Eugene, Oregon

Eugene is the third largest city http://www.ci.eugene.or.us/local/euggov.htm#Facts:Cite_sources and boasts the second largest metropolitan population http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=1119225167&men=gcis&lng=en&gln=xx&dat=32&geo=-223&srt=pnan&col=aohdq&pt=a&va=x&geo=-3793 in the state of Oregon, and is also the county seat of Lane County, Oregon. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie River and the Willamette River, about 60 miles (97 km) east of the Oregon Coast. According to the 2000 census, it has a total population of 137,893. As of July 1, 2003 the US Census Bureau estimated the population of Eugene to be 142,185. The city's population is expected to further grow to 228,400 within the next 10 years.

Transportation

Eugene is the headquarters of the Lane Transit District (LTD), a public transportation agency formed in 1970. LTD covers 240 square miles (620 km²) of Lane County, including Creswell, Junction City and Veneta. Operating more than 90 buses at the high activity time, LTD carries riders on 3.7 million trips every year. LTD's Eugene Station, downtown, covers nearly a city block, and is easily the busiest public plaza outside of the University.

Related Topics:
Lane Transit District - Public transportation - 1970 - Creswell - Junction City - Veneta

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The Amtrak depot downtown was recently restored; it's the south terminus for two daily runs of the Amtrak Cascades, and a stop along the route for the daily Coast Starlight.

Related Topics:
Amtrak - Amtrak Cascades - Coast Starlight

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The Eugene Airport, also known as Mahlon Sweet Field, is the fifth largest airport in the northwest.

Related Topics:
Eugene Airport - Mahlon Sweet Field

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Bicycles

Cycling is big in Eugene. Summertime events and festivals frequently have bike parking "corrals" that many times are filled to capacity by three hundred or more bikes. Many people commute to work by bicycle every month of the year. Numerous bike shops provide the finest rain gear products, running lights and everything a biker needs to ride and stay comfortable in heavy rain. Bike trails take commuting and recreational bikers along the Willamette River, past a scenic rose garden, along Amazon Creek, through the downtown, and through the University of Oregon campus.

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On Earth Day, 1970, the major street bisecting the University of Oregon was closed by student protest. In consequence, an avenue where students formerly dodged log trucks, became a permanent bike and pedestrian path.

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Since then, Eugene has built 89 miles of on-street bike lanes, and 30 miles of dedicated bike paths, including 5 bike bridges in one of the country's most extensive and beautiful riverside bicycle systems. Eugene is a valley city, mostly flat, and apart from the northwest rain, a perfect place to bicycle.

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Eugene is also home to a thriving bicycle industry, for example Burley Design Co-operative, Bike Friday, Co-motion bicycles, and Human-Powered Machines.

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Oregon Cycling magazine is published in Eugene as part of the non-profit Center for Appropriate Transport.

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Highways

Highways traveling within and through Eugene include:

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• Interstate 5: Interstate 5 forms much of the eastern city limits, forming a boundary between Eugene and Springfield. To the north, I-5 leads to the Willamette valley and Portland. To the south, I-5 leads to Roseburg and the southwestern portion of the state.
• Interstate 105/Oregon Highway 126: Oregon Highway 126 is routed along the Eugene-Springfield Highway, a limited access freeway. The Eugene portion of this highway begins at an interchange with Interstate 5 and ends two miles (3 km) west at a freeway terminus. This portion of Oregon Highway 126 is also signed Interstate 105, a spur route of Interstate 5. Oregon Highway 126 continues west, a portion shared with Oregon Highway 99, and continues west to Florence. Eastward, Oregon Highway 126 crosses the Cascades and leads to central Oregon.
• Beltline Road: Beltline Road is a limited-access freeway which runs along the northern edge of incorporated Eugene.
• Delta Highway: The Delta Highway forms a connector of less than 2 miles (3 km) between Interstate 105 and Beltline Road.
• Oregon Highway 99: Oregon Highway 99 forks off Interstate 5 south of Eugene, and forms a major surface artery in Eugene. It continues north into the Willamette valley, parallel to I-5.