LTD considers adding some crosstown routes.

Byline: Jeff Wright The Register-Guard

Call it EmX Lite.

In addition to its EmX bus rapid transit system, the Lane Transit District is exploring the idea of creating several crosstown bus routes that would offer some, but not all, of the amenities of bus rapid transit.

The first proposed route: a single line that would carry riders all the way from Santa Clara Square on River Road in northwest Eugene to Lane Community College in southeast Eugene.

The "Bus Plus" route would essentially be a merger of two existing routes, but with some distinct differences: Larger, articulated buses would ply the route every 15 minutes, with a brief stop but no layover at the transit district's Downtown Station.

As money becomes available, the route would include several features of LTD's EmX system, such as traffic signal priority and queue-jumping lanes for buses, and passenger shelters at bus stops.

Those and other features will be on display when LTD's maiden EmX line, linking downtown Eugene and Springfield along Franklin Boulevard, debuts in December. Construction on the next EmX line, along Springfield's Pioneer Parkway, is to begin in 2009.

The Bus Plus corridors may never end up as full-fledged EmX routes. But the various EmX-like improvements mean they could become EmX corridors if that proves to be the community's priority, LTD spokesman Andy Vobora said.

A $3 million federal grant is underwriting the Bus Plus project, which includes the purchase of five articulated, hybrid-powered buses. The River Road-LCC link is the first of three crosstown routes that LTD wants to offer, with the other two yet to be selected.

LTD hopes to introduce the River Road-LCC route by fall 2007. Vobora said the plan is very preliminary, with input from riders and others still to be solicited. Two open houses on the concept will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Downtown Station in Eugene.

Some of the grant money, which comes from the Federal Transit Administration, is expected to go for traffic signal priority equipment and other EmX-like amenities. There's even money allotted to build one or more public restrooms - so that bus operators can more easily take care of business.

Vobora said the biggest selling point for the concept figures to be the promise of routes that stretch across town. "We have heard for years from people who like the idea of crosstown service, without having so many transfers," he said.

Part of the EmX philosophy is to have fewer bus stops - two to four per mile - so that buses can keep on schedule. Riders who live in outlying neighborhoods, away from River Road and other heavily used arterials, could need to make an extra transfer.

"It's a balance for us, trying to create an efficient system along busy corridors while also serving the neighborhoods," Vobora said. "But 90 percent of our riders come from the heavy corridors."