Climate Action Plan Project

More sustainable transit for a greener future

Be part of the planning - complete our survey! (3 mins or less)

Be part of the planning - complete our survey! (3 mins or less)

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You have heard that Cherriots is Oregon's cleanest public transit fleet, but we aren't stopping there. We are committed to comprehensive sustainable operations that result in climate-related benefits for our riders, community members, and our employees in the near term and to progress toward longer-term goals and targets. By reducing our carbon footprint and championing cleaner, more efficient public transportation options, we can ensure a greener community for all to enjoy, both now and for generations to come. 

The development of a Climate Action Plan is necessary to help us identify current trends, set targets, and establish strategies and actions to reduce our environmental impact on the community.

What to Expect

Cherriots staff selected Cumming Management Group Inc., to help develop the plan. The firm will work with Cherriots staff to develop a comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CAP) focused on greenhouse gas reduction and environmental impacts. Below is a summary of the different phases of the project. The current phase is denoted by "★":

Phase 1 - Baseline Conditions Assessment

We conducted extensive research on agency-wide and regional policy, plans, programs, technical resources. The goal was to determine how we are doing compared to statewide goals and best practices, so that we can set realistic targets and establish effective strategies to improve. Check out the brief below that was delivered to the Cherriots Board of Directors on March 27, 2025, to learn more about what we found in our baseline assessment.

Climate Action Plan Overview and Baseline Assessment

★ Phase 2 - Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Strategy Development​

Based on the findings of the existing conditions assessment (Phase 1), Cummings Group will develop a menu of strategies for us to choose from that are best suited to help us mitigate and adapt our environmental impacts. A significant driver of the strategy development will be community and stakeholder feedback. Key priorities include:

  • Reduce climate harms to frontline and marginalized communities​
  • Greatest emissions reduction and climate risk reduction at the lowest financial and resource cost​
  • Alignment with our other strategic plans and initiatives

Phase 3 - Draft and Final Climate Action Plan​

All collected data, objectives, and selected strategies will be synthesized into a draft Climate Action Plan. The draft will be circulated to the community and numerous stakeholders for review. All feedback will be integrated into a final Climate Action Plan for adoption by the Cherriots Board of Directors.

All Phases - Community and Stakeholder Engagement

Feedback from the community and relevant stakeholders in the region is integral to the success of the project. As such, opportunities for the community and stakeholders will exist in every phase of the project, including public workshops, as well as a 30-day public comment period on a public draft of the Climate Action Plan.

 

Upcoming Events

2025 Marion County Earth Day Event

Date: Saturday, April 26
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Spongs Landing Park, Keizer - 6525 22nd Ave N, Keizer, OR 97303
Note: This event will be held rain or shine – please come prepared for unpredictable Oregon weather!

Thank you to all who joined us - we had a blast!