M. Parsons Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Salem Area Mass Transit District aka Salem Keizer Transit aka Charriots http://www.cherriots.org/ Charriots had perhaps one of the most interesting fleets of the smaller operations that we visited. We saw RTS's, as well as a 1992 Orion 01.507 for older equipment (this was midday too). I believe we saw 3 RTS's in total: 1542 and 1543 where 1985 GMC's (nice find!), and 1552 is a 1989 TMC. It seems in recent years they have moved more towards CNG. They have a fleet of 10 1998 El Dorado Ez Rider CNG buses. We only saw one while we were there and I can't help but wonder if some of that fleet has already been retired. The rest of their CNG fleet appears to be 35' and 40' Orion VII's. Certainly not a common bus at all in this corner of the US. The newest buses appear to be Gillig Low Floor's. These, of course, are diesel powered. Charriot's website promotes the new diesel buses as being as clean or cleaner than CNG. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captaintrolley Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 I really like the RTS's. I have a soft spot for those, must be the sleek lines. Not a fan of the 'box' look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R. McConnell Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 If I knew they still had RTSs and Orion Is, I wouldn't have been so quick to drive through Salem without stopping two months ago... I did see one of their Orion VIIs on a freeway overpass, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris H Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 I was in Salem last October and rode an RTS #1551. They have a section next to the transit center that is fare free and I rode the RTS around that before getting off near the mall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTS_04 Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 Crap, didn't know they still had 04s. They'll likely be gone before I'm out that way next year, too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevlo86 Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 So I visited Salem in July 2012. It appeared that it was all just low floors (Orion VII CNG and Gillig Low Floor diesels). They do have quite a few more Gillig Low Floors then what the wiki lists, so I am suspecting the older equipment has been retired. Though I was only there to observe the downtown terminal for about 2 hours during the morning from about 730AM to 930AM. Anyways, I uploaded some pictures about a week and a half ago. http://www.kevinsbusrail.com/cherriots.html Here are some previews, please do not quote images. \\\ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMG Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 So I visited Salem in July 2012. It appeared that it was all just low floors (Orion VII CNG and Gillig Low Floor diesels). They do have quite a few more Gillig Low Floors then what the wiki lists, so I am suspecting the older equipment has been retired. Though I was only there to observe the downtown terminal for about 2 hours during the morning from about 730AM to 930AM. Last time I was there in Oct 2010, they were expecting an order of Gilligs in the next few months to replace all the high floors. This confirms that they arrived. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCT-3122-D800-10240 Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 Does anyone know if the CNG Eldorado EZ Rider's are still active?! http://www.busdrawin...riots1401.jpg . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCT-3122-D800-10240 Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 I have added a New Photo Gallery with 27 new Photos for Cherriots: http://www.busdrawings.com/Transit/oregon/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puget Sound Rider Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 Cherriots unknown year Gillig Low Floor today in Salem. Just passing through on our way home from Lincoln City. rel="external nofollow"> And, a "Cherry Lift" bus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted April 13, 2014 Report Share Posted April 13, 2014 Does anyone in Salem, OR know whether or not the four Orion I's Cherriots ran (units 1557-1560) used the common DD 6V92TA/Allison HT748 powertrain or if it used the Cummins L10/Voith D863 powertrain? ~Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradfordbrian Posted April 13, 2014 Report Share Posted April 13, 2014 6v92's with a 5 speed Allison HT Also, they had their lifts in the back door, a standard Lift-U Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted April 13, 2014 Report Share Posted April 13, 2014 6v92's with a 5 speed Allison HT Also, they had their lifts in the back door, a standard Lift-U Thank you, Brian. ~Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OR Transit Fan Posted August 24, 2016 Report Share Posted August 24, 2016 Soon, they are getting new buses to replace the crappy VII CNG's. Yes, eldorados are completely gone The unknown year buses are from 2012 and they are really nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OR Transit Fan Posted March 6, 2017 