In Keizer, passengers could catch a local bus every 15 minutes.

The bus stops where they wait would be safer and cleaner.

And those needing door-to-door transportation to get to a doctor or groceries would have options.

Such upgrades to the Cherriots service hinge on one decision – whether Keizer businesses will share in the cost.

The Salem Area Mass Transit District has announced its intent to impose a new payroll tax on employers in Salem and Keizer. As originally proposed, the tax would raise $39 million a year for transit work and be imposed in 2026.

The tax is generating political heat. The Keizer City Council has come out against the tax. The transit board now is putting the brakes on, considering reducing the tax and delaying by a year the start of collections.

Keizer residents get a chance to find out firsthand what’s being proposed.

The district has scheduled an open house for 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, at the Keizer Transit Station, just off Keizer Station Boulevard at an entrance to Keizer station. 

The district has scheduled an open house for 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, at the Keizer Transit Station, just off Keizer Station Boulevard at an entrance to Keizer station. The event is one of a series of sessions scheduled by the district in Salem-Keizer.

The Keizer open house will be in the conference room at the transit station. District officials plan to set up several tables with information about aspects of transit service and the tax.

“People from Keizer should attend to provide their thoughts and ideas on our service and funding plan,” said Allan Pollock, Cherriots general manager. “We have identified service enhancements and new service based on previous surveys and plans but we would like to hear how we should prioritize those enhancements.”

Pollock said residents can move through the information stations in about 30 minutes. No formal presentation is planned.

“Keizer residents should attend to ensure their voice is being heard,” said Ramiro Navarro, who represents Keizer on the transit district board.

He said he hasn’t decided whether to support the new payroll tax.

“As Keizer’s representative on the Salem Area Mass Transit District Board, my responsibility is not to bring a predetermined stance, but to carry the voices and concerns of our community into these discussions, alongside my own experience being born and raised in Keizer,” he said.

Navarro renewed an offer he has made before, riding with anyone who wants a day pass to give the bus system a try. He calls it “Try Transit.”

“I’d like to renew that offer to anyone interested in riding with Cherriots to understand how transit works in our community and the lives it impacts,” he said.

He asked that those interested reach out to him by email at [email protected].

Shofi Ull Azum, the transit district’s chief planning and development officer, provided Keizertimes more details on two services being considered.

•Rapid transit that is a “high-capacity bus service that is designed to provide fast, reliable and efficient service to riders. This service may include fewer stops, higher frequency and express service for faster travel times.”

Such a service would mean “shorter travel times through fewer stops along the route” and that “riders spend less time stuck in traffic due to traffic signal priority.”

•Microtransit that “uses small, multi-passenger accessible vehicles to provide flexible, on-demand rides within designated service areas.”

Such a service provides “convenience and flexibility as it doesn’t have any fixed schedule or route, door-to-door service, real-time tracking via smartphone app, reduced wait time and travel time, cheaper alternative to ride-hailing services like Uber/Lyft.”

“Many Salem-Keizer residents value Cherriots services but they don’t use it quite often because current fixed route service doesn’t align with their work/life schedule, very limited (low frequency) transit service, nearest bus stop is far from their home, etc.”

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