Update November 24
With COVID-19 cases on the rise in Oregon, passengers must adhere to OHA guidelines that are posted on each bus. While face coverings are acceptable, face masks are preferred for passengers and those are provided for free by our drivers. Passengers must wear their face covering or mask while boarding the bus and also while on the bus. Face coverings must fit snugly across the face and cover the mouth and nose. Riders who remove their masks while riding may be asked to exit the bus. Special accommodations will be provided to those who experience disabilities and cannot wear a mask or rely on lip reading services to communicate. We are all in this together, so please stay safe by wearing your mask at all times, sitting in assigned seats, and observing social distance guidelines.
Update October 2, 2020
CET is preparing for winter conditions and will continue to provide fareless service thorough at least the end of this year. All Saturday services are currently suspended until further notice. CET also continues to implement OHA guidelines for transit agencies that includes wiping down high-touch surfaces every four hours, monitoring social distance requirements (3 feet between passengers and 6 feet between passengers and drivers), providing face masks to riders, and maintaining maximum occupancy passenger limits on buses. Hawthorne Station is open for restroom use only and renovations are currently taking place inside the building to enhance accessibility, provide a more inviting atmosphere, and make it easier for staff to clean and disinfect the floors, surfaces and furniture. Please remember to wash your hands frequently and use the hand sanitizer that is provided at the station and on the buses. Thanks for riding with us and please do your part to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Update August 15, 2020
CET continues to implement OHA guidelines for transit agencies. CET’s entire system is fareless and Hawthorne Station is only open for restroom use only. Please maintain social distancing of 3 feet between passengers and 6 feet between passengers and drivers. Seats in buses are sectioned off to maintain the required social distancing. Please also observe maximum occupancy signs on buses.
Thank you for riding CET and please do your part to wash your hands frequently, use hand sanitizer, maintain your social distancing, and wear your mask. If you do not have a mask or face covering, a packaged face mask will be provided to you free of charge by a driver.
OHA COVID-19 updates and guidelines can be found at https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19
Update July 1, 2020
Following the new statewide requirements, all customers must wear a face covering while inside public spaces. Please be sure to wear a clean face covering if you are riding public transportation or inside any CET facilities, such as Hawthorne Station. CET will provide face coverings for riders who do not one.
CET’s new Route 31 connecting La Pine and Sunriver has completed its first month of operation. The summer shuttle offers nine round trips every day of the week through Labor Day from 5:15 am until 7:39 pm, which is perfect for employees who work a variety of shifts. CET continues efforts to prevent the spread of germs by offering fareless boarding across all services, buses are regularly disinfected, and both drivers and riders are required to wear face coverings and practice social distancing.
Update June 4, 2020
The health and safety of all Cascades East Transit (CET) riders and staff is a top priority, and never more so than during the coronavirus pandemic. CET continues to take necessary precautions to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. High-touch surfaces in vehicles and at facilities are disinfected multiple times per day, hand sanitizer is provided in all buses and transit stations, and drivers and passengers are required to wear face coverings. Additionally, CET encourages social distancing between drivers and passengers by blocking off seats, allowing rear-door boardings on our low-floor buses in Bend, and by temporarily suspending fare collection to avoid the exchange of money.
CET is also following new transit guidelines released by the Oregon Health Authority on May 15. High touch surfaces on buses and at facilities are being wiped down every four hours and additional signage and visual cues have been placed on all buses to encourage passengers to stand and sit at least three feet away from other passengers and six feet away from drivers. CET staff posted maximum occupancy numbers on each bus to ensure adequate social distancing between passengers and drivers and prevent crowding.
Passengers are still required to wear face coverings such as masks, scarves, and bandanas when boarding the bus. Exceptions are being made for children under two years of age and for people with disabilities or with certain health conditions who cannot wear a mask. Drivers are also required to wear face coverings and they will hand out masks free of charge to customers who do not have one.
