Transit staff are preparing new schedules and updates that will take place in January 2019 with the new STIF funding (employee-paid payroll tax).  Beginning January 1, 2019, SAM Gresham will add a 9:00 pm weekday run and SAM Estacada will add a 6:30 pm Monday – Saturday run.  Both expansions provide improved connectivity to other services.

The Shopper Shuttle will be rerouted, adding Bluff Rd, Green Mountain Rd and Jewelberry Rd.  The route will continue to begin at Fred Meyer at noon, however, it will run the new loop in the first half hour and then loop through Sandy’s southern neighborhoods during the second half hour.  The Shopper Shuttle will also be rerouted to run westbound (neighborhoods, then shopping districts).

Additionally, and with great excitement, we are adding two hours to the Shopper Shuttle.  The shuttle will run 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, then return to the route from 5:25 pm to 7:25 pm to give students and others transportation options during after-school activities.

SAM provided 9,177 rides in November.  SAM fixed routes experienced a 10% reduction as compared to last November, however due to a significant drop in SAM Gresham counts, we are exploring the possibility of inaccurate counting due to the new tablet system.  Estacada increased by 4.2%.  Once again this month, the in-town dial-a-ride (STAR) and the Shopper Shuttle increased. STAR increased by 18.6% and the  Shopper Shuttle increased by 165%.  No, that is not a typo, the Shopper provided 234 rides in December 2017 compared to 620 in 2018!!