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Transit vision updates: CET leadership change and microtransit pilot under consideration
Summary
Board members reported Cascades East Transit executive director Bob Townsend will depart; the MPO's Transit Vision work group is considering a microtransit pilot using existing funds, possibly starting as early as January, to test focused service improvements without new funding.
Chair Ariel Mendez and Councilor Mike Riley updated the board on transit vision work. Mendez said the board received notice that Bob Townsend, the Cascades East Transit executive director, will be leaving and that the hiring process for a replacement is ongoing.
Mendez described a potential microtransit pilot being discussed with Cascades East Transit that would reallocate existing funds (no new funding) to concentrate service in a single area to increase ridership and assess feasibility for future expansion. "The idea was to take some existing funds, so no new funding, but take existing funds and really focus them on 1 area and try to do basically a micro transit pilot project," Mendez said. Riley added that the CET hiring process has extended the applicant period and that the agencies plan further recruitment for the executive director position.
Staff said more details will be shared as the pilot design advances and that the board has ex officio status for CET representation. The board requested continued updates as hiring and pilot planning proceed.
