Emerald Express

The first EmX line, the Franklin Corridor (Green Line), opened on January 14, 2007.[7] It runs between Eugene Station in downtown Eugene and Springfield Station in downtown Springfield, and serves the University of Oregon. It is 4 mi (6.4 km) long and cost $25 million to design and build.[8][9]

Compared with the non-BRT service that the Green Line replaced (Route 11), rush hour travel times decreased over 25% from 22 minutes to 16 minutes and ridership doubled in the first year.[1] In fiscal 2008–09, Green Line ridership was 1.6M.[10]

Local artist Linn Cook was selected by a committee of artists and community members to create cast and formed metal railings depicting indigenous plants. Each station features a different plant.

The 7.8 mi (12.6 km) Gateway Line extension opened on January 9, 2011, linking downtown Springfield and Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend. It uses the newly constructed Pioneer Parkway corridor and newly-constructed dedicated bus lanes on Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and RiverBend Drive.[11]

The West Eugene Extension added 17 stations west of Eugene Station. It opened on September 17, 2017.[12][13]

LTD conducted environmental analyses and collected public comments as part of the extension's planning process.[14] A number of route alignments were considered, focusing on West 6th, 7th, or 13th Avenues to connect with West 11th Avenue somewhere near Chambers or Garfield Streets. One alternative placed service on West 7th Place instead of West 11th Avenue between Garfield and Seneca Rd. All alternatives continued down West 11th Avenue to a planned terminus and turnaround in the Walmart parking lot west of Commerce Street.[15] In spring 2011, the west 6th and 7th to 11th was selected as the locally preferred alternative.

Some local businesses and residents opposed the extension, saying that it would be expensive, unnecessary, and could cause a decrease in property values.[16] In June 2013, opponents of the extension filed suit in federal court in Seattle, challenging the extension's approval and funding by the Federal Transit Administration. The suit alleged nine violations of the National Environmental Policy Act and alleged violations of the Administrative Procedure Act. The suit further claimed that LTD had not met requirements for federal funding.[17] The court ruled against the extension's opponents in July 2014,[18] and construction began in March 2015.[19] The Federal Transit Administration awarded $75 million to the project in September 2015, covering most of its $96.5 million total cost.[20]

LTD eventually plans to run EmX along all main transportation corridors in the metro area. Their MovingAhead long-range plan includes expansion of EmX service on new corridors. As of 2019, the corridors under consideration for EmX or other expanded bus services are 30th Avenue to serve Lane Community College; Coburg Road; Highway 99; Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard; and River Road.[21]