Cascades East Transit received the program of the year award from the Transportation Options Group of Oregon. The award recognizes CET for its recreation services reducing drive alone vehicle trips, including the new Transit to Trails summer service to the Deschutes National Forest. The award was presented to CET’s new Transportation Director, Bob Townsend, last week at the Oregon Public Transit Conference in Seaside.
CET launched Transit to Trails in 2023 with support from a Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) grant. The new summer service complements CET’s popular winter ski bus to Mt Bachelor, providing a high-capacity bike trailer on a fully ADA accessible bus connecting Bend to the outdoors via public transit. Ridership on Transit to Trails more than doubled in 2024, delivering nearly 45,000 passenger miles traveled between Juneteenth and Labor Day.
Transit to Trails built on years of CET’s experience providing recreational transit services in Bend, Oregon. In addition to the winter ski bus, CET provides a shuttle bus called Ride the River for floaters on the Deschutes River and a bus to the top of Lava Butte in summer months. Ride the River provided over 65,000 rides in 2024. The Lava Butte bus is operated in partnership with Discover Your Forest and supports activities in the Deschutes National Forest.
CET continues to work with local partners to provide safe, affordable alternatives to driving for locals and tourists alike, whether you’re getting out to work or play. We’re proud of our team!