Cherriots buses may miss a stop from time to time as the agency deals with vacant jobs and absent employees. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Like other employers, Cherriots is out looking for help to keep the Salem area’s transit system running.
For the moment, the transit operation has just enough people on staff to keep the buses rolling.
But it’s close, according to Patricia Feeny, Cherriots communication manager.
An unexpected absence in the days ahead could result in a bit of a delay along any particular route, she said. On a route with 15-minute service, for instance, riders might notice one scheduled bus doesn’t appear.
“We’re struggling a little bit,” she said.
She said no route is at risk yet of completely losing service.
“We will be operating at full service for the week of Aug. 22 with the possibility of some trips being missed due to staffing shortages,” she said.
On Friday, Cherriots had 12 employees out related to Covid. Other employees have been promoted, and the system has openings for three bus operators and two supervisors.
“Our door is always open for operators,” Feeny said.
A class of eight operators is finishing training and should be available for duty in about two weeks, Feeny said.
The transit district also is hiring for maintenance and customer service jobs. Jobs are posted on its website.
Across the U.S., transit systems are struggling to hire fast enough to sustain service.
Meantime, the Salem system continues to require masking for its drivers and passengers. Public transit was one of the few sectors that weren’t relieved of masking orders when Gov. Kate Brown lifted her statewide mandate. Federal regulators kept in place the rule in public transportation.
“We’re very pro-mask,” Feeny said.
She said most passengers readily comply, and the transit system provides masks to those who need them.
“You can’t get on the bus without one,” she said.
-Les Zaitz
