Mike Hursh

The Strategic Business Plan (SBP) outlines Lane Transit District's mission, vision, and values. It is guided by the core priority to foster a more connected and accessible community, serving as a foundational document for the district's budget development process, alongside the Long-Range Financial Plan and Community Investment Plan.

The Lane Transit District budget for fiscal year 2025-2026 includes the expansion of State Transportation Improvement Fund (STIF) projects and investment in LTD's capital projects. A small increase in fare revenue is anticipated, but factors such as remote work and safety concerns contribute to stagnant ridership. Payroll-type taxes are a significant revenue source, budgeted to increase by 6%. Federal and state assistance will fund increased personnel costs. The budget addresses cost increases and includes wage scale adjustments. There's also a change in the discretionary retirement plan contribution rate. The budget allocates funds to various services and projects, including Eugene-Springfield Services, Rural Lane County Services, and pilots and expansions. Capital projects and fleet replacements are also addressed.

The fiscal year 2023 proposed budget covers the period from July 1st 2022 to June 30th 2023. The fiscal year 2022 amended general fund budget was 58 million dollars and the proposed fiscal year 2023 budget is 60.8 million dollars. The increase is the result of a variety of factors affecting costs including inflation, personnel costs, parts and tires, the tight labor market, increased use of technology, and operating transfers to ADA services.

The meeting discussed strategies for maintaining community support for co-developed solutions over sustained periods. Key topics included establishing benchmarks for success and reporting progress, ensuring transparency about project timelines, and implementing continuous communication strategies to keep the community informed and engaged. The council also explored methods for cultivating stakeholder groups and providing feedback to ensure community input is valued and acted upon.

The meeting of the Community Steering Council included discussions on community engagement and the development of a new framework. The council explored the concept of co-creation, emphasizing the importance of collaborative processes in developing solutions with the community. The council discussed strategies for LTD to work with the community to address the first and last mile problem.