FlixBus (aka Greyhound) will end service from Portland to Boise this month, with the national bus carrier instead running a shorter route to Pasco, Wash.
The change, which takes effect Jan. 15, will significantly reduce transit service on the Interstate 84 corridor linking rural Northeast Oregon to the metro areas of Portland and Boise. Affected stops include Baker City, Pendleton, La Grande and Ontario.
For decades the routes were associated with the Greyhound bus company, which was purchased in 2021 for $78 million by Flix North America, part of a German brand with service on four continents. Today, with a fleet of thousands of distinctive green buses, FlixBus bills itself as the largest intercity bus travel company in the U.S.
The regional nonprofit transit provider Northeast Oregon Public Transportation expressed disappointment at the news.
“There will no longer be a Greyhound stop in La Grande,” reads the post. “Their daily routes through our transit hub will be missed!” The post goes onto urge residents of the area to contact the organization for other transportation operations.
FlixBus will consider reopening the Portland-Boise route in the future, possibly through partnerships with governments, businesses and other organizations, Flix North America spokeswoman Merrill Leedom wrote to Oregon Business.
“We recognize the importance of affordable intercity bus service to our customers and are actively exploring opportunities to restore this route with the support of regional stakeholders,” Leedom writes.
The Oregon Department of Transportation will also look to provide “integrated bus travel options” linking Northeast Oregon with the rest of the state, Oregon Public Broadcasting reports.
Overall, ridership is growing across North America for reasons that include dependability, affordability and sustainability, Leedom writes.
“We periodically adjust our network to maintain operational efficiency while offering the most reliable routes and connections,” she said. “The intercity bus sector remains essential in connecting communities and providing vital travel options for millions.”
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