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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />June 24, 2015 <br /> <br />CONTACT: Lindsay Selser, Active Transportation Coordinator, 541-682-5094 <br /> <br />From Public Information Section, 541-682-5523 or 541-954-2938 <br /> <br />FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <br /> <br />SmartTrips Helps Eugene Residents Travel in Healthy New Ways <br /> <br />Residents in south-central Eugene are the focus of this year’s SmartTrips Eugene program. <br />SmartTrips Eugene is designed to reduce drive-alone trips and increase biking, walking, rolling with a <br />mobility device, using public transit, carpooling, and combining trips in targeted geographic areas of the city. The <br />program is funded by a state grant administered through the local Metropolitan Planning Organization. <br />SmartTrips Eugene incorporates an innovative and individualized marketing program that hand- <br />delivers packets of customized information to residents who wish to learn more about transportation options. <br />Key components feature biking and walking maps and organized activities that get people out in their <br />neighborhoods or places of employment to discover how many trips they can easily, conveniently and safely <br />make without using a car. <br />“Our goal is to provide community members in the target area with the materials and tools they need to <br />get around Eugene in a variety of ways,” says Active Transportation Coordinator Lindsay Selser. “A wide range of <br />transportation options allows people to save money, improve their health, and improve the health of their <br />community.” <br /> There are over 6,300 households in the south-central program area, and they are served with good <br />transit coverage, well-connected streets and many bike lanes and paths. This area also has amenities such as <br />grocery stores, restaurants and shopping within easy walking and biking distance as well as lots of parks, pools <br />and recreational opportunities. Transportation options such as transit can help participants overcome <br />challenges such as hilly terrain or summer heat. <br />“Based on before and after transportation surveys, our SmartTrips programs have routinely seen at <br />least a relative 7% reduction in drive-alone trips each year,” says Selser. “These programs are very effective, an <br />extremely efficient use of funds for reducing vehicle miles traveled, and they are popular and fun!” <br />The south-central area is roughly bounded by Chambers Street on the west, 18 Avenue on the north, <br />th <br />Hilyard and Emerald Street on the east, and 46 Avenue on the south. This is the fourth SmartTrips Eugene <br />th <br />program. Previous neighborhoods that were served by the program include Harlow, Cal Young, Trainsong, <br />Whiteaker, Jefferson-Westside and East Bethel. <br />For more information, go to www.smarttripseugene.com. <br /># # # <br /> <br />Public Works Administration ● City of Eugene ● 101 E. Broadway, Suite 400, Eugene, OR 97401 <br />Phone 541-682-8421 ● Fax 541-682-6826 ● www.eugene-or.gov/pw <br />