New shuttle service to and from Mt. Bachelor from Riverhouse and Peppertree Inn in Bend and in Sunriver from SHARC is being offered four times per day starting today through March 28th. After this week, service is only on the weekend until the season ends on the mountain May 30th. Sanitation protocols in place and limited seating per trip to social-distance. See NavigateOregon.com for schedules and how to reserve your seat!
Visit Central Oregon, in partnership with Oregon-based charter company Northwest Navigator Luxury Coaches has been awarded a $40K match by Travel Oregon’s Destination Ready investment program to run a pilot shuttle service in Sunriver and Bend branded as Navigate Oregon. The shuttle service will begin Saturday, March 20th. Destination Ready applicants were encouraged to apply for “shovel-ready” projects that bolster tourism recovery efforts throughout the state with a focus on mitigating challenged visitor experiences due to COVID-19.
As a pilot program, Navigate Oregon will serve a dual purpose. Industry partners will have a high-quality transportation resource for destination visitors who are not aware of required parking reservations at Mt. Bachelor, one of many new COVID measures to manage volume at the resort. Additionally, this opportunity will provide valuable insight from riders through surveys and data for the feasibility of future transportation programs in the region. Previously,
Visit Central Oregon has received feedback from ski group trip planners that the region has a difficult time competing with destinations that offer convenient shuttle transportation.
Navigate Oregon will be available via Northwest Navigator’s online reservation system at NAVIGATEOREGON.com, featuring:
- Competitively priced at $15 each way/$30 round trip (+booking fee), riders can enjoy a stress-free experience with amenities such as free wi-fi, on-board entertainment, and restroom.
- Northwest Navigator’s luxury motorcoaches are optimized for passenger safety with their “Extreme Triple Clean Commitment” including upgrades that surpass state COVID-19 transportation safety guidelines. Protocols include daily thorough cleaning and disinfecting with an advanced HVAC air system, an antimicrobial protectant on all surfaces, and disinfecting of each vehicle.
- Socially distanced seating will be ensured on-board, with a maximum capacity of 35 passengers (reduced from 56) – no exception. Pick-up/drop-off locations in Sunriver include Sunriver Homeowners Aquatic Recreation Center (SHARC) and in Bend, Riverhouse on the Deschutes, and Best Western Peppertree Inn.
- Service will launch Saturday, March 20th; and run daily during Oregon Spring Break until Sunday, March 28th. The routes will loop to and from Bend and Sunriver four-times daily.
- Following March 28th, the service will run on Saturdays and Sundays only from April 3 to Memorial Day weekend in Sunriver, with the potential to extend until Labor Day weekend for Bend service but based upon ridership demand.
Reservations are available online now at NAVIGATEOREGON.COM.
