If you think being an LTD bus driver is so easy then go ahead and apply.

Go ahead and apply, it is a thankless, underpaid job. Next time you ride the bus, think of all the responsibilities these drivers have. Think about the pay.  Next time you ride the bus, thank your driver. They deserve it. Lane Transit District is now accepting applications for the position of Bus Operator Lane Transit District is one of the most successful and highly regarded public transit systems in the nation; has received numerous national, state, and local awards for service to the community; and, for transit districts its size, is consistently ranked among the nation's leaders in the successful implementation of Bus Rapid Transit, bus ridership, and service efficiency.  LTD is committed to the values of working together, taking initiative, being professional, and practicing safety. If you are interested in joining us as we endeavor to provide and improve services to all our diverse communities in ways that are sensitive and responsive to cultural differences, including accessibility for persons with disabilities, we urge you to apply for this position.

This position is responsible for providing excellent service to LTD’s customers.

The essential functions of this position include: ·               Safely operating any assigned transit coach, or other vehicle, on a designated route while maintaining an accurate time schedule ·               Providing information about Lane Transit District’s services, bus schedules, and routes ·               Following State and Federal  motor vehicle regulations and Lane Transit District policies and procedures ·               Monitoring and collecting fares and checking passes ·               Announcing designated stops in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Lane Transit District’s procedures ·               Communicating with other Lane Transit District employees regarding accidents, equipment or operational problems, situations involving customers or the general public, or any other situation requiring attention or assistance ·               Interacting with customers and the general public in a courteous and professional manner

Qualification requirements for this position include the ability to: ·               Obtain and maintain a valid Oregon Commercial Driver’s License, including passenger and air brake endorsements, and a valid DOT medical card ·               Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public and other Lane Transit District employees ·               Learn Lane Transit District’s routes and schedules, including learning the general geographic layout of the service area ·               Meet the position performance standards ·               Provide a five-year driving history and record acceptable to the District’s insurance carrier

Physical Demands for this position include the ability to: ·               Sit and operate a bus for long periods with few breaks ·               Turn side-to-side and reach overhead with a push/pull force of 40 pounds ·               Lift up to 30 pounds ·               Bend, squat, kneel to secure wheelchairs and complete pre-trip inspections of vehicles Compensation for this position starts at $16.32 per hour, with a top wage of $21.72, and includesan excellent benefits package.

HOW TO APPLY:  LTD requires a completed application form for each position.  You may obtain the REQUIRED application form and job information below or the main office at 3500 E. 17thAvenue, Eugene, OR  97403.  Completed applications and resumes may be mailed to or turned in at the main office.  Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, September 9, 2011.  For additional information call: (541) 682-6100. LTD Application (pdf) Applicant’s Authorization to Release Information (pdf) Voluntary Applicant Data Record (pdf) Application Bulletin (pdf)

Lane Transit District is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

LTD on the Ropes. A Dear LTD guest viewpoint by Scott Reynolds.

BY SCOTT REYNOLDS

These last few weeks have not been very kind to our friends at Lane Transit District. While not very much media attention has been afforded recently to LTD's ill-conceived West 11th EmX project, or even to the beginning of new LTD general manager Ron Kilcoyne's tenure leading the agency, LTD has managed to thrust itself into the spotlight, with the aid of local citizens on a couple of these occasions.

A few weeks ago, MyEugene published a video on their site in which local citizen Ben Hallert's dash camera caught an EmX bus speeding through a red light on Gateway Street in Springfield near Applebee's. In the video, it is clear that the light for Hallert was green for a good second or so before the EmX barreling through the intersection even comes into view! This incident also was featured on KEZI 9.In the MyEugene article, it is also mentioned that LTD will not discuss how this matter was handled with the driver due to union rules. In this same article, LTD spokesperson Cosette Rees stated that "safety is extremely important to LTD".

On June 18, the Register-Guard reported that the Oregon Legislature cut funding to a program that provided free transportation to middle and high school students in the Eugene/Springfield area, and LTD responded on a Facebook post that they will be losing about $1.2 million in funding. In this same Facebook response, LTD stated that they assume youth fares will replace about $600,000 of that moneyand no cuts will need to be made. Additionally, in the same post, LTD did state that if they had to absorb the entire $1.2 million in cuts, that some operating budget cuts would likely have to be made.

On July 16, KEZI aired a report about an LTD bus operator pinning the bus between construction on Pearl Street and a fire hydrant, which blocked traffic in the area.

Yesterday, LTD also made the news again on KEZI for a bus operator driving the wrong way down Lincoln Street near downtown Eugene, when it should have headed south on Charnelton Street. We would like to give credit to Jeffery Egbert for sending the photo of the offending bus to local media!

Regular readers of this page may remember a recent article published here aboutEugene attacking free speech in which it is mentioned that LTD had limited access to its Facebook page so that citizens and taxpayers could not post on their wall anymore. Today  Michael Weber was on KEZI today because LTD requested that Weber change a Facebook page previously known as "Dear LTD" to a group as opposed to a page. Weber refused to back down to LTD's demands to do so, but did compromise on changing the name of the page to "Dear Lane County Public Transit, can you hear me now?" Weber also started another blog site about LTD at dearLTD.blogspot.com.

In closing, it is beyond my understanding why LTD is even trying to waste this community's resources and time in trying to build an EmX system that has been hotly contested every step of the way, and that we believe a majority of our community does not want. At the public hearing held in February at the Hilton and the hearing held at the Wheeler Pavilion at the Fairgrounds a few months later, people speaking in opposition to the EmX outnumbered those speaking in support by nearly a 2 to 1 margin. All around town, signs can be seen opposing the EmX project, but how many do you see supporting it?

In just the last few weeks, LTD operators have, without shadow of a doubt, shown a blatant disregard of traffic laws and for the safety of the general public, had their funding cut by $1.2 million with no idea how much may be recouped by youth pass fees, and has expended energy into limiting free speech by harassing an administrator of a Facebook page that had fewer than 100 readers at the time. When 3 unsafe driving incidents have been caught on camera/video in under a month, it is terrifying to think about how many more similar incidents like these have occurred that were not caught on film.

Rather than go chasing after tens of millions of dollars to fund an unwanted project that will do more to disrupt business, cause the loss of an untold number of jobs (which fund LTD operations by way of payroll tax) and has no proven need, LTD needs to return to its core functions of simply providing SAFE, frequent and efficient bus service to all parts of its service area, and making sure that its drivers are operating the buses in a safe and law-abiding manner. For LTD to focus its energy on anything else at this time is absolute nonsense.