History
Lane Transit District: A Timeline of Community, Connection, and Innovation
Since 1970, Lane Transit District has been connecting our community to work, school, medical appointments, and recreation destinations. Take a look at our history of providing transportation in Lane County.
Before LTD
1891-1969Public transit in Eugene began in 1891 with a single mule-powered streetcar operated by Wiley Griffon, the city’s first African American streetcar operator. Griffon’s role laid the foundation for public transit in Eugene, rooted in service, resilience, and community connection.
Later, a private company operated the transit system in Eugene and Springfield, with oversight from the City of Eugene after 1927. In 1969, the Oregon State Legislature authorized the creation of public transit districts in Oregon with payroll tax as a source of operating revenue.
The Founding of Lane Transit District
1970-1979In November 1970, LTD began providing transportation service with 18 buses and two vans. With support from a Lane County grant, LTD expanded service beyond urban areas, reaching more rural communities for the first time.
Dial-A-Bus service began in 1976 to serve the transportation needs of older adults and people with disabilities.
A Leader In Accessibility
1980-1989The 1980s were a time of growth and expansion for LTD service. Many transit stations opened for service around the Eugene-Springfield area. Many of these stations are still in service today, including Lane Community College Transit Station, University Station North, and Valley River Center Transit Station.
In 1983, the Customer Service Center at 10th and Willamette Street opened for service, establishing LTD’s longstanding presence in Downtown Eugene.
By 1985, all LTD buses became wheelchair accessible, one of the first transit system in the country to do so and five years before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 established an “equal opportunity” law for people with disabilities.
Station Expansion
1990-1999As LTD expanded, the Glenwood Administrative and Operations Facility was built and became the base of operations for LTD.
In 1993, LTD provided 5 million rides in a single year for the first time in District history. To accommodate increasing ridership demand, LTD opened several new transit stations throughout the 1990s, including University Station South, Thurston Transit Station, Seneca Transit Station, and Eugene Transit Station at 1080 Willamette Street. Eugene Station has been the central point of LTD’s “hub and spoke” transit system since it was constructed in 1998.
In the late 1990s, LTD’s service area expanded to the cities of Creswell and Cottage Grove.
Hybrid Electric Buses
2000-2009Always on the cutting edge, LTD added six hybrid-electric buses into service in 2001. By the mid-2000s, ridership demand surpassed 9 million annual boardings. After years of planning and anticipating this increase in demand, LTD opened the Springfield Transit Station and Gateway Transit Station.
In 2007, the EmX Franklin Corridor opened for service using six hybrid-electric buses. LTD was the first in the country to implement bus-rapid-transit (BRT), and the EmX BRT system has been toured by transit agencies across the country and the world.
Expanding Access to Transit
2010-2019After years of success with the EmX Franklin Corridor, LTD expanded BRT service and opened the EmX Gateway Corridor in 2011. By 2012, LTD operated 35 hybrid-electric buses, helping the District earn silver-level certification in the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Sustainability Commitment program. APTA continued to recognize LTD’s innovation and industry leadership and honored LTD with the 2014 Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award.
The EmX West Eugene Corridor opened for service in 2917, connecting the West Eugene, Gateway, and Franklin Corridors with 20 miles of dedicated bus lanes and frequent service. The LTD Glenwood campus expanded in 2018, adding a Facility Maintenance building and electric bus charging infrastructure to the bus lot.
In 2019, LTD introduced the TouchPass/Umo electronic fare collection system, began offering free bus passes for all K-12 students, and introduced the LTD Connector in Cottage Grove. Together, these initiatives reflect LTD’s commitment to meeting community needs and reimagining how public transportation can serve both urban and rural riders.
Continued Innovation
2020-PresentLTD continues to build on its history of innovation and industry leadership. In 2021, LTD invested in environmental stewardship with the adoption of its first formal Climate Action Policy and the launch of its zero-emission bus fleet. These electric buses, along with the continued use of R-99 renewable diesel, reflect a broader transition toward cleaner fuels and technologies.
Current Projects & Future Investments
Explore LTD’s current projects and future investments at the following links: