Planners in Eugene, Oregon, have nixed plans for light rail in favor of a bus rapid transit system. However, they say the system's dedicated lanes could be converted into light rail routes in the future if the population increases enough.
"Eugene opted for bus rapid transit instead of light rail in its four-mile mass transit system that opened in January. A 7.8-mile extension will open by 2010, and maybe 50 miles more will be built in the future."
"Eugene completed a lengthy evaluation process six years ago and today hopes its bus rapid transit will gain the same public favor and attract the same level of development as light rail. Planners looked hard at rail but decided Eugene lacked the population density to make light rail work. More than 200,000 people live in the Eugene-Springfield area."
