Eugene Business

It is probably no secret to those in business that economic prosperity and transportation go hand in hand. While improved transportation networks alone do not guarantee economic well-being, the economic health of a region is difficult to create and sustain without regular investments in transportation. Local companies rely on efficient multi-modal transportation systems. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said it best, "At the end of the day, if you don’t have a big league transportation system, you’re going to have a little league economy."

Diminishing resources, multiple priorities and growing congestion on all transportation systems are challenging our ability to ensure a "big league" transportation system. Add to that a complex transportation planning program, where a project may take 20 years or more to move from concept to reality, and it is no wonder businesses are challenged to stay engaged. Yet we must come together to establish a vision for a local transportation system that fits the needs of our economy and community.

The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce supports a regional transportation system that provides access to all modes of transportation. We believe the region should continue to advance the use of alternative modes while planning for the future and the increased capacity needs of our roadway networks. Most importantly, we need to champion strategic infrastructure investments that drive commerce; they are critical to our livability and economic future. And by the way, those investments are not likely to happen without the active support of this organization and its members.

Read the December08/January09 issue of the Eugene Chamber’s Open For Business magazine for more articles and information about local transportation options.