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Announcements
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Important Service Announcement from The Link Public Transit
The Link has implemented service and operational adjustments that were effective July 4, 2026. Like many transit agencies across Oregon, we are facing financial challenges related to stagnant or reduced available funding. To ensure the long-term sustainability of our services, the following changes have gone into effect:
- South Wasco County Shuttle: Service has been reduced from two days per week to one day per week, operating on Tuesdays only.
- Office Hours: Office operations are now Monday through Friday only.
We understand these changes impact our riders throughout the community, and we remain deeply committed to providing safe, reliable, and efficient transportation to the greatest extent possible. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Upcoming Holiday: Please be advised that the Link Public Transit Service and the Link Dispatch Office are on a Holiday/Weekend schedule on Wednesday, November 11, 2026 in observance of Veteran’s Day. This means that the Dispatch Office is closed, there is no Dial-a-Ride service that day, and only the Hood River <–> The Dalles bus is running on its weekend schedule. Please see below for that schedule.
Regular Hours of Operation
Monday through Friday
Fixed Route Service: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Dial-A-Ride Service: 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Office/Dispatch Hours: Mon-Weds, 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Thurs-Fri, 6:00 AM to 7:00PM
Saturday and Sunday
Bus operations: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Office/Dispatch Hours: Closed
**Not all Services are offered all days. See Services section below for more details.
Riders
The Link Public Transit is available for anyone and everyone! Schedule a ride to work, school, appointments, shopping, entertainment, or other activities. The Link operates lift-equipped buses to serve customers who require the use of a wheelchair, or have difficulty negotiating steps. View our Rider Etiquette/ Basic Rules here.
Services
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- Deviated Fixed Route: The Dalles Deviated Fixed Route includes Red and Blue Routes that serve key destinations in The Dalles on Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM. Rides are $1.00 each, or use your Gorge Transit Pass for unlimited rides all year. The service allows deviations within 1/4 mile of the route but they must be scheduled in advance by calling 541-296-7595. Designated stop times are when the bus leaves the stop. To maintain our schedules, our buses will leave without you if you are not at the designated stops on time. Be aware that if you have arrived at the stop BEFORE the designated stop time and you do not see a bus, traffic may have delayed the bus.
View the weekday route maps and schedules here. Consulta aquí los mapas de ruta y los horarios.
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The Dalles to Hood River Shuttle: The Link operates this service 5 trips per day on Monday through Friday, and 3 trips per day on Saturday and Sunday. The 8am route offers a direct connection from The Dalles to Portland via the Columbia Gorge Express!
Hood River to The Dalles Schedule – Fall 2025
Up-to-date fixed routes schedules in both English and Spanish can be accessed via the QR code.
Se puede acceder a horarios de rutas fijas actualizados tanto en inglés como en español a través del código QR.
- Dial-a-Ride: The dial-a-ride, door-to-door public transportation operates Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 AM- 4:00 PM. Trips are $2.00 each way, scheduled in advance and may include other passengers going to different destinations. The Link picks up riders in the communities of The Dalles, Dufur, Mosier, Celilo and points between in unincorporated Wasco County. Rides may be scheduled one to thirty days in advance. Service is first-come, first-served, so call ahead for best availability. We will make every effort to fulfill all requests for rides if possible.
Call The Link at 541-296-7595 to schedule a ride today!
You can also email: dispatch@mcedd.org with your name and number for a call-back to schedule your ride.
***For best availability, please call at least 24 hours in advance or email two days in advance. Please note there is no one in the dispatch office to receive a call or email on the weekend.***
- The Dalles and Hood River Shopping Bus: The shopping bus offers door-to-door service to grocery stores and shopping centers in The Dalles on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Cost is $3.00 for unlimited stops with no shopping bag limit. Our drivers will help load and unload your bags (bags must be under 25 pounds). On the 1st Friday of each month, the shopping bus visits Hood River. Call 541-296-7595 to schedule your ride.
- South County Shuttle: The Link has a shuttle every Tuesday that picks up riders in Maupin, Wamic, Pine Hollow, Tygh Valley and Dufur for a few hours of shopping and appointments in The Dalles. This service is $5.00 round trip for pickups in Maupin and Tygh Valley and $3.00 round trip for pickups in Dufur.
Dial-a-Ride Cancellations
Please make dial-a-ride cancellations as soon as you know you do not need your ride. You can call the office any time and leave a message for our scheduling staff. If you fail to cancel a ride before the scheduled pick-up time, you will be considered a No Show.
Travel Training
The Link offers free Travel Training to help everyone learn how to use the bus system! Travel training is available to anyone upon request, there are no eligibility requirements. Learn more about the program here or contact Travel Trainer Sara Crook at sara@mcedd.org or (541) 296-2266 ext. 1007.
Regional Connections
Ride The Link to connect to these regional transportation providers:
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- Connect to CAT’s Columbia Gorge Express from Hood River to Portland.
- Connect to Mount Adams Transportation Service for service to Goldendale and to access their bus route loop around The Dalles.
- Connect to Greyhound for trips to Hood River, Portland and points east of The Dalles.
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Fare Options
- The Link’s Deviated Fixed Routes in The Dalles and the Hood River shuttle accept the Gorge Transit Pass, an annual transit pass that allows unlimited rides at only $40 for adults or $20 for riders 17 and younger. Learn more here. We also offer an annual pass that includes dial-a-ride, the Gorge Transit Pass Plus (contact Sara for details or stop into our office).
- Drivers accept tickets or cash (please have exact change!). Tickets and ticket books can be purchased with cash, checks or credit cards at The Dalles Transit Center at 802 Chenowith Loop Road, The Dalles, Oregon.
- Residents and employees in downtown The Dalles are eligible for a free Gorge Transit Pass through a partnership with the City of The Dalles! Learn more about the program here.
- Students Ride for Free: All middle and high school students in The Dalles can ride for free, whether it is for school or entertainment! Present your Student ID to the driver when boarding the bus. High school students can also receive a free Gorge Transit Pass to ride free on all Gorge public transit. (Limited number of passes are available – ask your school’s Youth Outreach Worker!) K-8 Students also ride for free with a paying adult.
School Program Guidelines Directrices del programa escolar
Title VI Policy and Complaint Forms
MCEDD operates The Link and complies with Title VI and Title VI obligations and protections against discrimination afforded to the public. The Policies and Forms can be accessed on our Policies Page here.
ADA Reasonable Modifications
The Link Public Transit is committed to providing safe, reliable, courteous, accessible and user-friendly services to our customers. To ensure equality and fairness, we will make reasonable modifications to our policies, practices and procedures to avoid discrimination and ensure programs and services are accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Whenever feasible, a request for modification to our service should be made in advance, before The Link is expected to provide the service. To request a modification, please contact Jessica Metta at 541-296-2266 ext. 1001, or email: jessica@mcedd.org. Our Policies and Forms can be found on our Policies Page here.
Wasco County Public Transportation Advisory Committee
The Link’s services are guided by the Wasco County Public Transportation Advisory Committee, a committee appointed by the Wasco County Board of County Commissioners and which has public meetings at least quarterly. Learn more about the PTAC here.