A proposed $8.6 million regional transit package would direct its largest share to Corvallis while providing part of the local match for a redesigned bus route between Corvallis and Eugene.
(Photo: Downtown Transit Center/VisitCorvallis)
The Benton County Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund Advisory Committee, whose name is longer than any current existing route, is scheduled to review the project rankings and funding recommendations on Thursday, Sept. 10.
In the funding recommendations, the Corvallis Transit System would receive around $3.89 million under the proposed plan. This funding builds in $2.58 million to preserve existing services, potentially expand service hours, and support transit planning and administration.
$810,000 would be designated for facilities and bus-stop improvements, which would also potentially include work at the Downtown Transit Center for a long-delayed bus-washing facility.
The Corvallis service proposal holds the top position on the committee’s current project rankings.
The larger regional package also proposes around $1.98 million for Benton Area Transit, $1.4 million for Albany Transit projects, and $304,781 for the Philomath Connection. All in, the plan totals roughly $8.63 million.
One interesting proposed service would produce a more impactful change for us.
Benton County is seeking a separate state grant to restore bus service between downtown Corvallis and Eugene. The route would provide four round-trips per day. It would also include operating seven days a week, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
This route is all based on the former 99Vine pilot route, which offered fare-free service between communities along Highway 99W before its grant funding recently expired on June 30th. The new proposed replacement would take a different path though. Buses would leave Corvallis on Highway 34 and travel south on Highway 99E through Tangent, Shedd, Halsey, Harrisburg, and Junction City before reaching Eugene.
The new alignment would bypass Monroe, which was served by the original 99Vine route.
The whole point of the County’s grant application is to provide access to communities with a larger population. If the grant is awarded, which is competitive, Benton County anticipates beginning service in September 2027. Pacific Crest would most likely be the lead potential contractor.
Nothing is final yet, but based on past proposals… we think the chances are good.
The committee will meet from 1 to 3 p.m. on September 10 at the Kalapuya Building, 4500 SW Research Way.
This article was written by Jesse Grant, a contributor to The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com
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There is a lot to like, but leaving Monroe out of the equation is not forward thinking and quite frankly an insult considering Lebanon and Sweet Home are served.