FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Contact: Hannah Sohl, RVTNCampaign@gmail.com, 541-414-4463
Maintaining local bus service by passing Measure 15-240 draws support across partisan lines in Voter Pamphlet statements
Elected officials across the political spectrum, Chambers of Commerce, nurses and other healthcare professionals, and many others endorse continuation of RVTD levy approved by voters in 2016 and 2021
[ROGUE VALLEY, OR] — The official Voter Pamphlet for the May 2026 election is now final as the March 23 deadline for submissions has passed, and support for Measure 15-240 to continue local funding for the Rogue Valley Transportation District is broadspread across the political spectrum.
Measure 15-240 does not raise tax rates but maintains local RVTD funding that was approved by voters in 2016 and 2021.
A Voter Pamphlet statement in favor of Measure 15-240 was signed by…
Randy Sparacino, Jackson County Commissioner
Dave Dotterrer, Former Jackson County Commissioner
Pam Marsh, State Representative
Jeff Golden, State Senator
John Watt, Former State Representative
Michael Zarosinski, Mayor of Medford
Al Densmore, Former Mayor of Medford and Former State Representative
Gary Plano, Rogue Community College Board Member - Zone 5
Amber Ferguson, Rogue Food Unites
Blair Sundell, Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc.
Kathy Keesee
Dee Anne Everson, United Way of Jackson County
“Public transportation in the Rogue Valley is more than a bus ride,” these public officials and community leaders said. “It’s a lifeline that connects people to jobs, schools, medical care, and daily essentials. It supports local businesses by helping employees get to work and customers get to shops. It supports seniors, veterans and people with disabilities to get to appointments.”
Continued local funding of RVTD is also endorsed in a Voter Pamphlet statement by the Chambers of Commerceof Medford and Jackson County, Central Point, Phoenix, Ashland, and the Talent Business Alliance. The Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Inc. (SOREDI) has also endorsed the measure.
“RVTD helps people get to work – approximately 350,000 trips per year – and allows residents to access goods and services that local businesses provide,” their statement notes. “Nearly 50,000 jobs are within a ten-minute walk of a bus stop.”
A statement by dozens of nurses, doctors, and other health professionals adds that by getting local residents to appointments, “Transportation options that are efficient, affordable, and accessible help to 1) save lives, 2) keep local residents healthy, and 3) prevent more expensive health care from becoming necessary.”
The Rogue Valley Transportation District provided over 1 million bus rides last 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 had 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 for five more years and may also bring back Saturday service or other routes based on passenger and community input.
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