Bend, COIC, partners honored for transit efforts

Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council is pleased to announce Jim Kirkbride, St. Charles Health System, Eric King, City of Bend, and Kelly Sparks, Oregon State University Cascades were awarded the “Local Distinguished Service Award” at the statewide Oregon Public Transportation Conference on October 12th.

Mr. Kirkbride, Ms. Sparks, and Mr. King were recognized for their leadership on implementing the Bend Transit Expansion for Cascades East Transit.

The Bend Transit Expansion project was a six-month, partner driven initiative to identify expanded service and funding for the Bend transit system. The Bend Transit Expansion project was co-chaired by Amy Tykeson, local business leader, and Tammy Baney, Deschutes County Commissioner.

In addition to St. Charles, OSU-Cascades, and the City of Bend, the Bend Transit Expansion partners included Central Oregon Community College, Bend Chamber of Commerce, Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization, and Bend Parks and Recreation District. On September 21st Cascades East Transit launched additional routes, shorter wait times, and later hours in Bend.

“The Bend Transit Expansion was successful due in large part to the heavy lifting of Kelly Sparks, Jim Kirkbride, and Eric King.” Andrew Spreadborough, COIC Executive Director, continued, “We are grateful for their leadership and commitment in this process that resulted in quality public transit for Bend and Central Oregon. In fact, all of our Bend Transit Expansion partners worked diligently to implement a suite of transit improvements that benefited our community.”

The Local Distinguished Service Award is given annually at the Oregon Public Transportation Conference by the Oregon Transit Association and honors a public transportation maker, elected or public official, or private citizen who has contributed to the public transportation industry on the local level through policy, legislative initiative, and leadership.

Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council was designated a Council of Governments in 1972 under ORS 190. COIC provides service to the counties of Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson as well as to the cities of Bend, Culver, La Pine, Madras, Metolius, Prineville, Redmond, Sisters, and Warm Springs. Cascades East Transit, operated by COIC, runs a fixed-route service in Bend, community connector shuttles, general public Dial-A-Ride services in Redmond, La Pine, Prineville, Sisters, and Madras, flex-route service in Warm Springs, as well as recreational routes like Ride the River and the Mt. Bachelor shuttle.