Report Share Posted March 6, 2017 It appears that the order for the 21 New Flyer CNG buses never went through. It was denied by the FTA somehow. Not sure why still trying to figure that out, so they had to re-tank the other 12 2002 Orion VII's. They may be switching back to Gillig http://www.cherriots.org/sites/default/files/PDF 02-23-17 H.2 Amending Contract for CNG Tanks-Valves.pdf http://cherriots.org/sites/default/files/PDF 01-26-17 H.1 Adopt 2017 Legislative Agenda_0.pdf 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Parsons Posted March 6, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2017 Judging from the first document, it sounds like it was more so an issue on Cherriots end with procurement. The initial procurement process was delayed due, in part, to the prolonged process for the procurement of a Buy America vendor. Buy America certifications are a requirement of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), for agencies purchasing vehicles with Federal funds. Moreover, there were changes to staff in the Procurement/Contracts Department, which further delayed the process. My suspicion is it may have something to do with the pre-award audit? https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/01/17/2017-00873/buy-america-handbook-conducting-pre-award-and-post-delivery-audits-for-rolling-stock-procurements There is a hell of a lot of documentation that needs to be audited and maintained: "pre-award audit must include: A Pre-Award Buy America Certification, a Pre-Award Purchaser's Requirements Certification, and, where appropriate, a Pre-Award Certification of Compliance with or Inapplicability of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS)" "Two commenters sought clarity on how to determine whether an auditor is “qualified.” FTA has not attempted to define who is a “qualified” auditor in the Handbook, and instead relies on its recipients to make that determination. One commenter asked what “independent from the procurement process” means; specifically, whether an entity that develops and writes the specifications for a procurement would be barred from conducting Buy America audits. The original intent was that the auditor be independent from the manufacturer; we have amended the text of the Handbook by removing the requirement that an auditor be independent from the procurement process." 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OR Transit Fan Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 May 25th is when we find out what kind of buses will be replacing the 2002 Orion VII's. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPjqUhsDZ1I (live stream of upcoming May 25th board meeting) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OR Transit Fan Posted May 28, 2017 Report Share Posted May 28, 2017 On May 18, 2017 at 10:00 PM, OR Transit Fan said: May 25th is when we find out what kind of buses will be replacing the 2002 Orion VII's. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPjqUhsDZ1I (live stream of upcoming May 25th board meeting) My bad, the bus purchases from that board meeting were for Cherriots Lift (CherryLift) and Cherriots Regional (formerly CARTS) The purchase included 5 low floor paratransit vehicles, most likely ARBOC. The other buses purchased were 3 Blue Bird All American RE transit buses for Cherriots Regional. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OR Transit Fan Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 Went up to Yamhill County Transit Area yesterday. Saw and rode former Cherriots Orion I #1560. This oldie could definitely go another 5-10 years! Definitely nice to see, especially since it has the 6V92 and Allison HTB 748 which is becoming extremely rare. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GojiMet86 Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 Wow, is that really still in service? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OR Transit Fan Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 1 hour ago, GojiMet86 said: Wow, is that really still in service? Yes it is. It's assigned to a couple route 22 afternoon trips. This is at Yamhill County Transit Area, not Cherriots btw 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OR Transit Fan Posted August 13, 2017 Report Share Posted August 13, 2017 Finally, next month is when we will find out what will be replacing the 2002 Orion VII CNG buses. (Please be Gillig!) http://cherriots.org/sites/default/files/files/PACKET WS 08-14-17.pdf (pg WS-29) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OR Transit Fan Posted September 9, 2017 Report Share Posted September 9, 2017 (edited) Today Cherriots released the file of the September 11th Board Work Session. They will be placing an order for 12 Gillig Low Floor or Low Floor BRT CNG buses on Sept 28! 6 will be 35' and 6 will be 40'. Very glad they got Gillig. http://www.cherriots.org/sites/default/files/PACKET WS 09-11-17.pdf UPDATE: The new buses will be delivered by May, 2017. A pilot bus will come sooner. Edited September 30, 2017 by OR Transit Fan 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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