Lane Transit District: State of the District

Target Audience: More than one-quarter of Lane Transit District's (LTD) operating budget is funded by the payroll taxes of employers and employees in the District service area. Because of this revenue structure, Lane County taxpayers are a key audience for LTD. Through community engagement, LTD identified four outcome areas – healthcare, workforce, education, and housing – that significantly impact the vitality of our community. In the Venn diagram of these areas, mobility is a core connector between all four. A robust mobility system means a healthier, stronger community – this was the theme of LTD's inaugural "State of the District" (SOTD) event. The target audience of the event was elected officials, business and community leaders, as well as advocates from the identified outcome areas.

Strategy Objective:The SOTD is part of LTD's effort to enable stakeholders to see mobility as a multifaceted solution. In addition to elected officials, business leaders, and advocates from key outcome areas, LTD intentionally included people unengaged with transit. The SOTD included remarks from LTD and Lane Council of Governments (regional Metropolitan Planning Organization) about the current state of mobility and evolving regional partnerships. A video and panel – featuring a developer, the superintendent of a low-income school district, and the director of a non-profit medical clinic – underscored the impacts of a thriving mobility system on outcome areas. The SOTD concluded with a preview of LTD's long-range mobility plan and a "Mobility Pledge," intended to build community advocacy around mobility.

Situation Challenge: Biennially, United Way produces the Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed, or ALICE, report, reflecting the number of households earning above the Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford the basics where they live. In 2024, ALICE data found that 47% of Lane County households struggle to make ends meet, up 2,000 households from the last report. The top monthly household expenses (housing, food, and transportation) in Lane County equal 40% of a household's income. This reality inspired LTD to consider new pathways to collaborate with community partners, resulting in a series of community engagement workshops and a culminating SOTD event. LTD wanted event attendees to leave committed to increased and intentional collaboration.

Results Impact: Nearly 150 people attended the event. There were several elected officials, including the mayors of Eugene and Springfield, state legislators, city councilors, and county commissioners. Over 80 organizations were in attendance, representing sectors as wide-ranging as public health and banking to nonprofits. The area's local CBS and NBC affiliates sent reporters to do "live shots" from the event, as well as covering it the following day. The area's major newspaper, The Register Guard, was at the SOTD with a reporter and a photographer. In all, the event directly engaged more than 150 community members, and reached thousands more through media coverage.

Why Submit: In August 2024, LTD's Board of Directors adopted a groundbreaking engagement framework, a foundational guide for how LTD engages with the community on everything from major projects to everyday policies. LTD serves a community with varying needs and relies on strong relationships to do its work. The SOTD is part of a larger push to include the public in LTD's planning process, and the promotion of collaboration between LTD and its partners. Like the State of the Union or a State of the City but for transit, the SOTD was an outreach event to share LTD's story, indicate where it's going, and increase engagement in its processes. This innovative approach to "sharing out" makes LTD a more effective organization for the region it serves.