Rural Shuttle Feasibility Study

Benton Area Transit (BAT) is exploring the feasibility of a rural shuttle service to better serve outlying residents in Benton County (that are currently only served by limited intercity fixed routes and dial-a-ride for seniors and people with disabilities only) and increase their public transportation connections to basic services and urban centers. The project involves analyzing existing conditions, engaging the public, and determining potential routing and cost of various shuttle options.

Phases

• Phase 1 includes focus groups and an online survey to gather feedback on transit needs and opportunities.
  • An online survey was conducted from July 24 – August 11, 2026
  • In-person focus groups were hosted on July 29, 2026
• Phase 2 includes workshops to gather feedback on draft alternatives.
  • Workshops tentatively scheduled for November 18^th in Monroe and Alsea
• Phase 3 includes commission briefings to gather feedback on the draft operational plan and feasibility report.

Timeline

Public Involvement

Focus groups were held at the Alsea Public Library and the Monroe Community Library on the afternoon and evening of Wednesday, July 29, 2026. The purpose of the focus groups was to gather more focused feedback than a survey would typically allow by providing space for more detailed conversation and follow-up questions from a group of key stakeholders.

Key findings from the online survey and in-person focus groups included:

• The top barrier to transit use is where transit is provided. Other common barriers include the service frequency, lack of eligibility for demand-response service, and lack of awareness of existing services.
• The top destinations respondents would use transit to reach are grocery stores and nonemergency medical facilities. Other commonly selected locations include shopping/ retail centers, recreational destinations, libraries, schools, and workplaces.
• Corvallis and Philomath were listed as the locations most useful for providing shuttle service, with Albany and Alsea as the next most popular options.
• Overall, respondents are most interested in weekday service. The midday time period (9AM-3PM) is the most popular time period for shuttle use.
• The frequency of shuttle service needed varies between existing riders and non-riders.
• For a more regional service, 55 percent of respondents would be willing to pay at least $3–$4 per ride.

Supporting Documents