COTTAGE GROVE – Lane Transit District (LTD) will launch a new Rural Shuttle Pilot in South Lane, Mohawk Valley, Mapleton, and Deadwood along the Highway 36 corridor on March 2.
“Rural transit services are a lifeline,” said Jameson Auten, LTD’s chief executive officer. “Without access to affordable and reliable transit, quality of life deteriorates quickly when you can’t sustain essential connections to medical care, education, and work.”
The pilot, funded by Oregon’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Funds (STIF), aims to connect residents to essential services, such as medical care, prescription drugs, and healthy food. Funding for the pilot will end in June 2027.
The LTD Connector, a shuttle service operating only in Cottage Grove, runs Monday-Friday from 7 a.m.- 6 p.m. The Mohawk Valley shuttle runs Tuesdays from 8 a.m.–4 p.m., and the Highway 36 Corridor shuttle runs Thursdays from 8 a.m.–3 p.m.
“This is a big change, both for our South Lane riders and our new riders,” Auten said. “We are coordinating with our partner … to ensure our pilot integrates with other agencies providing services to rural residents.”
