Salem Area Mass Transit District

About Us

Founded in 1979, Cherriots is the operating name for the Salem Area Mass Transit District. Cherriots is a special district funded predominantly by local property taxes, state funds, and federal funds.The District’s workforce includes nonrepresented employees and members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757, which represents transit operators and maintenance workers. Cherriots provides local, regional, and paratransit services in Marion and Polk counties. In Fiscal Year 2017, annual Cherriots ridership among all services was just over 3.2 million, averaging 13,000 rides per day. The Cherriots Board of Directors establishes priorities, evaluates the performance of the
transit system, and adopts budgets. The seven-member, publicly elected Board also works with community members to improve
bus service and address transit-related issues. Three external committees provide advice to the Board: Special Transportation Fund
Advisory Committee, Citizens Advisory Committee, and Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund Advisory Committee.