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MINUTES OF JOINT PUBLIC HEARING WITH EUGENE CITY COUNCIL, Page 12 <br />METROPOLITAN POLICY COMMITTEE, AND LANE TRANSIT DISTRICT <br />BOARD OF DIRECTORS, FEBRUARY 8, 2011 <br />R. Joseph Newton, Eugene, said that no one is offering saturation scheduling because there is no <br />money for it throughout the system. He said that we are running out of fuel, and the fuel we are <br />burning is making the climate unlivable. He said that we should set up a structure now using the <br />good ideas people have. He has studied the construction schedule and suggested that construction <br />disruption should last no more than six weeks at the same place. It is important to respect the <br />business people. Businesses take advantage of public infrastructure already there, and they need to <br />share the cost. <br />Janet Tarver, Wilson Street, Eugene, said that she lives not too far from EmX. The talk of use or <br />lose money is boondoggle talk. She suggested taking lanes out for less traffic, using the lanes <br />already there, and not making the sidewalks smaller. It is only three minutes less to Springfield on <br />the EmX. The hospital route is ugly. We need more, smaller buses and restoration of routes. She <br />regularly uses the regular bus to shop. She used to have to walk two blocks and now she needs to <br />walk six blocks. This is making it harder for older people. It is not logical to make the changes when <br />LTD cannot maintain the current service now. Minds are already made up. Eugene is not Portland. <br />She will not support boondoggles, and she does support schools. <br />Wendy Butler - Boyesen, City View, Eugene, said that her husband had a stroke at 56, and they are <br />completely dependent on LTD for transportation. They are in favor of the West Eugene EmX. She <br />said if people are truly disabled, there are lifts on buses, but people who use canes are at risk for <br />injury. Her husband can ride EmX by himself or he can use RideSource, but he cannot ride other city <br />buses by himself. RideSource is a wonderful resource. RideSource costs $3 for each one -way trip, <br />and LTD loses money on each trip. LTD will save money with EmX. During peak hours the buses <br />are full, and her husband has to wait a long time to get a seat. She has seen people with walkers <br />and in chairs denied boarding. <br />Thomas Graff, West Broadway, Eugene, has been a long -time resident of Eugene. Rapid transit is <br />needed to move people. West Eugene has a regional transportation problem due to 50 years of poor <br />planning. The fairgrounds used to be the end of town, and the city was developed piecemeal without <br />much thought. EmX will not relieve this problem, although its intentions are good. The short -term <br />plan will not work well, and we need to take another look at transportation as a regional problem. He <br />stated his opposition to the current EmX plan. <br />Barbara Reed, Alberta Lane, Eugene, lives off of River Road. She thanked LTD for the publicity that <br />informed people about EmX issues. It has been a great effort for soliciting input. She is a frequent <br />user of EmX, and sees the need for an extension of the EmX on West 11 Avenue. She will use the <br />EmX to go to Target and other businesses. The extension is preferable to widening lanes for more <br />cars. There are a lot of people on River Road who do not own cars and who will use LTD if there is <br />better service and connectivity. <br />Ken Rivernider, Hamilton Avenue, Eugene, said that articulated buses are not needed on River <br />Road. Those buses have people standing almost constantly as do EmX buses. LTD needs to meet <br />the needs of the public and so should EmX. One speaker suggested that businesses are located on <br />West 11 Avenue due to the high level of traffic. However, with the ever increasing level of <br />congestion, customers try to avoid West 11 Avenue. He will never take Beltline to support any of <br />the businesses. <br />Dennis Casady, Eugene, supports the No Build option. He has properties that would be negatively <br />impacted by EmX. He does not want to lose square footage or trees. <br />Moshe Immerman, Eugene, said that LTD should go back to the drawing board. He is a scientist, a <br />National Park Service Ranger, and a former chair of the Citizens for Public Accountability. With <br />