OHA COVID-19 updates and guidelines can be found at https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19
Update May 18, 2020
CET is implementing new transit guidelines released by the Oregon Health Authority on May 15. High touch surfaces on buses and at facilities are being wiped down every four hours and additional signage and visual cues have been placed on all buses to encourage passengers to stand and sit at least three feet away from other passengers and six feet away from drivers. Maximum occupancy numbers are now posted on each bus to ensure adequate social distancing between passengers and drivers and prevent crowding. Extra buses are also being staged to help on routes where buses are getting full. Please be patient and allow extra time when making essential trips on transit.
Update May 13, 2020
CET continues to follow CDC guidelines to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and keep our drivers, staff members, and passengers safe. We are also closely monitoring state and local guidance regarding COVID-19.
CET Bend and Community Connector routes are currently running on a reduced frequency Saturday schedule during the weekdays. All weekend services (including Dial-A-Ride) are suspended until further notice. CET encourages riders to only use transit for making essential trips such as going to a job, doctor’s appointment, pharmacy, or grocery store. Our vehicle washers and operations staff continue to provide enhanced-levels of cleaning inside buses and across all facilities on a daily basis. While we understand this has been a difficult time for everyone, we appreciate our riders following social distancing requirements and wearing face coverings for everyone’s safety. Staff were busy over the past month individually wrapping face masks and bandanas to provide free of charge for passengers who do not have face coverings.
We also want to thank our drivers and supervisors for all of their hard work during this crisis – we are an essential service and provide an important transportation option that helps residents of all ages and abilities across our region access employment opportunities, health care services, and much needed supplies such as food and medicine. Thank you for your continued support and we will all get through this together!
Update April 20, 2020
Starting Monday, April 20, CET will initiate the following service changes for Bend fixed routes, Community Connectors, and Dial-A-Ride until further notice:
- Community Connector services will operate on Saturday schedules during weekdays; one round trip per weekday will be implemented on Route 28 (Redmond to Sisters).
- All Saturday Bend fixed route and Community Connector services are suspended.
- All Saturday and Sunday Bend Dial-A-Ride services are suspended.
- Bend fixed route weekday service will continue to operate on a Saturday Schedule, which went into effect on April 6. Route 10 is suspended until further notice.
In response to new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CET is requiring passengers to wear face coverings such as scarfs, bandanas or masks that cover the nose and mouth. Exceptions will be made for passengers who have a disability and cannot wear a mask, or who rely on lip reading and need to ask another mask wearer to temporarily lift their mask or face covering in order to communicate. The CDC recommends that anyone leaving their homes should use face coverings to limit their potential exposure to COVID-19 and prevent exposing others.
Update April 6, 2020
Due to historically low ridership in the wake of COVID-19, CET will operate Bend Fixed-Route service on a Saturday schedule during the weekdays starting on Monday, April 6 until further notice. Additionally, Bend Dial-A-Ride services are suspended on Sundays. By instituting these service changes, CET will be able to maintain geographic route coverage while reducing the number of buses and drivers on the road. For specific Saturday schedule information, visit the Bend-Fixed Route Schedule page.
Please note that Route 10 in Bend, which does not operate on Saturday, will be temporarily suspended. For those trying to reach their critical destinations in this area, Route 11 covers a similar geography. The following Route 10 stops are temporarily closed:
- Simpson @ Colombia
- Simpson @ Century
- Colorado @ Columbia
- Colorado @ Simpson
It is important that everyone stays home, except for making critical trips such as going to your job, a doctor’s appointment, the pharmacy, or grocery store. CET continues to offer fareless boarding across all services (Bend Fixed-Route, Community Connector, Bend Dial-A-Ride, and Rural Dial-A-Ride) to reduce interactions between drivers and customers and all CET buses and facilities are receiving enhanced levels of cleaning on a daily basis. If you need to ride the bus to access an essential destination, please practice social distancing, wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before and after you board a bus, bring hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipes, and wear a facial covering such as a mask, bandana, or scarf. More information about face coverings can be found on the CDC’s website.
Thank you the all of the operators, dispatchers, mechanics, and customer service representatives who are keeping CET on the road. We appreciate you!
Update March 25, 2020
CET is an essential service that community members count on to access essential trips such as employment, medical appointments, and grocery stores. We are continuing to operate for community members to make these critical trips and you MUST HAVE A DESTINATION TO RIDE THE BUS.
The following measures have been put into place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure social distancing on CET buses and at transit facilities.
