The Rogue Valley Transportation District provided over 1 million bus rides in the previous year, to working people, veterans, seniors, students, and people with disabilities to get to work, school, medical appointments, community events, home, and more.  

RVTD also provided over 83,000 rides through Valley Lift and other ADA services. Valley Lift is a door-to-door van service for seniors and people with disabilities who can't use the regular bus to get where they need to go, including to medical appointments.  

In September, RVTD was forced to reduce service by 40%—cancelling 9 out of 16 routes, eliminating Saturday service, and reducing evening hours—due to federal and state funding delays beyond local control. Nearly half the RVTD staff was laid off. Thousands of Rogue Valley residents lost rides they counted on.

This May, Jackson County voters have the chance to renew the existing levy that provides local funding to RVTD for five more years. Voters overwhelmingly approved this levy in 2016 and 2021. Renewing the levy will help maintain current routes and may also bring back Saturday service or other routes based on passenger and community input.  

This measure does not raise the current tax rate. It continues funding local public transportation at the current 13 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value for five years. This means that a property owner who has a property valued at $300,000 would continue to pay about $39/year (or the equivalent of $3.25/month.)  

Election day is on Tuesday, May 19. It will take all of us to ensure that RVTD doesn’t have to make more cuts, and that working people, seniors, veterans, students, people with disabilities, and more can continue to get where they need to go on the bus and through paratransit rides.

Take Action: 

• Endorse the campaign on behalf of your business, organization or union.

• Get Involved by talking to your neighbors, hosting a house party, sending texts or emails, making signs, or some other way.

• Make a donation.

• VOTE YES. And tell your friends.