Daily Interstate 84 Bus Service Returns, Restoring Eastern Oregon Connections

The Oregon Department of Transportation announced on December 9 that daily commercial bus service along Interstate 84 through Eastern Oregon, which ended in mid January 2025, will return for at least one year beginning December 15. ODOT awarded a $600,000 federal grant through the Federal Transit Administration Intercity Bus Program to help Northwestern Stage Lines operate two daily buses between Portland Union Station and the Boise Airport, with stops including Baker City, Pendleton, La Grande and Ontario.

The Baker City stop will be at the Baker Truck Corral on Campbell Street adjacent to the freeway. Each day one bus will travel from Portland to Boise while a second bus will leave Boise in the morning for Portland. The departure from Portland is scheduled at 10:45 a.m., and the Boise departure is scheduled at 7:15 a.m. Pacific Time. Northwestern Stage Lines lists a standard one way fare between Portland and Boise at sixty six dollars and fifty cents, with fares for intermediate trips varying by stop.

ODOT framed the grant as a way to restore access for Eastern Oregonians. "This grant helps fill a gap, giving Eastern Oregonians access to travel options," said Suzanne Carlson, ODOT Public Transportation Division administrator. She noted that residents rely on transit to reach services ranging from healthcare and employment to education and family support, and that the route restores links to Amtrak, airports and regional and national bus lines.

The federal funding covers the corridor between The Dalles and Boise for one year, with ODOT officials noting the grant targets that segment because other services operate between Portland and The Dalles. It is uncertain whether the same funding will be available to continue daily service beyond December 2026, leaving long term continuity in question.

Local transit advocates and residents welcomed the immediate return of service, saying it will ease travel for students, people without cars, and those with medical appointments or airport connections. For Baker County, the reinstated stop provides a direct link to larger transportation hubs and may influence decisions on access to regional jobs and services. Riders should note the December 15 start date and the published schedules and fares as they plan travel.