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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services Computer crash hit Tuesday paper, website Medford Schools Foundation supports programs the district can't Local gas prices lowest in years Fire marshal visit prompts cancellation of Sacred Heart haunted house Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Fire marshal visit prompts cancellation of Sacred Heart haunted house Two injured in Hayes Hill crash OSP finds 68 pounds of marijuana in car during traffic stop Emergency services Politics and Elections Local gas prices lowest in years Ads attack Dotterrer and Bates Oregonians not in party mood Sign wars rage again in Phoenix Democratic contender not conceding victory to Walden Education Medford Schools Foundation supports programs the district can't Fire marshal visit prompts cancellation of Sacred Heart haunted house Kids Unlimited Academy awarded $450,000 grant County helps fund RCC job training SOU student says free speech issue overblown Environment Local gas prices lowest in years Where do all those leaves go? Ashland council calls for divestment from fossil fuel Reintroduction of McCloud River salmon inspires film, tribe Rite Aid bear cub may be released into the wild in spring State news Nation - World Obituaries Bess Hamers Mary Frost Newcomb Jassen M. Hatley Steven M. Rayburn Charles Stanley Rider Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Thousands attend Taveras' Dominican burial Parker helps Spurs edge Mavs 101-100 in opener With chance at title, Giants unravel quickly Ashland's Guthrie to start Game 7 tonight Seventh Heaven Varsity 541 College Sports Stanford trying to upend No. 5 Oregon a new way Ducks try to loosen up a bit for Stanford Mississippi State, Florida State top playoff list Georgia still waiting for ruling on Gurley Pac-12 passes reforms for athletes Pro Sports Thousands attend Taveras' Dominican burial Parker helps Spurs edge Mavs 101-100 in opener With chance at title, Giants unravel quickly Ashland's Guthrie to start Game 7 tonight Seventh Heaven Community Sports Results / Standings LOCAL EVENTS LOCAL RESULTS Business Latest Stories Local gas prices lowest in years Revenue rises for Harry & David's parent company Where do all those leaves go? Business Briefs Volvo V60 R-Design is all work, all play Real Estate News New I-5 interchange puts south Medford on fast lane to fast food Lithia buys Clovis dealership Rental vacancies increase Jackson County real estate sales, prices continue rebound Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford People In Business People in Business Transportation Frontier Airlines to end Eugene-Denver service Business Resource Fair has answers Erickson's Navy contract extended Lithia buys Clovis dealership Agriculture Revenue rises for Harry & David's parent company Where do all those leaves go? Hundreds look for work at Harry & David hiring fair Umpqua Holdings more than doubles net earnings Harry & David will hold hiring fair Thursday Opinion Latest Our View: Any new gas tax must be equitable Letters to the Editor, Oct. 29 Measure 89 provides equality for women Granlund cartoon: Haunted White House 2014 Southeast center offers new approach to growth Editorials Our View: Any new gas tax must be equitable Southeast center offers new approach to growth Our View: Cost is a poor excuse for local pot tax Don't bet on pot windfall for schools Our View: SOU's 'free speech zone' constitutionally questionable Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Oct. 29 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 28 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 27 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 26 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 26 Guest Opinions Measure 89 provides equality for women Eagle Point needs public transportation Guest Opinion: Common Core testing sets math students up for failure Guest Opinion: Campaigning and voting 'the Oregon way' Guest Opinion: A glimpse into the reality of our elections Lifestyle Latest stories 5 Things to Do This Weekend (Oct. 31-Nov. 2) Dear Monty: 10 tips toward a quality offer on a home Dave Ramsey: Extra savings takes away volatility Can’t get enough pumpkin-pie spice? Spices of Autumn Food Can’t get enough pumpkin-pie spice? Spices of Autumn Living and cooking in pear-a-dise Kitchen Call: A cookbook by its cover Community blog: Quick breads take well to gluten-free ingredients Home and Garden Dear Monty: 10 tips toward a quality offer on a home How to live and work in a tiny home Dear Monty: Rent-back clause prevents financial disaster​ Recycle plastic at The Expo Friday and Saturday How to know when trees and shrubs need to go Health Community blog: Finding My Roots Dr. Jeff Hersh: Controversy over breast cancer screening Dr. Murray Feingold: Choose a diet best for you Community blog: The Crowd And The Win - Better Health Joan Endyke: The importance of a healthy diet when pregnant Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Milestones and Achievements Guide promotes better food system Where do all those leaves go? Engagement Wedding: Potter-Hazel Wedding: Martin-Berg Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Patty Griffin plays the Historic Ashland Armory Puss 'N' Boots Costume Ball and Auction Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present