Something old, something new, something borrowed, and no one’s blue.

The Mountain Express Line (MEL) will continue runs with its old buses the first
couple weeks of October. But the new schedule to Government Camp and
Timberline will go into effect soon after.

Then, MEL will transition to borrowed buses donated by Rogue Valley Transit
District for the rigorous winter conditions, according to Teresa Christopherson,
administrative services manager for Clackamas County.

“The buses will have a new schedule, running seven days a week, seven runs
a day in winter,” said Bob Reeves, who has been the tip of the spear since
MEL’s existence. “We will trim down the schedule to five runs per day in
summer.”

The new MEL buses (including the donated buses from RVTD) will hold 40
passengers – up from the previous 22-passenger version.

“We’ll be able to pull a trailer to haul bikes in the summer,” Reeves said. “And
the buses will be rigged to carry ski equipment in the winter.”

The Oct. 1 kickoff for MEL’s new route will be a soft rollout, Reeves added.
“We’ll want to get the wrinkles out before snow season.”

Sandy Area Metro (SAM), which connects with MEL, also has expanded its
schedule.

According to Sandy Transit Manager Julie Stephens, SAM is adding a new
Sunday connecting service between Sandy and Gresham. Saturday service to
Gresham will start at 5:30 a.m. and operate hourly until 10:30 p.m.

The idea of public transit from Portland’s airport to Timberline is no longer just
an idea. The combined efforts of public and private entities have made it a
reality.

“It’s really exciting,” Reeves said. “I can’t stop preaching about the great
commitment made by the Forest Service, the ski resorts, The Resort (in
Welches), the county. It’s unprecedented.”

Reeves singled out the efforts of Jon Tullis of Timberline “Who stood up in
those early meetings urging us to go up the mountain,” and Teresa
Christopherson “Who did the grant writing to get us funded.”

And now a traveler can jump on MAX to SAM to MEL. Heady transit acronyms.