Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about transportation.  Not just for Arcimoto (which aims to make a difference on the individual level), but also for mass transit.  Buses are nice and all, but all the cool cities have good light rail too.

So I thought I’d put out a proposal for how Eugene could solve many of its people transit issues (initially in west Eugene), fuel infill in the center of the city, remove the need for additional parking at the new UO arena, and collaborate with other local municipalities to remove the need for extra vehicle miles.

I call this proposal “Southern Willamette Intercity Fast Transit” or SWIFT.  Last night I put together a google map of the proposal… check it!

The first key to the proposal would be to utilize existing ununsed or underused rail- initially the line from Coos Bay to Eugene (and particularly the stretch from Veneta to Eugene) that is currently in the process of being abandoned by its owner, Rail America.

Right before this line hits the main rail line through Eugene, it could be diverted to run down Blair Blvd, and from there through downtown and to the university.  It’s possible (though not likely) that the rail lines currently buried under Blair could be reused.  See, Eugene used to have a street rail system back in the day:

Eugene on rails!

The next phase of the project would extend the rail service line to Springfield along either the EMX line, existing rail or otherwise.

Phase 2 of the SWIFT plan would call for a second line running from Oregon State University in Corvallis, down the existing rail along Hwy 99, adding a new stretch of rail between Junction City and Monroe, and linking up with the first SWIFT line.  An extension to this line would run from Glenwood to Cottage Grove.

This idea also calls for the creation of the Oregon Transit Research Center, a collaboration between UO, OSU and federal, state and local governments.  Sited at the rail junction in west Eugene, this would be a hub for engineers from OSU and designers and planners from the UO to craft forward-looking solutions to Oregon’s transportation needs.

Anyone who has an interest in getting involved in seeing what’s involved in developing an idea like this can drop me a line.

Here is some funny political news. I can’t wait to see the new show “In Da Office Zone!”

No, he isn’t hiding in a maze of people in a colorful landscape. He isn’t somewhere in the world with Matt Lauer…He isn’t dancing around the world like Matt…or maybe he is. 

The place I would have expected to find him is in the PolitickerOR.com list of 50 most influentional people on Oregon Politics. 

Check the post HERE and find the link to the list at the bottom.

OR Download the list HERE

Who else got left out? (besides me, the famous Lane Bus Project Blogger…I came in at 50,005…not bad.)

Who doesn’t deserve to be on there?

COMMENT BELOW!

Relay For Life®, the American Cancer Society’s signature event, is a fun-filled overnight experience designed to bring together those who have been touched by cancer. At Relay, people from within the community gather to celebrate survivors, remember those lost to cancer, and to fight back against this disease. Relay participants help raise money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society in its lifesaving mission to eliminate cancer as a major health issue.

The Bus Project team needs your help! Donate today on their team page to give them the encouragement they need to complete the 24 hour relay!

The event starts at noon on Friday and goes until noon on Saturday at LCC.

For more details please check out the Eugene/Springfield Relay for Life homepage.

Stay tuned for photos and results!

The Bus Project of course doesn’t stick it’s nose into National politics (OK, maybe once in a while on our free time.)

It was a nice surprise to see some Politicorps fellows pictured in a NY Times article on Sunday about far-left liberals positions on the Obama nomination.

Speaking of bus buttons, it was great to see lots of enthusiastic volunteers braving the dust and heat at the Oregon Country fair this year. Led by our own Lynn Moracco and Alison Friedman, the crew registered over 1000 new voters!

At Davis’s tonight at 7-9pm (ie Thurs, June 26), we will have the 232nd annual celebration of America with one brewhaha. Come celebrate your patriotism by discussing how to make our city a little better. The topic: safety in the city.

We’ll be touching on tasers and guns, bad apples and trees, crime and punishment, prevention and meth, mental health problems and theft, too few resources and not enough time. And we’ll talk about the job that a modern day police officer does, the difficulties they encounter, the feelings they get from the community, and the dangerous and sometimes thankless job they must do every day.

No topic is off limits, especially the topic on how we are treating one another, even those we strongly disagree with.

(Davis’s is on the corner of Olive and Broadway)

On Friday, June 27 the Track and Field Olympic Trials will begin in little ol’ Eugene, Oregon.

What does this mean for voter reg?…

…The population of Eugene will double during the 9 days of the Trials and there will be thousands of people that need to be registered to vote!

We have hundreds of cards that are begging to be filled out and we need YOU to help us out!

Sign up for a shift or two on ANY DAY during the Trials and register our new friends to vote.

Ask for Lynn or Alison at the glorious Lane Bus office: 541.344.9999
Or email us here yo.
OR… hit up our event page on facebook.

Shifts will be available on the following days:

Friday, June 27 2-4
Saturday, June 28 12-4
Sunday, June 29 12-4

George Carlin died yesterday at 71 from a heart attack. He didn’t have any faith in our political system and made that fact very well known. To him, it was too corrupt to even participate. Sometimes I get that too. If he were ever to take a stand, I am quite sure he would have stood on the side of what the Bus Project believes in. Getting past the angry and often vulgar delivery, Carlin always spoke his mind, which is something I think we all can take a lesson from.

Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist.

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years.

We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete…

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.

Remember, to say, “I love you” to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

-George Carlin

Organization Description:
Building Votes is dynamic, volunteer-based field program based in Portland and Eugene, Oregon. We are a grassroots political nonprofit specializing in creative and effective organizing among young people, Building Votes is growing a nonpartisan network of neighborhood volunteers to register and mobilize tens of thousands of young voters for the 2008 general elections.

Position Overview:
The Outreach Intern will work closely with the Outreach Coordinator to register voters on the street as well as at concerts, festivals and other major events. The Outreach Intern will play a key role in phone banking and volunteer recruitment. S/he will be responsible for assisting with the development and maintenance of an event calendar. Additionally, s/he will allocate 10-15% of his/her time to administrative assistance such as data entry and answering phones. This is a part-time, unpaid internship requiring 20 hours per week, schedule is flexible.

Skills and experiences required for this position include:
• Excellent one-on-one communication skills
• Ability to do outreach in person and over the phone
• Ability to speak in front of groups
• Analytical skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work some nights and weekends
• Passion for civic engagement and political activism
• Previous outreach and organizing experience is preferred
Summary of Responsibilities:
• Research local and state-wide events for outreach
• Update calendar and website to reflect new events
• Publicize events through a network of websites and listservs
• Post flyers for events as necessary
• Recruit volunteers specifically to assist with street teaming and tabling at major events
• Assist with weekly phone banking
• Assist with data entry
• Assist with additional tasks as needed

We are a dynamic organization with many concurrent activities. All staff must be willing to pitch in where and when needed in order for us to meet our goals.

To apply:
Send resume and cover letter to Lynn Moracco: lynn.moracco@busproject.org.

**Building Votes and the Bus Project are equal opportunity employers. Women, folks of color and LGBTQ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.