Jefferson County residents now have more options to travel to Redmond and Bend by bus, after Cascades East Transit (CET) launched expanded regional service on June 15, 2026.

The changes include additional service runs on Routes 22 and 24, which form the backbone of regional transit connecting Madras with communities to the south. The expansion improves scheduling options for riders who depend on public transportation to reach medical appointments, employment, and services unavailable locally in Jefferson County.

What Changed

According to CET and reporting from KTVZ, the June 15 changes included:

  • Additional weekday trips on Routes 22 and 24, which serve the Madras-Redmond-Bend corridor
  • Modifications to Redmond's A and B Flex routes, with some lower-ridership flex runs reduced
  • Expanded transit connections designed to improve coordination across the regional network

CET also launched recreation routes on June 13 as part of its summer schedule, which includes Route 21 — the Madras/Warm Springs/Kah-Nee-Ta/Simnasho route that began service in May 2025 and provides transit access to the Warm Springs Reservation.

Why It Matters for Jefferson County

For many rural residents, reliable regional bus service is not a luxury — it's a lifeline. Jefferson County has limited local services compared to larger communities, meaning residents often need to travel to Redmond or Bend for specialty medical care, certain retail needs, and government services.

The Highway 97 corridor between Madras and Redmond has also been identified as one of the most dangerous stretches of road in Central Oregon, with a documented history of fatal and serious injury crashes. Increasing transit ridership — and reducing the number of cars making that drive — has both safety and environmental benefits.

How to Ride

CET fares and schedules — including the updated Madras routes — are available at cascadeseasttransit.com. Riders can also call CET's customer service line for assistance planning trips across the regional network.

The transit agency is operated under the umbrella of Cascades East Regional Community Services Consortium (CERC) and serves Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Lake, and Klamath counties.