Labor Day Service
Monday, September 7
LTD buses and paratransit will not be in service.
Customer Service Center will be closed.
Administrative office will be closed.
LTD Customer Service to Reopen on August 17
Lane Transit District passengers will be able to ask questions about routes and fares when the Customer Service Center counters in the Eugene Station located at 1080 Willamette St. reopen on Monday, August 10, 2020. Customer Service Center hours will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. Customer service questions can continue to be answered by phone by dialing 541-687-5555 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m, Monday through Friday.
Passengers will enter the customer service center from the west doors and exit through the lobby’s north doors. Passengers will be required to wear hands-free coverings over their nose and mouth, use the hand sanitizing station, and observe social distancing requirements to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 among customers and LTD staff. The sitting area in the customer service center’s lobby and all restrooms in the center will remain closed. Public restrooms are available at 10th and Olive St. in Eugene.
Fare Collection Postponed
In July’s edition of Bus Talk, the date to resume fare collection was announced as September 1. Currently, there are some delays in getting the barriers between the operator and riders installed on all buses by that date. With health-first being a priority for LTD, fare collection will not resume on September 1 as originally planned. Watch for further information in Bus Talk and on Facebook
Fall Service Changes on September 27
LTD works to ensure it is offering passengers the best service possible based on resources available to the District. Due to changing COVID-19 requirements, LTD planners are taking extra care to craft health-first service changes that will be implemented on Sunday, September 27. Please look for changes to your routes by visiting LTD.org.
LTD Cottage Grove Connector to Resume August 17
To keep the community safe, the LTD Connector service in Cottage Grove was suspended in March. With restrictions being lifted, LTD will resume a modified Connector service on Monday, August 17. The service will run Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and will be available through the TransLoc app or by calling South Lane Wheels at 541-942-0456 ext.1 to request a trip. All riders will be required to wear a hands-free face mask in order to board, and all vehicles are limited to 4 passengers. Fare will be $1 per passenger per trip, and LTD passes are currently not valid, including Student, Half-fare, and Honored Rider passes. Children 5 and under ride free.
COVID-19 Update
LTD Begins Installation of Driver Barriers
Passengers making essential trips aboard Lane Transit District (LTD) buses will soon begin to notice something different when they look forward toward the bus operator.
As part of its health-first commitment, LTD is installing half-inch thick, clear polycarbonate shields around the bus operator’s cockpit in each of its buses to add another layer of protection from the potential spread of COVID-19.
The barriers and their installation are being paid for with money the District received to help alleviate the impacts of COVID-19-related expenses and loss of revenue through the CARES Act federal stimulus fund.
All buses will be outfitted with the bus operator barrier throughout the summer.
LTD is taking many steps to limit bus operator and passenger exposure to COVID-19, including:
- Buses are cleaned nightly with strong but safe disinfectants.
- District employees are regularly cleaning buses throughout the day at the Eugene and Springfield stations.
- Passengers are required to enter and exit from the rear door of the bus until all buses have the barriers installed, expected by September 1. Those passengers using the lift or who need assistance entering and exiting the bus can use the front door.
- Passengers are required to wear hands-free face masks or coverings over their nose and mouth.
- Based on social distancing requirements, LTD limits its 40-foot buses to 20 passengers and 60-foot buses to 30 passengers, which normally carry 50 and 80 passengers, respectively.
- There is no fare charged to ride an LTD bus. Fare collection is expected to resume this fall.
- Requiring passengers to keep a minimum of 3 feet of physical distancing from other passengers.
As a result of the impacts of COVID-19 and to prioritize community health, LTD is operating a reduced level of service. Visit LTD.org or call LTD Customer Service at 541-687-5555 for more information.
Other LTD measures include:
- LTD employees have their temperatures taken before starting work each day and are sent home if they are sick.
- Since early April, most of LTD’s administrative, marketing, planning, and finance teams have been required to work remotely until further notice.
- Employees who do come to work are required to wear a mask, maintain social distancing parameters, wash hands frequently, and observe other health precautions as outlined by the state of Oregon and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
LTD asks passengers to follow health guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Wear a hands-free mask or covering over nose and mouth.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the restroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
LTD’s ADA paratransit fleet is currently being evaluated for barriers. LTD is working with the vehicle manufacturer to evaluate options.
LTD Welcomes Tiffany Edwards
Longtime government relations executive Tiffany Edwards has joined Lane Transit District (LTD) as its Intergovernmental Relations Manager to lead the District’s local, state, and federal government relations and lobbying initiatives.
“LTD is pleased to welcome Tiffany to the LTD team,” said Aurora Jackson, LTD’s General Manager. “Tiffany’s years of government relations experience will benefit the District and its passengers as we work with government partners to identify new opportunities and additional funding to improve our entire public transportation system.”
Prior to taking this position, Edwards served three years as the Director of Business Advocacy at the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, and a decade in senior staff positions providing counsel about policy, communications, and constituent services for several Oregon State Legislators. She also owned a consulting business that managed several statewide campaigns. A native Oregonian and graduate of Washington State University, Edwards began her career in Seattle, holding positions with the Seattle Times and J. Walter Thompson.
“I am glad to be working with AJ and the LTD team,” Edwards said. “We share a passion for connecting people with the services and opportunities that make life in our community vibrant and healthy.”
Edwards began work as LTD’s Intergovernmental Relations Manager on Monday, July 6, 2020.
Tips for Biking and Walking in the Community
Summer is here, and many people are enjoying walking and biking in our community for the first time in a long time. Many new traffic signals have been installed in the community over the last few years to help pedestrians and cyclists navigate through traffic. These new features include stutter flash crossing signals, bike boxes, buffered bike lanes, and more to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety in our area. Visit Eugene-or.gov/1841/Traffic-Safety-Devices or Springfield-or.gov/city/development-public-works/traffic-safety-and-control/ to learn more about these safety features.
Additional tips to keep you safe:
- Wear bright or reflective clothing and reflectors/lights in early morning and at night.
- Make eye contact with the driver before crossing the street.
- If there is no sidewalk, walk facing oncoming traffic.
- Plan extra time to get to your destination so you have enough time to get there safely.
- Show a light so bus drivers can see you at your stop when waiting.
- Stay hydrated on hot days.