1. Qualified through CET’s Paratransit Travel Trainer (Dial a Ride Qualified)
7. Low Income
   1. Benefit Letter from one of the programs listed below (verified annually):
      1. Oregon Health Plan
      2. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF),

1. Free & Reduced Lunch
2. HUD Housing Choice Voucher
3. Home Energy Assistance

• Women Infants and Children (WIC)

1. Household income below 60% of State Median Income (verified annually)
   1. Unemployment Pay Stub or Benefit Letter
   2. Worksource Oregon Employment Wage Verification

• Recent Tax Return

GROUP FARE REDUCTION PROGRAMS

Entities meeting one of the criteria below will receive 50% fare discounts for their employees, members, or constituents.

1. Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (CTWS) Tribal Members
2. Private Non-Profit Agencies
   1. 501-3-c and/or 501-19-c, or approved equivalent verification
   2. Annual Contract/Agreement with COIC/CET Required
3. Employers, Institutions, or Schools with more than 10 monthly or annual pass purchases.
   1. Annual Contract/Agreement with COIC/CET Required

DEVIATION IN FARES

The following deviations from charging full fares will be allowed.

1. Reduced Fare Programs for Qualified Individuals or Entities in accordance with this document.
2. *Promotional Events – i.e. Ride the Bus Week (Day), Implementation of a new Route, Trial Routes, etc.
3. *Special Events
4. *Emergencies
5. *System Outages
6. CET & COIC Staff shall be allowed to ride qualifying routes for free.
7. As outlined in CET’s advertising policy

*Requires Transportation Director Approval