News

From:   Jeff Hazen

Executive Director

Sunset Empire Transportation District                                                                                                                                    

NEW REQUIREMENT FOR PERSONS TO WEAR MASKS WHILE ON CONVEYANCES AND AT TRANSPORTATION HUBS

Sunset Empire Transportation District (SETD) has announced implementation of new face mask requirements for all public conveyance operators issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on January 29, 2021. This new Federal law requires the wearing of masks by travelers to prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. Conveyance operators now must require that all persons wear masks when boarding, disembarking, and for the duration of travel. Operators of transportation hubs must require all persons wear a mask when entering or on the premises of a transportation hub including the Transit Center Plaza and all bus stops. This Federal law must be followed by all passengers on public conveyances (e.g., airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, ride-shares) traveling into, within, or out of the United States as well as conveyance operators (e.g., crew, drivers, conductors, and other workers involved in the operation of conveyances) and operators of transportation hubs ( e.g., airports, bus or ferry terminals, train or subway stations, seaports, ports of entry) or any other area that provides transportation in the United States. All people using public transportation must wear masks that snugly cover both the mouth and nose when awaiting, boarding, traveling on, or disembarking public conveyances. People must also wear masks when entering or on the premises of a transportation hub in the United States. Failure to comply constitutes a violation of Federal law.

For more information visit the CDC website at CDC Order: Requirement for Persons to Wear Masks While on Conveyances and at Transportation Hubs or contact Executive Director Jeff Hazen at [email protected] or call 503-861-5399.

Sunset Empire Transportation District Announces Availability of State and Federal Grant Funds

January 20, 2021

Sunset Empire Transportation District (SETD) announces the opportunity for eligible parties in Clatsop County to apply for grant funding for the 2021-2023 Biennium. Projects eligible for funding are required to provide transportation services for older adults and persons with disabilities. Eligible parties include: Cities; Counties; Transportation Districts; Public or private agencies; Federally recognized Indian Tribes; Individuals; or any of these joined in cooperative agreements.

STF and/or §5310 are separate grant programs and require separate applications.

1. Special Transportation Fund (STF): State STF funds for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities are allocated to SETD as the designated STF agency by the Oregon Department of Transportation. STF Estimated biennial allocation is $185,867. Funds may be used for any purpose directly related to transportation services including transit operations, capital equipment, planning, travel training and other transit related purposes. Use the following link for STF application instructions and application form. https://www.oregon.gov/odot/RPTD/RPTD%20Document%20Library/STF-Guidance-Application-Instructions-FY2021-23.pdf

1. 5310 Program Funds: Federal funds identified as “Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities”, Estimated biennial grant funds are $278,887. All projects funded with Section 5310 must be derived from a locally developed and adopted Coordinated Plan. This program has a match component. Use the following link for 5310 application instructions and application form. https://www.oregon.gov/odot/RPTD/RPTD%20Document%20Library/5310-Guidance-Application-Instructions-FY2021-23.pdf

Applications must be received by Sunset Empire Transportation District no later than 5:00 PM on February 8, 2021.

Completed applications may be mailed to SETD 900 Marine Drive Astoria Oregon 97103, dropped off at the Astoria Transit Center at 900 Marine Drive in Astoria, at the Seaside Transit Office at 39 N. Holladay in Seaside or emailed to [email protected].

Contact Executive Director, Jeff Hazen at [email protected] or 503-861-5399 for further assistance or information.

Tillamook County Transportation District is announcing Transit as the official mobility app for District’s Wave riders. Transit has millions of active users in more than 200 cities worldwide, and is now available for TCTD riders who are now able to track their bus in real-time with the leading transport app in North America.

Upon launching the app, TCTD riders are able to see nearby bus departure times in big text and bright colors. The app riders to easily navigate the service area region, aided by accurate real-time bus ETAs, trip planning, step-by-step navigation, and crowdsourced real-time information with Transit’s GO feature.

TCTD’s partnership with Transit offers a comprehensive, easy-to-use and widely-adopted app for riders. Under this agreement, TCTD will also receive anonymized usage data and customizations to better serve the public, such as the ability to send important information directly to riders via Transit’s home screen.

Doug Pilant, the TCTD general manager said, “The District is excited to introduce riders to Transit’s real time app to provide riders with real time bus schedule information in throughout NW Oregon as well as in Salem and Portland.”

By endorsing Transit as its official app, TCTD joins dozens of other public transit agencies across North America that have partnered with the app, including LA Metro, Boston’s MBTA, Baltimore’s MDOT MTA, Silicon Valley’s VTA, Metro Transit in St. Louis and Montreal’s STM.

“Partnering with a single app that prioritizes transit makes it clear to riders where they can go for information,” said David Block-Schachter, Chief Business Officer of Transit. “We’re excited to work with TCTD and to see more people using Transit as part of their daily routine.”

Transit is available to download for iPhone and Android at www.transitapp.com.

For Immediate Release

From:   Jeff Hazen

Executive Director

Sunset Empire Transportation District

503-861-5399 

Sunset Empire Transportation District Board of Commissioners is seeking volunteers that are registered voters of Clatsop County and would like to serve on the District Budget Committee.  The Budget Committee is comprised of 7 District Board Members and 7 community members who are appointed by the Board of Commissioners and serve a 3-year term.  There are currently 3 community member positions open on the committee. The SETD Budget Committee generally meets once or twice a year. Those interested in serving on the SETD Budget Committee are asked to submit a letter of interest which can be emailed to [email protected], dropped off at the Astoria Transit Center, 900 Marine Drive, Seaside Transit Office, 39 North Holladay or mailed to Sunset Empire Transportation District, 900 Marine Drive, Astoria, OR 97103. Please submit letters of interest by December 30, 2020.

