July 14, 2025 – Although several transit agencies in rural Oregon have announced
cutbacks in service due to federal funding uncertainty, for now it’s business as usual for
Lincoln County Transit.
The situation for rural transit programs was complicated by the failure of the
transportation bill in the Oregon Legislature.
The Oregon Department of Transportation is cutting staff as a result, including those who process funding to rural transit.
Although several agencies in the state are making immediate, significant cuts, Lincoln
County Transit Director Cynda Bruce says she’s taking a “wait-and-see” approach for
the time being. She said Lincoln County Transit has a healthy enough reserve to deal
with short-term revenue interruptions, although it’s unclear if service reductions will be
necessary in the long term if federal funds are ultimately withheld.
Most Lincoln County Transit riders rely on public transportation as their only means of
getting to work, school, medical appointments, and other destinations of necessity.
“We know how dependent on our services most of our riders are,” Bruce said. “We don’t
want to make cuts unless it’s absolutely certain they’re necessary.”
For questions, please contact Public Information Officer Kenneth Lipp at
[email protected] or 541-265-4100.
I just read an article stating that Governor Kotex wants to raise taxes to support not laying off ODOT workers. Why do the hourly employees who do the work have to be laid off? Why not start at the top and lay off the top executives? That is where the real money is made and they don’t go into the field where the real jobs are.
I feel that before lay offs or more tax is requested… the department should be audited to see if it had fraud, waste, and abuse exist!!! The last place the state should go for more revenue is to tax Residents for their failures.