- CET buses and facilities are receiving enhanced levels of cleaning on a daily basis, but please remember that these surfaces are only clean until someone touches or coughs/sneezes on them.
- The lobby inside Hawthorne Station is only open for customers to use the restroom and customers are asked to exit immediately after using the facility.
- CET has ended ticket sales at Hawthorne Station until further notice for the safety of customers and staff. If you must use an intercity provider (such as Greyhound), please purchase your tickets through the provider’s website and print your tickets at home.
- CET continues to offer fareless boarding across all services (Bend Fixed-Route, Community Connector, Bend Dial-A-Ride, and Rural Dial-A-Ride) to reduce interactions between passengers and drivers and eliminate cash exchange.
- CET has marked off rows of seats with signage to ensure adequate social distancing. Additionally, major routes in Bend are being serviced by CET’s Gillig buses with rear-door boardings only to ensure space between the drivers and passengers.
CET will continue to operate as time allows and provide transportation for those who absolutely depend on us. Please take precautions by washing your hands regularly and carrying hand sanitizer and/or disinfecting wipes. Do not ride the bus if you feel ill; seek medical attention by calling a medical professional. If you must ride the bus for a critical trip, maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet between you and other passengers. Stay safe everyone!
Update March 20, 2020
Starting Saturday, March 21, Cascades East Transit will eliminate fare collection on all CET services to reduce the interaction of passengers with fareboxes and maintain social distance for the safety of our drivers and passengers.
Please note that E-fare options through TouchPass will be temporarily disabled starting Friday night, March 20, to ensure customers do not make fare purchases while CET temporarily suspends fare collection.
Update March 14, 2020
COIC and CET take seriously the cleanliness of our buses and facilities and the safety of those we serve throughout the region. Our organization is working collaboratively with local officials and agencies to respond to the coronavirus and would like to remind passengers and the public to take cautious measures in public spaces such as our buses and transit facilities. Please DO NOT ride the bus except for critical trips. If you do need to travel by bus, please practice “social distancing” by providing six feet of distance between yourself and other passengers.
The Oregon Health Authority is leading the response across Oregon, and we are following their direction in terms of precautions and mitigation measures. At this time service levels will stay the same. If any schedules change, CET will provide that information with advanced notice on the www.cascadeseasttransit.com website, through a press release, within buses and through our Twitter and Facebook social media platforms.
COIC and CET continues to enhance the cleaning of our buses and facilities using disinfectant cleaning solutions, as well as wiping down high-touch surfaces on a daily basis. Staff are sanitizing hand rails, seats, doors, grab handles, dash panels, steering wheels, and other high-touch surfaces inside vehicles. Touch points such as door knobs, restrooms, fixtures, brochure holders, and chairs are being sanitized on a daily basis throughout CET’s facilities. It is important to keep in mind that the surfaces where people touch should never be considered completely sanitized. Surfaces are only clean until someone touches it or coughs/sneezes nearby.
To help avoid the spread of contagions, we request that passengers:
– Limit non-essential business at Hawthorne Station and CET’s Redmond office located on E. Antler Ave.
– Only ride the bus for critical trips such as to your job or necessary medical appointments that cannot be rescheduled and if another travel option is not available.
– Do not use transit if you feel ill, seek medical attention by calling a medical professional.
– Try to avoid close contact with other passengers if possible and maintain six feet of “social distancing” while sitting and standing on the bus. Be considerate of other passengers.
– If you are concerned about being in proximity to others, please consider bicycling, walking or asking for rides from friends or family.
– Carry hand sanitizer or sanitation wipes to maintain a good hygiene.
Thank you and please call 541-385-8680 if you have questions or would like further information.
– The CET Team
CET staff are working diligently to clean buses and facilities to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Update March 4, 2020
With coronavirus cases on the rise in Oregon, CET has posted information about how to reduce the spread of germs in all vehicles and facilities. Drivers and staff are cleaning buses daily, but please remember that these surfaces are only clean until someone touches or coughs/sneezes on them. To minimize the spread of coronavirus, the CDC recommends the following preventative measures:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
- CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
- Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
For posters and factsheets about the coronavirus (in English and Spanish), visit this link.