New Route 45: Central Polk County

The former Polk County Flex service has become Route 45: Central Polk County

Cherriots is excited to announce that the Polk County Flex has become Route 45: Central Polk County to better serve Independence, Monmouth, and Dallas. Although the launch of service was delayed from May 2020 to January 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the service started on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. The route follows a fixed path through these three communities, and it will also pick up riders off the route path by request on a limited basis. Read on to learn more about how we're building A Better Cherriots in Polk County.

Project background

In February 2019, Cherriots staff noted that the Polk County Flex service was not running as it was designed. At some times of the day, buses were full and running behind schedule, and at other times, the service was not utilized much at all. We made some changes to allow the service to run on schedule, but staff also decided to find out from the public whether it was working for them or not. A survey was conducted in June and July 2019 and the results showed that the public preferred a redesign of the service. We had planned to start Route 45 in May of 2020, but the launch was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

This new service is more like a regular bus route with a fixed schedule, but riders will still be able to call ahead and ask the bus to come to their location within the Route 45 service area. The bus runs Monday - Friday once every two hours, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. It serves 33 stops in Independence, Monmouth, and Dallas. 

Route planning

Route 45 began on Jan. 4, 2021. In order to prepare for the new bus service, we installed new bus stops in the neighborhoods of the communities served. You might have seen a new bus stop sign on your street and wonder what it was. There was also a notice to read attached to the middle of the sign pole that described the service.

With approval of the city councils, on-street parking has been removed at the stops. Parking removal is necessary for all Cherriots Regional bus stops in order to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA requires that vehicles be at the curb when loading or unloading people in mobility devices such as wheelchairs and walkers. Each no parking zone is designated by a yellow painted curb. 

The following maps show the path for Route 45, which has been approved by each city council, as well:

 

 

Schedule to Dallas via Monmouth

A: Independence North - Main @ Polk B: G St @ 5th C: 13th @ Monmouth St D: Monmouth - Main @ Catron E: Western Oregon U - Monmouth Ave @ Church F: 888 Monmouth Cutoff (Garten) G: West Valley Hospital - Washington @ Lyle H: Dallas Downtown - Jefferson @ Oak I: Dallas Walmart - 321 NE Kings Valley Hwy

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Schedule to Monmouth / Independence

I: Dallas Walmart - 321 NE Kings Valley Hwy

J: Dallas Downtown - Oak @ Robb

K: West Valley Hospital - Washington @ Lewis

L: 888 Monmouth Cutoff (Garten)

M: Western Monmouth U - Monmouth Ave. @ Church

N: Monmouth - Main @ Ecols

O: Independence - 13th @ Monmouth St.

P: G St @ 5th

Q: Independence North - Main @ Polk

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Stop List to Dallas via Monmouth

  • Independence North - Main @ Polk
  • Main @ Oak
  • Independence Library - Monmouth St @ 2nd
  • 4th @ D St
  • G St @ 5th
  • 7th @ F St
  • 1038 E St
  • 13th @ Monmouth St
  • Monmouth St @ Talmadge
  • Atwater @ Jackson
  • Monmouth - Main @ Catron
  • Ecols @ Ackerman
  • Ackerman @ Monmouth Ave
  • College St @ Clay
  • Western Oregon U - Monmouth Ave @ Church
  • 888 Monmouth Cutoff (Garten)
  • West Valley Hospital - Washington @ Lyle
  • Dallas Downtown - Jefferson @ Oak
  • Dallas Walmart - 321 NE Kings Valley Hwy 

Stop List to Monmouth / Independence

  • Dallas Walmart - 321 NE Kings Valley Hwy
  • Dallas Downtown - Oak @ Robb
  • West Valley Hospital - Washington @ Lewis
  • 888 Monmouth Cutoff (Garten)
  • Western Oregon U - Monmouth Ave @ Church
  • College St @ Clay
  • Ackerman @ Monmouth Ave
  • Ecols @ Ackerman
  • Monmouth - Main @ Ecols
  • Atwater @ Jackson
  • Monmouth St @ Talmadge
  • Independence - 13th @ Monmouth St
  • 1038 E St
  • 7th @ F St
  • G St @ 5th
  • 4th @ E St
  • Independence Library - Monmouth St @ 2nd
  • Main @ Oak
  • Independence North - Main @ Polk 

How to schedule an off-route stop (deviation)

Though Route 45 has regular, designated bus stops with a published schedule, it will also offer the ability to make limited “off-route” stops (deviations) for riders who are unable to get to one of the designated bus stops.

Deviations must be within the Route 45 service area (illustrated on the maps above). If you are outside the service area, you must get to a point inside the service area in order for the bus to pick you up.

Deviations must be scheduled the day before the trip by 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays. There are no "standing reservations" allowed because deviations must be booked the day before the trip. There are also no same-day deviations.

Deviations are limited, so if there are no deviations available for the time you would like to travel, you are encouraged to walk to the nearest designated bus stop and get on the bus at the scheduled time.

Call the Cherriots call center to schedule a deviation at 503-315-5544. It's open Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.