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MINUTES OF JOINT PUBLIC HEARING WITH EUGENE CITY COUNCIL, Page 2 <br />METROPOLITAN POLICY COMMITTEE, AND LANE TRANSIT DISTRICT <br />BOARD OF DIRECTORS, FEBRUARY 8, 2011 <br />CALL TO ORDER — Mayor Piercy called the Eugene City Council to order; Ms. Wylie called the <br />MPC to order; and Mr. Eyster called the LTD Board to order. <br />JOINT PUBLIC HEARING: WEST EUGENE EmX <br />Scott Bocci, Rockridge Loop, Eugene, stated his belief that mass transit was necessary but EmX <br />was not a good use of tax money and right -of -way resources. Most arguments he heard in favor of <br />EmX were actually stronger arguments against it, as follows: <br />1) It would increase ridership. It would increase ridership by only 4 percent through 2031; while it <br />was estimated that the population would increase by 10 to 12 percent during that same period, <br />resulting in a loss of market share. This did not justify the investment. <br />2) It would be good for business. He has owned Grays Garden Center for nine years, and no bus <br />rider ever made a significant purchase at his business. He has had a bus line outside of his business <br />and never had a single customer from the bus enter his business. <br />3) The EmX lanes would be disruptive. EmX would take half of the parking from Grays and would <br />force the business to close. <br />4) EmX is a good investment. Current cost estimates of $80 to $90 million means $150 million. The <br />bus is not practical for a large percentage of the population. EmX uses lanes, tax dollars, and a large <br />amount of resources to serve a small percentage of the population while it is not significantly faster <br />than a standard bus. <br />Julie Daniel, (address not given), stated her support for EmX expansion. She identified herself as <br />the director of a non - profit located close to a bus line, and said many of their clients come on the <br />EmX. There are differences between rapid transit and regular bus service. Only a small percentage <br />of the community will switch from cars to buses. Rapid transit offers a different alternative, and gives <br />people the opportunity to behave as car riders or bike riders because the EmX will come every 10 <br />minutes, allowing spontaneity to ride the bus. There has been an increase in ridership in other <br />communities where rapid transit had been, adopted. It is not hard to get people to change to rapid <br />transit. It is important to think about a solution that would solve a problem and serve the community <br />for many years. West 11 Avenue will change, and it is important to install the infrastructure for the <br />future. This is a sustainable, innovative solution, which removes barriers to public transit and should <br />be looked at. From an environmental perspective, it would reduce the carbon footprint by getting <br />people out of their cars. <br />Kelly Lovelace, Morningstar Road, Pleasant Hill, has been a business owner in Lane County for <br />many years. He has employed many people and paid the LTD payroll taxes. He is not against the <br />city bus as it is good for some people. EmX is a waste of federal tax dollars. Local officials should <br />consider that in making their decision. He does a lot of business in West Eugene and hauls <br />equipment that he could not haul in a bus. The businesses buy and use property in accordance with <br />city ordinances. Now businesses are being told that the parking lots they were required to have, do <br />not count. The rules were changing and people do not like it. The community cannot afford the <br />system. We should take the system that we have and make it more efficient. <br />Casey Dresser, Robin Court, Creswell, reviewed her experience with EmX as the owner /operator of <br />Springfield Cleaners, which has been in her family since 1963. EmX has been frustrating and <br />devastating. It was four - and -a -half years ago when she learned that the EmX line would eliminate all <br />of her parking on Pioneer Parkway. Sixty percent of her customers parked on Pioneer Parkway. She <br />took the information to the City of Springfield, and asked them to reconsider the project. LTD did <br />accommodate the business and provided some parking spaces. In 2010 her corner turned into a <br />demolition site, and for weeks there was no parking near the cleaners. Numerous customers did not <br />patronize her business during that time. There was a lot of heavy equipment, and Main Street and <br />Pioneer Parkway were torn up. Customers drove by and sales dropped. She asked LTD who would <br />