EmX (Bus Rapid Transit) to West Eugene being considered
JWN hosts informative panel on potential EmX routes to West Eugene
At the February 2010 JWN General Meeting, panelists from LTD, City of Eugene and
Residents for Responsible Rapid Transit (3RT) participated in a panel with Q&A from
JWN members. You can view and listen to the two Powerpoint presentations and the S&A
by clicking the links below
Presentation 1
Presentation 2
Audio recording of presentations
Audio recording of panel Q&A
Background
LTD is actively working on plans for an EmX (Bus Rapid Transit) route to West Eugene.
The route will go from the downtown LTD bus terminal to roughly Danebo Ave.
The location of the route segment between downtown and Garfield may have a major
impact on the Jefferson Westside Neighborhood. The main concerns that have been
expressed are potential reduction in the current local bus service for JWN residents and
the potential impacts of adding dedicated lanes along neighborhood streets, including
potential removal of trees and parking.
Currently LTD has under consideration three alternatives for this segment. One route
would use W. 6th and 7th Aves. from downtown (at about Olive Street) to Garfield Street,
then south to W. 11th Ave. and west from that intersection. This route would skirt the JWN
entirely.
Another alternative route would run EmX buses both ways on the south side of W. 13th
Ave. from Olive or Jefferson Streets to Chambers or Garfield Streets and then north to W.
11th Ave and on west.
A third alternative under consideration is similar to the second, but connects with the
Amazon Canal right-of-way west of Chambers and follows it to further out W. 11th Ave.
For more information, read the two articles in the January 2010 JWN newsletter.
LTD has indicated in the past that a potential route might run down W. 11th Ave. from
downtown, splitting the Westside neighborhood in two and likely having major negative
impacts on residents and pedestrians along the residential section of W. 11th Ave.
On October 2, The JWN Executive Board met with Tom Schwetz, LTD Director of
Development Services, and staff to discuss the routes and process. Tom stated that:
"exclusive right-of-way [dedicated lanes for EmX] would have to take away parking;
would have to take away trees, and it just wouldn't work. ... It doesn't make sense."
Although this doesn't exclude a "shared use" routing of EmX buses along this segment,
Tom's comments before the Executive Board appear to at least rule out a proposal for
dedicated lanes along this stretch that would remove trees or parking.
The impacts of the "W. 13th Alternative" are not yet fully identified. The routing would also
potentially have impacts on the following stretches of local streets:
To reiterate: LTD has not made any definite proposal yet and the potential impacts of the
alternatives that are being considered have nit been fully evaluated, but it's important to be
"ahead of the curve" on this issue. If you'd like to help work on it for the neighborhood
association, please contact the JWN chair.
At the February 2010 JWN General Meeting, panelists from LTD, City of Eugene and
Residents for Responsible Rapid Transit (3RT) participated in a panel with Q&A from
JWN members. You can view and listen to the two Powerpoint presentations and the S&A
by clicking the links below
Presentation 1
Presentation 2
Audio recording of presentations
Audio recording of panel Q&A
Background
LTD is actively working on plans for an EmX (Bus Rapid Transit) route to West Eugene.
The route will go from the downtown LTD bus terminal to roughly Danebo Ave.
The location of the route segment between downtown and Garfield may have a major
impact on the Jefferson Westside Neighborhood. The main concerns that have been
expressed are potential reduction in the current local bus service for JWN residents and
the potential impacts of adding dedicated lanes along neighborhood streets, including
potential removal of trees and parking.
Currently LTD has under consideration three alternatives for this segment. One route
would use W. 6th and 7th Aves. from downtown (at about Olive Street) to Garfield Street,
then south to W. 11th Ave. and west from that intersection. This route would skirt the JWN
entirely.
Another alternative route would run EmX buses both ways on the south side of W. 13th
Ave. from Olive or Jefferson Streets to Chambers or Garfield Streets and then north to W.
11th Ave and on west.
A third alternative under consideration is similar to the second, but connects with the
Amazon Canal right-of-way west of Chambers and follows it to further out W. 11th Ave.
For more information, read the two articles in the January 2010 JWN newsletter.
LTD has indicated in the past that a potential route might run down W. 11th Ave. from
downtown, splitting the Westside neighborhood in two and likely having major negative
impacts on residents and pedestrians along the residential section of W. 11th Ave.
On October 2, The JWN Executive Board met with Tom Schwetz, LTD Director of
Development Services, and staff to discuss the routes and process. Tom stated that:
"exclusive right-of-way [dedicated lanes for EmX] would have to take away parking;
would have to take away trees, and it just wouldn't work. ... It doesn't make sense."
Although this doesn't exclude a "shared use" routing of EmX buses along this segment,
Tom's comments before the Executive Board appear to at least rule out a proposal for
dedicated lanes along this stretch that would remove trees or parking.
The impacts of the "W. 13th Alternative" are not yet fully identified. The routing would also
potentially have impacts on the following stretches of local streets:
- W. 11th Ave. or W. 12th Ave. between Jefferson and Olive Streets
- Olive or Olive Streets between W. 11th and W. 13th Aves.
To reiterate: LTD has not made any definite proposal yet and the potential impacts of the
alternatives that are being considered have nit been fully evaluated, but it's important to be
"ahead of the curve" on this issue. If you'd like to help work on it for the neighborhood
association, please contact the JWN chair.
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Jefferson Westside Neighbors