Cherriots has launched a new cloud-based Transit Signal Priority system designed to make buses more reliable along one of Salem’s busiest corridors.
The Salem Area Mass Transit District, in partnership with Silicon Valley-based technology firm LYT, announced Feb. 5 that the system is now active at 22 intersections along Lancaster Drive, targeting Route 11, which Cherriots calls the busiest and longest route in its network.
Transit Signal Priority, often shortened to TSP, allows buses to “talk” to traffic signals. When conditions allow, the system can request a green light extension or a shorter red, helping buses stay on schedule without requiring them to speed or make up time between stops.
Early performance data from the Lancaster corridor shows the technology reducing the magnitude of late buses by as much as 20% in both directions, according to Cherriots. The district said the goal is to shorten trip times and improve day-to-day reliability for riders while also supporting smoother traffic flow on a corridor that sees heavy vehicle volume.
Cherriots Board President Maria Hinojos Pressey said the rollout reflects the type of investment the district wants to bring to the community, adding that it builds on work already underway and is meant to move Salem toward “an expansive and robust transit system the capital of Oregon deserves.”
Operator feedback has been one of the early indicators Cherriots is highlighting as the technology settles in. In a survey of Cherriots transit operators who drive Route 11, 62% said it is easier to stay on schedule, while 69% said they feel less rushed trying to make up time during their shifts. More than half of surveyed operators reported noticing faster travel time (56%), and 56% said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the system.
“The launch of Transit Signal Priority in Salem marks an important milestone in how we deliver faster, more reliable transit for our riders,” said Shofi Ull Azum, Cherriots’ chief planning and development officer, who pointed to the early results as a sign the district can use real-time data to reduce delays and improve the customer experience. Azum said the project is meant to serve as a blueprint for how Cherriots plans to grow: focusing on measurable outcomes, efficiency, and targeted investments with high returns for the community.
A key piece of the pitch is cost. Cherriots said this implementation uses a Software-as-a-Service model that relies on cloud-based tools, rather than older transit-priority approaches that can require expensive specialized hardware on every bus and at every intersection. The district framed the approach as a way to improve service without the cost and disruption of major capital infrastructure projects.
LYT CEO and founder Timothy Menard said the partnership shows what public agencies and private technology firms can accomplish together, adding that working with Cherriots and the City of Salem supports LYT’s broader mission. Menard said the technology is intended not only to move buses more efficiently, but to improve quality of life for residents and businesses through better overall mobility.
Cherriots also tied the effort to economic access: a more reliable Route 11 can make transit a more practical option for workers and shoppers traveling along Lancaster, supporting connections between neighborhoods, job sites, and commercial areas.
The district said it will continue monitoring performance data to confirm the system delivers consistent improvements over time and to guide future decisions about where similar technology could make sense next.