The Greyhound Bus company is ending its daily bus route along Interstate 84 between Portland and Boise in mid-January.
Whether the route will return is uncertain, according to a schedule the company provided to Community Connection of Northeast Oregon.
Greyhound, which has been operating under the FlixBus name in this area since 2023, will discontinue the Portland to Boise route on Jan. 14.
Starting Jan. 15, FlixBus will have a daily route from Portland to Pasco, Wash.
“FLIX is making these changes due to reduced ridership and revenue along the corridor which has particular impact during the first quarter of the year,” according to a schedule that Juan Castro, Greyhound’s regional sales and agency manager for the western region, sent to Connie Guentert, executive director of Community Connection, on Dec. 18. “We hope to restore this service at some future date.”
He said his reaction on hearing about the change was “you’ve got to be kidding me.”
“If you have no other transportation option, it is pretty affordable,” he said.
A ride from La Grande to Boise costs $35.98, according to the Greyhound website. A ticket from Portland to Boise is $83.98.
Hayes said Greyhound/Flix buses haven’t stopped in Baker City consistently for the past year or so.
He said the bus service was helpful not only for local residents who had no other way to get to Portland or Boise, but also for travelers who had a car breakdown or were otherwise stranded in Baker City.