East Salem Transit Center

The first step of the East Salem Transit Center (ESTC) project is identifying potential sites and studying how they could best serve the community. This page will keep you informed about the East Salem Transit Center project and share opportunities to provide your feedback.

What is the East Salem Transit Center (ESTC) project?

The East Salem Transit Center project will plan and design a new transit center to better serve the growing east Salem community. This multi-phase project will explore potential locations and develop a facility that improves access to convenient and accessible public transportation for people who live, work, and visit the area.

In the current phase, the project team is focused on identifying potential sites and assessing the benefits and constraints for each. Factors considered in determining the preferred site include proximity to key destinations, facilitating transfers between bus routes, the size of the site, anticipated cost, and community priorities.

Once a preferred site is selected, work will begin to design the transit center. This includes preliminary engineering, review and mitigation of environmental factors, land acquisition, and final design.

Finally, with all the key questions answered and design completed, the project team will move into construction.

A timeline for the design and construction phases has not yet been determined. Stay tuned for more updates as the site selection phase of the project moves forward.

Why a new transit center?

Cherriots Long Range Transit Plan (LRTP) outlines plans for new bus routes, extended service hours, and earlier morning and later evening trips. The existing transit center at Chemeketa Community College currently consists of a few bus stops that make transferring between routes difficult, lack sheltered waiting areas, and do not meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility standards. Although it is the smallest of Cherriots four existing transit centers, it has the second-highest number of rider boardings after the Downtown Transit Center.

Transit services in the area are projected to increase in the future in accordance with the LRTP. To support this anticipated growth and better serve both current and future riders, a larger, dedicated transit center is needed to enhance transit connectivity, improve accessibility, strengthen safety and security, and provide a more comfortable and reliable passenger experience.

Where will the new transit center be located?

A specific location has not yet been determined. Several potential sites will be evaluated through a process that considers technical factors and community priorities including:

• Convenient location. The transit center location should facilitate bus connections to key destinations and transfers between bus routes.
• Site size and characteristics. The selected site will need to be large enough to include bus bays and rider amenities like shelters.
• Cost. The site will need to allow for cost-effective acquisition, design, and construction.
• Community needs and priorities. Site selection will be informed by the needs and priorities of the community, including people who live and work in east Salem, local businesses, students, faculty, and staff at Chemeketa Community College, community organizations, and bus riders all around the Salem region. As part of the project, there will be opportunities for public input through surveys and in-person events with project staff.

When will the new transit center open?

The East Salem Transit Center site selection is anticipated to conclude in early 2027 with a preferred location. Following this, design and construction of the transit center is expected to take place, but a timeline has not yet been established.

Who is involved in the project?

Cherriots hired a consulting firm to provide professional services supporting the ESTC site selection process, including conducting technical analyses and facilitating community engagement. The site selection process includes an equity analysis to assess impacts to historically marginalized communities. This analysis helps ensure the project avoids disproportionate burdens or unintended negative effects.

Where is the project currently and what are the next steps?

The project team is currently engaged in planning and site selection activities. Review of potential sites and analysis of future transit needs are expected to be completed within the next couple of months. Final recommendations for the preferred site are expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Community engagement activities are planned throughout the project. More information about dates, times, and locations for engagement will be provided soon.

Schedule

Key milestones for the siting study are listed below and updated regularly.

Next Steps of ESTC Project

• Preliminary Engineering, Environmental Review, and Final Design
• Land Acquisition  
• Construction