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characteristics had been incorporated or would be incorporated into EmX services. <br />Mr. Schwetz directed the council members to their copies of an LTD brochure which was designed to demonstrate <br />the efficiency and effectiveness of BRT systems. <br />Mr. Eyster commented that BRT systems such as the EmX often facilitated the implementation of full scale light rail <br />transit since BRT systems used similar infrastructure elements. <br />Mr. Eyster briefly discussed EmX Contributions to Addressing Key Community Issues as listed in his presentation <br />materials for the benefit of the council members. Additionally, Mr. Schwetz reported on recent studies that showed <br />significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and other climate change related impacts were present in public <br />transit systems where there were typically more than 7 to 10 bus passengers per hour. He reported that EmX <br />boardings averaged approximately 115 riders per hour. <br />Mr. Schwetz presented information regarding the LTD Alternatives Analysis and Drafting of Environmental Impact <br />Study (EIS) as it pertained to the extension of EmX service in the West Eugene area. He noted that a number of <br />public outreach efforts would be conducted with regard to the analysis and the EIS in order to keep community <br />members fully informed on all aspects of the West Eugene EmX Extension project. <br />Mr. Schwetz noted that LTD’s draft EIS was expected to be completed and released in January of 2010 to be <br />followed by a 60-day public comment period <br />Mr. Schwetz noted that, with respect to the LPA, LTD was requesting that the council provide direction to them <br />regarding what information might be necessary in order to reach a consensus as well as direction regarding the types <br />of processes the council might want to use as it reached a decision on the LPA. He further commented that a joint <br />preferred alternative committee comprised of representatives of the Eugene City Council, the LTD Board of <br />Directors, and the Metropolitan Policy Committee (MPC) might be used to determine a course of action regarding the <br />LPA. <br />Mr. Schwetz, responding to a question from Ms. Taylor, noted that the MPC would have input regarding the LPA <br />since the West Eugene EmX Extension project was federally funded. <br />Mr. Eyster concluded his presentation and noted that although the extension of LTD’s EmX service had at times been <br />controversial, the public need for the system was very high and that the service had indeed had many positive broad <br />effects upon the community. <br />Mr. Piercy noted that she had recently visited the new Springfield EmX station and looked forward to the benefits <br />that the extension of the EmX service would provide. She appreciated the clarity and specificity of the LTD <br />presentation and recognized that successful implementation of the extension project would require concerted effort <br />from the City of Eugene and its partner agencies such as Lane County, the Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) <br />and the City of Springfield. <br />Mr. Taylor hoped that LTD’s public transit extension efforts would include services for people living in the more <br />remote, outlying areas of Eugene and Lane County and not just services for the denser, more centrally located areas. <br />Mr. Eyster, responding to a question from Ms. Taylor, noted that while he did not have exact population figures for <br />the City of Eugene from any periods where the City used streetcar systems it was generally accepted that such <br />systems had proven to be financially unsustainable. <br />Ms. Taylor suggested that the council members use one of their future work session meetings to take a group tour led <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council May 13, 2009 Page 2 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br />