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.