harmonious voices, dissonant notes Beekeepers Ball is one sweet soiree Scottish music duo plays highland magic Theater Review: Funny 'Lion in Winter' roars to life at Camelot Theatre Camelot presents 'The Lion in Winter' 'Carnage' is short, smart, darkly funny Music Patty Griffin plays the Historic Ashland Armory Live Music in Local Clubs Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present harmonious voices, dissonant notes Beekeepers Ball is one sweet soiree Scottish music duo plays highland magic Community Events Puss 'N' Boots Costume Ball and Auction Theater's haunted house not for faint of heart Third Fridays in downtown Medford Works in progress Dining Back Porch Bar & Grill Yu's Yummy Yan's offers great take-out Agave offers tasty tacos Asian cuisine for all seasons at Misoya Bistro Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: Any new gas tax must be equitable ... Measure 89 provides equality for women ... Providence ready to go as Oregon ebola treatment center ... Our View: Any new gas tax must be equitable ... Measure 89 provides equality for women ... Providence ready to go as Oregon ebola treatment center ... GUEST OPINION Eagle Point needs public transportation By Bob Russell MailTribune.com By Bob Russell Posted Oct. 28, 2014 @ 12:01 am By Bob Russell Posted Oct. 28, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Social News For the first time in 40 years Eagle Point voters will decide whether or not we join the Rogue Valley Transportation District. When RVTD began service in 1977 it had just three buses. Now it has a fleet of 20 buses serving 1.4 million passengers last year. Forty years ago, our Eagle Point population was under 2,500. Today we are the fastest growing city in Southern Oregon and our population is over 8,500. We are also the largest city in the region without public transit. The City of Eagle Point is an active presence region-wide, but without public transit we are not on a level playing field. The question as to whether we join RVTD deserves more than an immediate “no new taxes” response. Consider that on average, the federal government spends $30 per capita to support public transit in Oregon. Over 60 percent of the $7 million dollar RVTD budget comes in the form of federal and state grants. Eagle Point residents already pay for bus service — elsewhere. The $90,000 in Eagle Point property taxes will be matched by $160,000 from RVTD. This amount almost doubles our local contribution. Joining RVTD brings tax dollars otherwise lost back to Eagle Point in the form of public transit. Continuing education in today’s world is crucial when it comes to making a living wage. Students from Eagle Point and White City sit in the same classrooms, are on the same football team and graduate together. However the current RVTD boundary lies at White City. Attending Rogue Valley Community College full-time can add up to over $4,000 annually for tuition and books. As part of RVTD, with a student bus pass, for the same price as one tank of gas, a student can save $1,000 a year — if they live in White City. Eagle Point graduates cannot take advantage of this cost saving opportunity, assuming they even have a car. We can ensure transportation costs, or the lack of a vehicle, are not barriers to our students, regardless of their age, by joining RVTD. The lack of public transit is a lost economic opportunity for Eagle Point. As a “bedroom community” more than 95 percent of our working residents now commute to a job outside the city. Automobile transportation is virtually essential given our limited local employment opportunities. Joining RVTD opens up the entire regional job market for anyone in Eagle Point who lacks affordable transportation. Within the RVTD district over 70 percent of all jobs are within one-quarter mile of a fixed bus route. Transportation costs are second only to housing costs for most families. Public transit is an option for anyone wishing to reduce household expenses. Public transit will help local business by keeping and bringing spendable income to Eagle Point. Many seniors in Eagle Point need support in order to remain independent and in their homes. Last year, Food for Friends delivered 9,224 meals to the doorsteps of seniors in our community. This summer the Upper Rogue Community Center discontinued its transportation service for seniors and the disabled in our area. The service provided over 6,000 rides a year. If we join RVTD, Valley Lift will provide curb-to-curb transportation to qualifying individuals who cannot ride the bus and live within three-quarters of a mile of a bus route. RVTD Valley Lift will provide an essential lifeline service to those who need and deserve our support. In the past 40 years, Eagle Point has grown up. We have grown up without losing our small-town identity or our small-town spirit. We have grown up to the point where our population makes public transit a viable, practical option. Public transit fosters dynamic, connected communities and continued education for our children. It brings income and services into the community. It can benefit everyone while helping those who need it most. It is what a community is all about.  Bob Russell is the mayor of Eagle Point. By Bob Russell MailTribune.com By Bob Russell Posted Oct. 28, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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