=
Expand search form

Ticket to ride: Public and private services provide alternatives to driving

The CARTS bus has regular morning and afternoon stops at both Roth’s and the Westfield Shopping Center. Photo by Brenna Wiegand
The CARTS bus has regular morning and afternoon stops at both Roth’s and the Westfield Shopping Center. Photo by Brenna Wiegand

By Brenna Wiegand

You climb aboard, plunk in your coins and take a seat. Seems simple enough, unless you’ve never used public transportation and don’t know where to start.

Where you start depends on where you want to go.

Silverton Hospital’s CareVan is available to patients of hospital staff. Complimentary rides are provided to and from Silverton Hospital and its affiliated clinics. Calling in advance is encouraged; donations cheerfully accepted.

The Silver Trolley operates exclusively in Silverton, providing curb-to-curb service by appointment – the more notice the better – and they’ll come get you and take you to the grocery store, doctor’s office or home from school.

“We operate primarily from grant monies so it’s free to ride, but we suggest a $2 donation,” said Vicki Ovendale of Silverton Community Development. “Most of our riders are seniors who no longer drive, but the Trolley is available to anyone.”

Jason Gottgetreu, Silverton Community Development Director, is hoping to expand the Trolley’s reach.

“I’m considering trying to fill in gaps so people can get from Mount Angel to Silverton – and seeing if the trolley could do that,” he said.

For more customized, 24/7 service, there’s Silverton-Mount Angel Taxi Service.

“A lot of times it’s people going to the airport,” said owner Jimmy Galvez. “We also do a lot of medical transport with the nursing homes and the hospital; get them home safe after a procedure.” He’ll pick up kids up from school, he said, or act as a courier service.

A trip to Woodburn costs about $20. Galvez will take up to four people to the airport for about $90. Unlike the big companies, he doesn’t “keep the meter running,” charging primarily on mileage.

Transportation resources

Silver Trolley: 306 S Water St.,
Silverton; City of Silverton, www.silverton.or.us
(go to Community Development Department);
503-873-4546. Free; $2 suggested donation.
Call for a ride.

Silverton Hospital CareVan:
342 Fairview St., Silverton;
www.silvertonhealth.org; 503-873-1784.
Call for reservation. Free; donations welcome.

Silverton-Mount Angel Taxi Service:
920 Todd Ct., Silverton; 503-873-2716

CARTS: 333 High St. NE, Ste. 100, Salem;
very informative website: www.cherriots.org.
Route, schedule info, 503-588-2877;
requests to deviate from route, 503-315-5544

HUT Portland Airport Shuttle: Provides airport
shuttles out of Salem, Eugene, Corvallis,
Albany and Woodburn. www.hutshuttle.com;
503-364-4444

“It’s a lot cheaper, and with the economy we try to work with people,” Galvez said. “You don’t have to wait when you call us – we’re going to be there to pick you up.”

Chemeketa Area Regional Transportation System (CARTS) provides public transportation service to rural Marion and Polk counties. Among them, Route 20 covers Salem to Silverton and Mount Angel; Route 30 AKA “Canyon Connector” traverses Gates, Mill City, Lyons, Mehama, Stayton, Sublimity, Aumsville and Turner. CARTS riders can flag down the driver along any route. The driver will stop unless it is unsafe to do so.

The bus stops at Silverton Rite Aid 8:01 a.m., 10:11 a.m., 4:41 p.m. and 6:31 p.m.; at Roth’s, 8:06 a.m., 10:16 a.m., 4:45 p.m., 6:36 p.m.

CARTS stops at City Hall in Mount Angel twice daily; 6:30 a.m. for pick-ups and 6:43 p.m. to drop people off only.

A one-way ride to Salem is $2, with discounts for youths, seniors and the disabled. Prepurchased tickets and 30-day electronic swipe cards are available.

CARTS Flex Route 25 allows travel between Woodburn, Mount Angel and Silverton without having to go into Salem. These must be scheduled two business days in advance.

CARTS passengers landing at the newly restored Salem Transit Mall can take off walking or biking; hop onto a Cherriots bus to travel the Salem-Keizer area or make connections bound for McMinnville, Wilsonville or even Bend.

Busses have bike racks, room for strollers and disabled access. With the exception of service animals, pets must be in carriers.

When you climb aboard, you can still drop coins into a slot for a one-way ride or to purchase a day pass. Drivers don’t carry change.

When approaching your destination, simply pull the cord along the inside of the bus to ring the bell. This will signal the bus operator to stop at the next bus stop.

“Our mission is connecting people with places through safe, friendly and reliable transportation services,” said Lorna Adkins of Salem-Keizer Transit. “We believe getting people to the places they want to go helps improve community livability.

Adkins said ridership includes those with no car. Many, she notices, come from Woodburn, Dallas, Monmouth and Independence.

“It’s generally someone who wants to spend a day or make a shopping trip,” Adkins said. “It’s not that convenient for 8 to 5ers.

“A lot of times people who’ve never ridden a bus are afraid they don’t know how; we’re here to help,” Adkins said. “If people are creative and determined, they can usually find a way to get where they want to go.”

Previous Article

Trying a new schedule: All-day kindergarten gets good reviews

Next Article

Taking top honors: SHS Dance team, JFK Athletic Director best in state

You might be interested in …

Due diligence: City continues review of school site

By Paula Mabry History was an important element in July in the public’s positive response to the plan for the City of Silverton to purchase the Eugene Field School site from the Silver Falls School District for $1 million. Generations of schoolchildren attended the 96-year-old North Water Street facility, and despite wear and tear and the changes that come with […]

SHS girls basketball starts new legacy

By Cambria Roth With a first-year coach, Garron Lamoreau, this was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Silverton High School girls’ basketball team. Instead, the team proved it could succeed with determination, heart and unity. “These girls didn’t even worry about stats, they had such great chemistry that it never came up,”  Lamoreau said. “They liked each other […]

A Slice of the Pie: Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters or a plumber?

I recently learned something rather astounding – if you ask for ghost stories, prepare for an onslaught. Houses, storefronts, restaurants, nursing homes – and apparently nearly every school in area – all come with a ghost story or two attached. And many of them took place in… bathrooms?  Which prompts the question – why bathrooms? Because – and I don’t […]