Oregon Public Broadcasting

The city of Bend ended a long legal battle Wednesday over broken buses it bought in 2006 for a new transit system.

To many in Bend, it was a tempered finale to an extended citywide embarrassment.

A city mechanic called the buses “all junk” before the six buses were purchased, three years ago.

And once in service, the buses promptly broke down.

City Councilor Jodie Barram explained the settlement deal.

Jodie Barram: “The settlement calls for both parties to walk away from the matter. To date, the city has spent $220,500 for the six busses. And approximately $65,000 in attorney’s fees.”

The council voted unanimously to drop the lawsuit.

Three years ago, the city of Bend was famously the largest city west of the Mississippi without a scheduled bus system.

Now the city uses shorter, shuttle-sized buses for its transit system.

Only two of the seven current city councilors were even involved in the negotiations to buy the bad buses.