Late last week, the Lane Transit District announced its commencement of the engineering process for the expansion of the EmX into West Eugene. The project, which will expand the existing EmX route to include West 11th Avenue toward the Target near Beltline — adding 25 new stations along the way — is expected to continue through the winter of 2014.

Lisa VanWinkle, manager of communications of the project, predicts the biggest impact the engineering phase will have on students who live within a half mile of the projected route is increased contact with EmX workers. Over the course of the next few months, workers will be scouting the neighborhoods and encouraging correspondence from the general public in order to develop the most beneficial plans for the projected route.

The expansion will not impede existing EmX services.

“Our existing EmX service continues on in full strength through all of this,” she said. “During the engineering phase, people may notice surveying crews or technical crews around the route gathering information.”

One possible consequence of the expansion is a new market for more accessible student housing along the route.

“The beauty of this new service when it opens,” she said, “is that it will be one, ongoing route that travels from West Eugene to Springfield. It will be a one-seat ride.”