In Eugene, City and Transit District Collaborate on Analysis of Arterial Corridors

As City staff work on an implementation plan for the Congestion Relief Task Force recommendations, and the recommendations from the Public Transit Committee are also out there maybe a little dormant, coordinating policy and action between the City and Cherriots has seemed elusive. We resort to "sending letters" of request. This may blossom into something more, but it's also a sign of silos.

The City of Eugene and Lane Transit
collaborating on project
(Executive Summary, comment added)

Down in Eugene the City and Lane Transit may point the way to a better collaboration. Together they are working on a major plan for improving transit, reconfiguring the streets, and linking this to improved land use along the resulting transit corridor. Even if the project isn't exactly something to emulate, surely there are elements of both the process and the plan that Salemites should consider as we work on better transportation for the 21st century and to update the comprehensive plan.

Front page of the RG today

The project is evaluating expanding the existing bus rapid transit system. It's had three rounds of construction, resulting in essentially two main corridors, one on an east-west axis, the other in Springfield on a north-south axis.

EmX Bus Rapid Transit in Eugene
BRT has: Raised platform, dedicated bus lane,
bigger bus, all doors open for entry/exit,
frequent service (image via LTD)

Inside Eugene itself, the study is evaluating five big arterial stroady things for improvements. The high build alternative would be a full EmX line. A lower build alternative for improved conventional bus service is also included.

Five big arterial corridors analyzed (grey dots)
Existing bus rapid transit lines in green

But bus service is not the only thing they are thinking about.

The project leads with "improving multimodal service." It would have significant servings of projects for walking and biking, both as independent trips, and as "first/last mile" connections to transit.

Goals include walking and biking, not just transit -
note land use also

Improvements for walking and biking

Improvements for transit

There is an online open house right now. Unless you know the streets well and visit often, it might not be appropriate to comment, but walking through it to see how they are approaching things could be illuminating.

There is more that can be done to coordinate City and Cherriots policy and action, and there is more than can be done to coordinate transportation policy and land use policy.

This Eugene project might be a useful case study and model.