PRINEVILLE, OR -- The Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council is refining a region-wide strategic plan for public transit, in an effort to help secure state and federal transportation funds. 

Judy Watts, with COIC, says a meeting Thursday in Prineville is the next step in a year-long process. "We have collected a lot of data, census data and transit propensity information; and we’ve gathered a pretty good idea of some baseline needs but we want to vet that with each of the counties and the public to make sure that nothing is missing. And, we also want to meet just to help get some feedback on prioritizing." She adds, "Particularly [for] people who have clients who are low-income, seniors and persons with disabilities. It’s really to provide an opportunity to look at the needs that we have identified so far and help COIC staff prioritize those needs."

Meetings are planned for all three counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs over the next month. "Each county has a group called a Special Transportation Funding Committee and in order to apply for these STF funds from the state and federal government, they have to have a plan about how they would use transportation funds for certain populations; so, for seniors, low income and persons with disabilities." COIC manages Cascades East Transit and Dial-A-Ride.