For more information, please contact Executive Director Jeff Hazen at 503-861-5399 or by email at [email protected].

CHRISTMAS EVE AND NEW YEAR’S EVE

Route 101- Final run leaves Astoria Transit 4:37 pm south, leaves McDonalds Seaside 5:14 pm north arrives Astoria Transit 6:06 pm

Route 20- Final run leaves Seaside Cinema 5:00 pm, leaves Cannon Beach Visitor Center 5:37 pm, arrives Seaside Cinema 5:55 pm

Route 10- Final run leaves Astoria Transit 4:36 pm, arrives Astoria Transit 5:43pm

Route 15- Final run leaves MiniMart 5:45 pm final stop MiniMart 6:25 pm

ASTORIA TRANSIT CENTER AND THE SEASIDE TRANSIT OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON THESE HOLIDAYS:

• CHRISTMAS DAY– FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2020 CLOSED
• NEW YEAR’S DAY– FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2021 CLOSED

NW Point Bus will be on regular daily schedule during the Holidays

Everyone at SETD wishes you a Happy Holiday Season!

Check this out!

Sunset Empire Transportation District recently received funding from the Cares Act that the President signed into law on March 27^th of which $25,000,000,000 was provided for public transportation. The Oregon Department of Transportation received $42,686,023 from the Cares Act and set up two funding programs for distribution to rural transit providers in Oregon and quickly made one available to help with immediate needs.  Executive Director Jeff Hazen reported that the District applied for and received a little over $500,000 which was utilized for new staff hired to sanitize buses, material and services for increased disinfecting, staff paid leave and for lost revenue due to decreased ridership. Hazen said the second program available from ODOT is a Needs-based program which has $33,300,000 available, and rural transit agencies can submit 3 grant applications by December of 2020.  Hazen reported that the District submitted a needs-based grant for $1,191,108 for the purchase of two remanufactured buses along with operational costs for a year and in July was awarded $861,000 for one bus and operational costs. This bus should be available in 6 to 7 months and will be used to pick up riders who may not be able to get on the regularly scheduled bus because of capacity constraints due to COVID-19 spacing requirements. Hazen said this grant will also be used for converting District restrooms from hand operated controls to touchless controls.  

Hazen said the District is evaluating what projects will be submitted for the next two grant applications.

Executive Director Hazen also announced that the Northwest Oregon Transit Alliance which SETD, Tillamook County Transportation, Lincoln County Transit, Benton County Transportation and Columbia County Rider are partners in was recently awarded $ 187,000 to purchase disinfecting equipment that all five partners will be utilizing and is the first major collaborative procurement that the partners have embarked on.

For more information contact Jeff Hazen at 503-861-5399 or [email protected]

Sunset Empire Transportation District Seeking Candidates for Board Vacancy

Sunset Empire Transportation District (SETD) is accepting applications to fill one open position on its Board of Commissioners.

The appointee will serve the remainder of an open term of Position 2 until term expiration June 30^th, 2021.

The Sunset Empire Transportation District Board of Commissioners is comprised of 7 board members. Each member is elected by the registered voters of the district to serve a 4-year term. Applicants for the vacant position must be registered voters who reside within the district’s boundaries.

Interested candidates can access an information packet, which includes information about the district, position and application/selection process by going to this link to the SETD website.  Alternatively you, you may request a packet by contacting Mary Parker, Executive Assistant at [email protected] or by calling 503-861-5370.

Completed applications may be emailed to [email protected], dropped off at the Astoria Transit Center or Seaside Transit office or mailed to SETD 900 Marine Drive Astoria, Oregon 97103.  The deadline to submit applications for this vacancy is 5:00 pm September 16, 2020

For more information, please Jeff Hazen, Executive Director at 503-861-5399

Sunset Empire Transportation District Board of Commissioners (SETD) is seeking a volunteer from Clatsop County who would like to serve on the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC). The TAC advises the District’s Board on issues involving the District’s transportation plans, grants, policies, and programs with a special emphasis on access for senior and disabled riders. The current vacant position on the TAC is sought for representation from someone that can represent seniors and is knowledgeable of the public transportation needs of them.  The TAC committee is comprised of a total of 7 community members which are appointed by the SETD Board, an appointed SETD Board member and SETD staff. Term of office is 2 years beginning in July and going through June 30 accordingly. Responsibilities include a working knowledge of SETD’s plans, policies and programs; attending the scheduled meetings, making decisions when necessary and serving on subcommittees as needed. TAC meetings are generally held quarterly. Applications are available Monday thru Friday from 8 AM to 12 noon and 1 PM to 5 PM at the Astoria Transit Center, 900 Marine Drive in Astoria, Seaside Transit Office, 39 N. Holladay in Seaside, by clicking here or you may request an application be sent by mail. For more information contact Mary Parker at 503-861-5370 or [email protected].  Please email application to [email protected] or mail completed applications to Sunset Empire Transportation District, 900 Marine Drive Astoria, OR 97103 by Monday, September 14, 2020 at 5:00 PM.