Oregon POINT
| Commenced operation | April 2009 |
|---|---|
| Service area | Oregon |
| Service type | Intercity bus |
| Routes | 5 |
| Operator | Oregon Department of Transportation |
| Website |
oregon-point |
The Oregon POINT (Public Oregon Intercity Transit) is a five-route, intercity bus service of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). The service is administered by ODOT's Rail & Public Transit Division as part of its intercity grant program.[1] The POINT service exists to connect towns and rural communities with major transportation hubs and urban centers. ODOT accomplishes this by filling gaps in Oregon's long distance transit network where no public services exist and which would otherwise be unprofitable for private companies.
The service functions like a thruway bus service for Amtrak in that it makes direct connections to passenger rail service and sells tickets using Amtrak's system. However, Amtrak does not own or contract POINT buses and the service is open to the general public, not just Amtrak train passengers. The POINT program is similar to the Travel Washington buses in neighboring Washington.
History
ODOT began investing heavily in intercity bus services in 1994.[2] The decline in Greyhound service in Oregon in the late 1990s led to a rise in local private operators.[3] Over time, to better meet the travel needs of Oregonians and draw more ridership, ODOT created the POINT program through "a mixture of new service, expanded service and service re-branding that relies on public-private partnerships with private bus operators."[2]
Routes
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- Cascades POINT (established July 2012): Portland, Oregon City, Woodburn, Salem, Albany, Eugene (Amtrak Station), University of Oregon (Eugene)
- Eastern POINT (established February 2011): Bend, Brothers, Hampton, Riley, Burns, Buchanan, Drewsey, Juntura, Harper, Vale, Ontario
- HighDesert POINT (established February 2010): Redmond, Bend, Sunriver, La Pine, Chemult
- NorthWest POINT (established March 2010):[4] Portland, Manning, Elsie, Necanicum Junction, Cannon Beach, Seaside, Gearhart, Warrenton, Astoria
- SouthWest POINT (established April 2009):[5] Klamath Falls, White City, Medford, Ashland, Gold Hill, Grants Pass, Selma, Cave Junction, O'Brien, Gasquet (California), Hiouchi (California), Crescent City (California), Smith River (California), Brookings
References
- ↑ "Intercity/Transit Network". Oregon Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
- 1 2 "Expanded intercity bus service connects Oregon communities" (Press release). Oregon Department of Transportation. April 19, 2012. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
- ↑ Smith, Quinton (January 23, 2011). "Oregon's rural, intercity bus lines offer a hassle-free, affordable option for getting around". The Oregonian. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
- ↑ Foden-Vencil, Kristian (March 18, 2010). "New Bus Route To Connect Portland And Seaside". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
- ↑ Fattig, Paul (April 15, 2009). "New bus system links Medford with coast". Mail Tribune. Medford, Oregon. Retrieved July 15, 2016.