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Troutdale council approves Travel Oregon grant to pilot Sandy River shuttle
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Summary
The Troutdale City Council on July 8 approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Oregon Tourism Commission (Travel Oregon) to accept a grant that will fund a Sandy River Shuttle pilot, a subsidy to lower fares, and a required evaluation.
The Troutdale City Council on July 8 approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Oregon Tourism Commission (Travel Oregon) to accept a grant that will fund a Sandy River Shuttle pilot, a subsidy to keep fares lower than private operation, and an evaluation report.
Staff economic development coordinator Marley Boxler said the city previously contracted a Sandy River Shuttle feasibility study and has now received a $150,000 Travel Oregon grant to fund a pilot and evaluation. Boxler said the pilot will collect baseline visitation data this summer, complete marketing and logistics planning through the fall, and run a weekend/holiday pilot between Memorial Day and Labor Day 2026, contingent on final planning and contractor availability.
Boxler identified Sasquatch Shuttles (a local operator with a storefront at the outlet mall) as the proposed concessionaire that would operate the pilot. The proposed pilot route would originate at the outlet mall, include a flag stop at the downtown visitor center and stops near Lehi and Dabney parks, and return the same way. Staff said the subsidy in the grant is intended to lower fares so the service is more accessible; the city is not proposing to make the service permanently free.
Councilors raised questions about expected travel time and frequency. Staff said a single bus operating the full loop could produce long intervals between trips (one feasibility estimate noted a 75–95 minute loop when accounting for stop time), while two or three buses would reduce headways (staff estimated roughly 30 minutes between buses with three buses). Staff emphasized that additional public engagement and pilot monitoring would be used to refine schedules, stops and marketing.
Boxler said the pilot will also test ancillary operations tied to river recreation, including potential equipment rental and storage coordination with the concessionaire and exploring whether state park infrastructure (for example, a pump at Dabney State Park) could support floatation device operations.
The council approved the Travel Oregon intergovernmental agreement on a unanimous roll‑call vote. Councilors were briefed that the feasibility study, related visitation reports and the grant agreement were included in the council packet and will guide pilot implementation and the forthcoming evaluation.
