Commissioners approve STIF application backing Community Connections transit operations

The Baker County Board of Commissioners voted Jan. 8 to approve a STIF (Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund) application that would fund local transit provider Community Connections of Northeast Oregon (CCNO) and two county projects, the parks/transit administration item and a road department planning match.

Why it matters: STIF is a key ODOT funding source for rural transit. The application before the commissioners included CCNO operating assistance, an administrative line the transit agency asked to add, and local match items for county road planning. County staff told commissioners the biennial ODOT estimate for the region is a little over $600,000, and the county has a rollover of roughly $100,000; together the county expected about $740,000 available to program.

County staff said CCNO is the county’s sole public transit provider. The application included an administrative request tied to transit operation and a 5304 match request for road planning; the proposal also preserves funding for maintenance and repair of transit vehicles that keep buses on the road.

Board action: Commissioner motioned and seconded the application; commissioners voted to approve forwarding the STIF application to ODOT for consideration. Staff said the application contains an optional 20% administrative line requested by ODOT: if ODOT awards the 20% option, the county budget would be adjusted accordingly.

Background: local staff said the county will file the application before the Jan. 16 deadline. Commissioners discussed uncertainty surrounding Greyhound’s service reduction and said state ODOT staff are tracking intercity impacts.

Next steps: staff will submit the STIF application to ODOT and return with any award details and required local administration procedures.