Transit saves ... if you have a functioning system

Nice article about how much money you can save by taking transit. Only one problem -- you have to have a transit system that supports riders with enough service to make it possible to be car free or car lite (which Salem definitely does not -- yet).

Many of you may not realize that there are another round of service reductions in the works for Salem's bus system, Salem-Keizer Transit (a/k/a Cherriots). Given the defeat of the last three operating levies, the staff has developed a plan to live within the current funding (about 10% fares, with the rest of the money coming from property tax of 76 mills, supplemented by millions of payments in lieu of payroll tax from the State of Oregon).

Four seats on the Transit Board will be decided in the upcoming election (ballots must be received by the Elections office by May 19). If you want to see the League of Women Voters interview with candidates for one of the races, look for it on Channel 21 (station CCTV) at these times:

Thursday, May 7, 9:30 p.m. . . . Monday, May 11, 3:30 p.m.
Friday, May 8, 10:00 p.m. . . . Thursday, May 14, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 9, 4:00 p.m. . . . Saturday, May 16, 10:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 10, 10:00 p.m. . . . Monday, May 18, 2:00 p.m.

You can also stream the program in on your home PC or Mac .