A guest viewpoint in the Register-Guard invites the public to help Lane Transit District Chart its future in the face of rising ridership—and fuel costs and hence operating expenses.

LTD board president Gerry Gaydos writes:

An economic and demographic convergence is creating tough times for public transportation organizations across the nation.

While the Lane Transit District is not in a sound-the-alarm state of emergency, the district is turning its eyes to the horizon and its ears to its constituents to plan for uncertain times and hard choices. A community-wide survey will be among the tools we employ in that process.

Public transportation across the nation is enjoying a dramatic resurgence. With fuel prices through the roof and grave concerns about climate change, thousands of Americans are discovering the benefits of hopping aboard their local buses.

That trend has translated to historic highs in LTD ridership, with a 33 percent increase in the past three years. The complaints we used to hear about buses running half empty are now in the rear-view mirror. Today, we hear complaints that buses are so full that some passengers must stand or, at times, can’t even board.

That’s the good news.

The bad news is that LTD is facing the same sticker shock at the gas pump as are motorists. The cost of diesel has quadrupled in the last seven years. And layoffs in the community mean a reduction in the payroll tax that provides about 80 percent of our operating revenue.

Gerry Gaydos will be moderating a panel examining transportation funding and related issues at the Lane County Moving Forward Togetherâ„¢ conference on June 11, 2008.