Laura Scully

Email: lscully@coic.org
Title: Rural Planner Aide
Organization: Cascades East Transit
Community: Central Oregon
Population: 257,888
Counties Served: Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Warm Springs Reservation

Meet Laura Scully (she/her):

Laura was born and raised in Portland, OR, and in June of 2022 graduated from the University of Oregon with a BA in Planning, Public Policy, and Management. She is excited to explore an area of Oregon she has not spent much time in and try her hand at snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. As a lifelong public transportation rider, Laura is excited to be a part of a growing public transportation agency. She is passionate about car-free travel options and loves that she can take the bus to work every day. In her free time, she can be found cooking and crafting.

Community and Organization:

Cascades East Transit (CET) is housed within the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC) and provides high-quality transportation services throughout Central Oregon. CET serves Crook County, Deschutes County, Jefferson County, and the Warm Springs Reservation. They offer fixed routes in Bend, Community Connector routes, Dial-A-Ride in both Bend and rural areas, and a variety of other services. Central Oregon is growing rapidly and needs public transportation to grow with it. Reliable and frequent public transportation is key to reducing traffic, ensuring mobility, and creating less car-dependent communities.

Project:

Laura is promoting CET’s rural transportation services throughout Central Oregon and working with CET’s staff to improve operations. She is researching and creating a travel training program to educate community members on what services CET offers, and how to access them. She is also be conducting surveys and representing CET at events and meetings throughout Central Oregon.