A trip down West 11th Avenue showcases countless “No Build” signs planted in the front yards of homes and local businesses alike. They were put up by angry residents and small business owners, who are denouncing Lane Transit District’s plans to extend the EmX route through West Eugene.
The people on West 11th Avenue are outraged.
The proposed $100 million project is designed to alleviate congestion and allow increased access to West Eugene’s attractions. The exact route hasn’t been decided on and the actual impact of construction has yet to be determined, but that hasn’t stopped speculation.
Locals are concerned that building an additional lane for the EmX will clog up the two-lane street and take parking away from local businesses. Without parking, customers could dry up and the businesses lose out.
“Look, there goes a bus now,” Bill Cole, owner of local West 11th Avenue business Wheelworks, said as the long white shape of another public transportation vehicle rumbles by. “(The expansion) is a lot of expense for no reason. I’d much rather see that money go toward bicycle infrastructure. It makes a lot more sense; it’s cheaper and it’s healthier.”
One of the possibilities being pondered by LTD is the addition of a separate lane specifically for the EmX to run on, much like the lane used on the current line. However, this idea involves all sorts of difficulties.
Running a EmX lane down West 11th Avenue would require partial closure of the road, increased congestion, and it would have to cut into public and private property to create the extra lane. That would severely hinder the flow of traffic, as well as possibly block sidewalk access and business parking.
The idea behind increasing public transportation down West 11th Avenue is a solid one; increased transportation would grant both college students and Eugeneans some much-needed accessibility to the stores and businesses neglected by the current bus system. However, the method that LTD has considered using to rectify this lack of transportation is both disruptive and inconsiderate. Mike Treacy, a West 11th Avenue resident, thinks the entire project is counterproductive.
“I think the bus system is fairly adequate,” he said. “(Businesses) are going to lose parking and business — no one wants (the EmX) in their neighborhood,” Treacy said.
The simplest solution to the transportation shortage might be the addition of extra bus routes to pre-existing time tables. This would solve the congestion problem and allow easy access to the West 11th Avenue businesses for college students. It would also be very cost-effective; the buses are already running and don’t require much construction for extra routes.
“Just because (LTD) can get the money doesn’t mean that’s where it should go,” Treacy said.
The EmX shouldn’t be extended through the residential and small business area of West 11th Avenue. There hasn’t been enough consideration given to the disruptive damage the construction would have on the local economy and to less invasive alternatives to the current lack of transportation.
While an EmX line may help businesses in the long run, shops down West 11th Avenue cannot afford to take the potential decline in business that the construction would cause.
[email protected]