This project has been completed. EmX opened to serve the public in January 2007.

E-Mail Updates
To receive weekly e-mail construction updates, go to the Manage E-mail Subscriptions page.

What is EmX and why are we doing it?
The bus rapid transit (BRT) concept was developed as part of a regional transportation plan update. As part of the plan, several transit options were considered, analyzed as part of the transportation modeling process, and discussed in public forums. BRT emerged as the clearly preferred transit strategy during that process. BRT was seen as a way to significantly enhance transit service and achieve many of the benefits of light rail without the high cost of rail. As a result, BRT was approved in 2001 as a key element of the new transportation plan by Eugene, Springfield, Lane County, ODOT and LTD.

The name EmX (pronounced M-X) was selected as the name for LTD’s bus rapid transit system.

LTD likes the BRT concept because it is appropriate in scale and cost for a community our size, it results in a more efficient transit operation, and can be developed one line at a time, as warranted by community demand and as allowed by funding. BRT is a system that the community can grow around. It is much easier and less expensive to put a rapid transit system in place before transportation problems become severe, rather than wait until the problems reach a crisis level and then try to implement a transit solution.

The Result
Franklin Corridor EmX is a four mile route from downtown Eugene to downtown Springfield providing a vital link for the regional transit system. The Eugene Station is the primary hub for the transit system. A secondary hub is located at the Springfield Station which serves routes within the City of Springfield. Linking these two hubs with fast, efficient, frequent service is critical to the operation of the transit system.

EmX construction is also scheduled during 2009-2010 for the Gateway EmX Extension, formerly called the Pioneer Parkway EmX Corridor.

Project Benefits
Traffic congestion is increasing along with the growth in our community. And we know that as buses are increasingly delayed or stuck in traffic, our service will get worse, not better. By protecting the bus from traffic congestion through exclusive transit lanes, traffic signal priority and other BRT enhancements, we know we can provide faster, more reliable transit service for our customers. This will make transit an increasingly attractive transportation alternative. Besides better service for our customers, EmX offers LTD the potential of lower operating costs and achieve higher ridership productivity per mile of service. Compared to traditional transit, EmX vehicles should get better fuel mileage, travel farther in each service hour, provide better schedule reliability, and carry more customers per service hour than a conventional bus system.

Project Timeline
Service began in January 2007.

Project Funding
Overall cost for the Franklin Corridor was $24 million for construction and vehicles ($19.2 million federal funding and $4.8 million local funding).

How Can I Get More Information?
Contact:

• Lane Transit District
  
• Metro Phone Hotline: 984-8484 – call this number to hear updated recordings on the project
  
• Highway Advisory Radio: 1660 AM – similar to the Metro Hotline with recorded updates of project information

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