OPLSS 2025 Travel | University of Oregon

When you figure out your travel plans, please email me with the information about when you will be arriving in Eugene or Portland and by what means. I will tell you who else if arriving then.

Checking In

Come to the University of Oregon

Commonly, participants fly into Portland (PDX) and take the Amtrak train to Eugene (EUG) (see references below). You can arrange a flight into Eugene, but it is more expensive. Typically people get to campus at all hours. Arrangments are made if you arrive late at night, or early in the morning.

If you fly into Portland, I will tell you who else is landing at that time, so you can take a train together.

If you fly into Eugene, I will tell you who else is landing at that time, so you can take a taxi together. A taxi from the Eugene airport to campus is about as expensive as the train from Portland, and you can sing better songs on the train.

References

Eugene Mass Transit Procedures

When you use the busses in Eugene, if you're friendly, smile, and act like you're new in town, people will try to help you.

Normal busses require fares to be given to the driver. $1.75 allows you to go anywhere that bus goes, but once you get off, your $1.75 is done; $3.50 obtains a day pass which allows you to go anywhere any bus goes that day. Each other bus you board requires you to show the driver your day pass instead of paying the fare.

The EMX line are the big green, jointed busses. Unlike the other busses in Eugene, on EMX, you don't interact with the driver. Each EMX stop has a vending machine for tickets. The EMX requires a day pass, so the EMX vending machines only vend $3.50 day passes. At random intervals, fare inspectors board the EMX, ask to see everyone's day pass, and send those without one to jail.

Except on EMX busses, local custom is to board at the front door, since you must interact with the driver, and deboard at the front or back door, while thanking the bus driver either by waving or saying "thanks." On EMX, boarding and unboarding is through any door.

If you use mass transit in Eugene, you will generally be using EMX, because it goes by the university and the major shopping malls (which include the movie theaters), as well as the hospitals, and tech firms.

As required by law, all busses accomodate wheelchairs.

When reading the EMX schedule, you should look up the Dad's Gate time (the far end of campus), but don't actually get off at Dad's Gate. Get off at the Agate Street Station (the close end of campus).

Campus Map
Eugene Mass Transit
Ride share services are available in Eugene through their phone apps.
Oregon Taxi offers online booking.

Eugene Taxi services are heavily regulated.
Eugene requires taxi and ride share drivers to have criminal background checks. Taxis must be inspected by the city annually to be in good repair. Fares are reported via data link, so paying in cash does not result in loss of taxes.
Busses from the Airport
provide service to the towns btween Eugene and Portland not reachable by train to the Eugene Train Terminal. The route that includes Eugene is 99 Vine. The Jaqua Academic Center is on the University of Oregon campus. As reqquired by law, it accomodates wheelchairs.

Eugene Airport
The airport code for Eugene is EUG. The only transport between the airport and campus is taxi, ride share, and infrequent long-haul busses.

Google Maps suggests it will take about 20 minutes to drive, one hour to bike, 3½ hours to walk, and ∞ hours to take a bus.
Portland Airport
The airport code for Portland is PDX. Portland Airport has direct flights from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and London. Portland is 120 miles from Eugene, so you will have to arrange travel from Portland to Eugene (see Amtrak below).

If you tell me when your flight lands at PDX before you arrange travel to Eugene, I can tell you who else will be travelling at that time. Sometimes, they will have their own car, and save you lots of hassle.
Portland Mass Transit
Amtrak
For a train trip from Portland to Eugene, use codes PDX to EUG. For a bus trip from Portland to Eugene, use codes PDX to EUO. When you enter EUG, you will be offered trains and busses. There is a picture of a train or bus on the route description, and busses have four-digit route numbers; whereas, trains have two- or three-digit route numbers.

Going from Eugene to Portland, you should avoid Amtrak train 14 Coast Starlight; if you book train 14 back to Portland, you may miss your flight.

To go from the Portland Airport to the Portland Amtrak Station,
south of the baggage claim at pdx, buy a TriMet ticket from the vending machine. Make sure you have an Adult 2.5 hour ticket ($2.80). Board the MAX Red Line . Take the Red Line to the Gateway Station. Get off at any station between Gateway and Rose Quarter. Remain at that station and board the Max Green Line travelling in the same direction. Get off at Union Station, the first stop after you cross the river. You will be on 5^th Avenue. Walk one block west to 6^th Avenue and one block north to Irving. (The avenues are in numberical order and the streets are in alphabetical order. Broadway is 7^th Avenue. Park is 9^th Avenue. Union Station has a big clock tower that you should see from the Green Line stop.)
If your Amtrak ticket is to EUG
Amtrak will take you to the Amtrak station on 4^th & Willamette. From the Amtrak station, you can either use a taxi, mass transit or walk.
- Taxi
  If you want to take a taxi, there may be several taxis in front of the Amtrak station, but not always. You might want to book ahead using the links above. Tell the driver that you want to go to 15^th & Agate on campus.
- Mass Transit
  The bus only comes once per hour until 9PM on Sundays. Walk one block south to the bus stop on 5^th & Willamette. (cross 5^th Street and walk right/West to the blue bus stop sign.) Board bus 40, "Eugene Station". When you board, tell the driver you want a day pass and pay $3.50. The driver cannot make change, so you must have the exact amount. Get off when the bus stops at Eugene Station. Board EMX "Springfield Station" and get off at the Agate Street Station. Walk South two blocks to 15th & Agate.
  Remember to smile and be friendly in case you get lost and need help.
- Walking
  Follow these simple walking instructions, or follow more complicated but shorter path on the map. Walk South along Willamette to 10^th Street, 6 blocks. At 6^th, Willamette Street will become a pedestrian path between the Conference Center and the Center for the Performing Arts, becoming a street again at 7^th. At 10^th & Willamette,
  - keep walking to 13^th Street, and turn left/East walking to 13^th & Agate (about 15 blocks), turn right/South and walk to 15^th & Agate.
  - or buy a day pass for $3.50 and board EMX "Springfield Station" and get off at the Agate Street Station. Walk South to 15th & Agate.
If your Amtrak ticket is to EUO
If your ticket is to EUO, you will be travelling by bus which will take you to 15^th & Agate on campus.

Oregon Programming Languages Summer School

Types, Logic, and Formal Methods

June 22-July 3, 2026

Jim's OPLSS Blog

Sponsors

Diamond

Platinum

Gold

Silver

Checking In

Come to the University of Oregon

References

Taxi

Mass Transit

Walking