_Back to the Books_
Community
SEPTEMBER 21,1998
Emerald
History
Eugene has one of the
deepest histories of any city
in the state/20C
Gubernatorial race
Gov. John Kitzhaber engaged in
a recent televised debate with his
challengers/21 C
On the Move
LAURA GOSS/Emerald
Riders wait at the north LTD University Station for their bus to arrive.
LTD examines new transit options
The new Bus Rapid Transit system could
potentially be converted to light rail as
Eugene grows over the decades
By Michael Hines
Editor in Chief
The upcoming final meeting at Lane Transit District’s
offices will culminate a month’s preliminary planning
for a brand new public transportation program.
Bus Rapid Transit, or BRT, is LTD’s new project that
received a $1 million grant from the government for
preliminary work. Its final planning meeting will take
place Oct. 7.
Public affairs manager Ed Bergeron said LTD is excit
ed to begin the new program. “It seems to be gaining
quite a bit of support,” he said.
BRT is designed to increase travel speed and service
Turn to LTD, Page16C
An LTD bus pulls into University Station.
LAURA GOSS/Emerald
Substation
moves to
Sacred Heart
The Eugene police have a
5-year lease to stay in the
hospital's parking lot
By Rob Moseley
Associate Editor
In terms of relocation distance, the move
ment of the Eugene Police Department’s
public safety station from the parking lot of
7-Eleven at 13th Avenue and Alder Street to
the parking lot of the Sacred Heart Medical
Center, just across 13th, isn’t particularly
noticeable.
But according to Eugene police officer
Bev Mason, who has occupied the 20
square-foot blue trailer at 7-Eleven since its
placement three years ago, the effects on the
police department’s ability to patrol the
West University neighborhood after the new
1,300-square-foot facility is completed will
be quite noticeable.
One impetus for the substation’s place
ment, Mason said, was that, “we wanted of
ficers to become attached to the area. People
are more willing to come in here when they
know us.”
According to Mason, a major benefit of
the new building will be the increased
amount of office space.
“This is the most important thing, to me,”
Mason said. “Privacy.”
Officers in the temporary facility often
found themselves dealing with multiple
cases in the substation’s lone office. In the
new satellite station, officers will each have
work space of their own.
Included amongst those officers, if Mason
gets her wish, will be a combination proba
tion and parole officer. That officer would
be able to monitor the movement of, for in
stance, known sex offenders into the area,
according to Mason.
Another benefit of the new location is to
students, who are no longer forced to jour
ney downtown to interact with police.
“About half of our walk-ins (at the tempo
rary facility] have been students,” Mason
said. “And I do expect more people to come
in [to the new building].”
The project has been orchestrated by the
West University Neighborhood Association,
which includes representatives from both
Sacred Heart and the Eugene Police.
“We offered a $1 per year lease to the city
Turn to POLICE, Page12C
University ‘insulated’ from city, says Mayor Torrey
oy miwiaei nines
Editor in Chiel
Eugene Mayor Jim Torrey sat down with
the Emerald and talked frankly about his
perceptions of the University and its role in
the City of Eugene.
Qj Eugene had two riots involving stu
i dents last year — one on Hilyard and
one on Alder. Do you foresee this happen
ing again this year?
A | Well I would hope that it wouldn’t
i happen because 1 think that it is a bad
public relations image for both thexity and
the University, as well as the student body.
I understand that everybody likes to
have a good time. I understand that col
lege students, away from home for the
first time in many instances, experiment
and move out into their lives, but I don’t
think it’s necessary that we get to the
point that it’s disruptive to the safety of
the community.
It would be my hope that we would find
ways to accommodate to the degree possi
TurntoTORREY, Page 2C
LAURA GOSS/Eperald
Eugene MayerJim
Torrey said last
year’s riots were
bad public rela
tions for the city,
the University and
the students.
i k 1
iut