Lane Transit District officials invited to introduce themselves to public

By Claire Roth
May 13, 2022
Board members and subdistricts. Source: Lane Transit District

Lane Transit District officials invited to introduce themselves to public

EUGENE (May 13, 2022) — Lane Transit District (LTD) officials are being invited to introduce themselves to the public they represent via an online questionnaire.

LTD provides more than 10 million boardings per year on its buses and EmX Bus Rapid Transit line in Lane County, Oregon. Encompassing the Eugene-Springfield metro area, LTD also operates RideSource, a paratransit service for people with disabilities, and numerous transportation options programs to promote sustainable travel county-wide.

LTD is substantially supported by public funding from local payroll taxes, state grants, and federal programs.

A special district of the State of Oregon, LTD is governed by a seven-member board of directors. As with many other boards and commissions across Oregon, members are appointed by Oregon’s governor and confirmed by the Senate. As such, they never appear in a voter’s pamphlet or campaign literature, the primary ways that the public learns about their officials.

As a public service, Better Eugene-Springfield Transportation (BEST) is inviting board members to respond to an online questionnaire. The questionnaire asks each board member about how they travel and why they serve as a board member. It asks about LTD’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT), and what the most critical issues are today. Finally, it asks how each board member engages with the public, what they feel they have accomplished, and what they still hope to accomplish.

Distributed on May 5, board members have until May 17 to respond to the questionnaire. All questions are optional. Later this month, BEST will publish all responses or replies received.

BEST president Alexis Biddle explains, “Oregon has a strong tradition of robust public involvement. The LTD Board of Directors is the critical link between the public and our transit agency. Board members represent us, and we have a right to know who they are and what they believe.”

BEST executive director Rob Zako notes, “LTD is looking to develop a 10-year strategic business plan to map out how to serve the community better. A standard element is to conduct a SWOT analysis. The questionnaire is an opportunity for board members to think strategically about LTD.”

BEST is a local 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit organization working to build a successful community by bringing people together to promote transportation options, safe streets, and walkable neighborhoods.

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View media release as a PDF.

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