Community Advisory Committee

The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) was established by the Salem Area Mass Transit District (SAMTD) Board of Directors to act as an advisory committee on transportation-related issues of the District. The CAC meets every other month or as often as is necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the committee.

The CAC encourages and promotes Cherriots services that meet the needs of the Salem/Keizer community. The CAC may make recommendations to the Board on transportation policies, programs, and services provided by Cherriots, and performs other duties as assigned by the Board.

The Board desires to appoint members to the CAC who represent diverse interests, perspectives, geography, and the population demographics of the area. The CAC is composed of up to eleven (11) voting members who live and/or work within the District’s service area, represent a cross-section of the Salem/Keizer community, and as much as possible be a person who meets one of the following qualifications:

• Paratransit user
• Recreational/bike/pedestrian advocate
• Social services agency representative
• Medical community/care provider
• Chambers of commerce/business economic development organization
• Major employer (over 100 employees)
• School district representative/educational community
• Ethnic community member
• At-large member
• Youth leader (high school student, one year term with a “school year term” option)

Applicants must:

• Reside within the District’s service area, which may include locations within the Urban Growth Boundary and cities and towns within Marion and Polk counties. 
• Have a familiarity with Cherriots services. 
• Use Cherriots services periodically; however, transit dependency is not a requirement for CAC membership. 
• Be able to communicate knowledgeably about Cherriots in particular, and about public transit in general. 
• Have the ability to advocate on behalf of public transit and promote Cherriots services.

Members of the CAC are typically appointed by the Board in December for a term of two years that begins January 1. Members may serve two terms. If you are interested in applying, please complete the application and voluntary ethnicity form and submit to cac@cherriots.org.

Application

The CAC typically meets in the Senator Hearing Room at Courthouse Square. Meetings are scheduled every other month beginning in February, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Meetings are open to the public and include a forum for public comment. Meeting agendas are located on the Public Meetings and Notices page with information on how to attend and provide public comment. 

Assistance is available for persons requiring meeting materials in alternative formats, sign language interpretation, or other communication aids. The secretary of the committee can be reached Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 503-588-2424; by text telephone (TTY), call 711 for Oregon Relay Service or by emailing cac@cherriots.org. Please contact Cherriots at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting to make arrangements.