Coast-Capitol-Central Oregon bus service ends

BEND, Ore. – The only bus company to provide regular, direct service between Bend and Salem has shut down.

State and federal transportation officials say Newport-based Valley Retriever Buslines fell short in a safety review.

Owner Marilyn Murphy-Dick told The Bulletin she fell behind in the paperwork required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration after her husband died last year. She says her husband ran the service for 30 years.

Passenger numbers for the Bend-Salem-Newport route were not available.

Murphy-Dick says the buses were nearly full on holidays and spring breaks. She says: “It’s going to inconvenience a lot of people, but I tried.”

To continue operating, the company must address deficiencies found in an April review, including driver qualifications, financial responsibility, vehicle maintenance and repairs and drug and alcohol testing.