LTD warns riders of weekend transit disruptions for UO Spring Game, marathon events

Lane Transit District is warning riders to plan around a crowded weekend in Eugene and Springfield, with detours, stop changes and traffic backups tied to the UO Spring Game, the Eugene 5K, the Kids Duck Dash and the Eugene Marathon. The toughest pinch points will come Saturday near Autzen Stadium and Hayward Field, then again Sunday morning along Main Street, Franklin Boulevard, A Street, Mill Street and West D Street in Springfield.

For fans headed to the Oregon football Spring Game at Autzen Stadium, LTD is pushing EmX as the easiest route. Riders will need to get off at Agate Station and walk across the Frohnmayer Footbridge. The game is set for Saturday at 1 p.m., and LTD says its family-friendly pre-game tailgate will start at 10 a.m. and run through halftime, which should draw more foot traffic around the South Entrance off Leo Harris Parkway hours before kickoff.

The marathon weekend will stretch from April 24 through April 26, with the Eugene 5K and Kids Duck Dash on Saturday and the marathon and half marathon on Sunday. LTD says EmX stops just blocks from Hayward Field at Agate Station, while Eugene Station remains the hub of the system for riders transferring across town. That will matter most for commuters, service workers and anyone trying to reach downtown or the University of Oregon campus while race crowds fill the area.

LTD has already posted a detour alert for routes 11, 17, 18, 28 and 98 because of the marathon, a sign that riders should expect delays and stop closures well beyond the finish line. The district says service alerts can cover detours, delays, stop closures and other disruptions during events, construction, weather and emergencies.

Sunday’s traffic impact will be sharpest in Springfield, where the city says detours will be in place from 6 a.m. to about 11:30 a.m. on April 26. The city’s notice names Main Street, Franklin Boulevard, A Street, Mill Street and West D Street as areas with closures or lane restrictions, creating a clear backup plan issue for anyone driving between Eugene and Springfield early in the morning.

The Eugene Marathon says parking around Hayward Field will be very limited on Sunday and violators may be towed. Downtown parking and City of Eugene garages will be free on Sundays, and marathon and half-marathon participants with bibs will be able to use shuttle service. The race weekend has become a major regional draw, with the 2025 event bringing in more than 14,000 runners from 50 states and 29 countries and raising $284,000 for local nonprofits.