The Lane County Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for 2026–2030 reflects a notable realignment of county investment priorities, with total planned spending decreasing by approximately 28.4% compared to the previous 2025–2029 plan. Overall funding drops from $131.49 million to $94.15 million, primarily driven by reductions in Facilities, Solid Waste, and Roads programs. The current CIP includes 51-line items, compared to 59-line items in the prior plan. Despite the lower total, the County maintains a balanced portfolio that continues to prioritize essential infrastructure such as roads, public facilities, and environmental services.
The new plan consolidates projects for efficiency and sustainability while maintaining Parks investment at near prior levels. This shift signals a strategic emphasis on fiscal prudence, resource recovery, and long-term infrastructure resilience. The table below breaks down Lane County’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.
*Numbers are Rounded
Top 3 Projects by Value (2026-2030 CIP)
1. S49 – Clean Lane Resource Recovery Center - will process up to 200,000 tons of mixed waste annually, diverting 125,000 tons including 70,000 of organics through an anaerobic digester. The county will construct the building at an estimated $20,000,000, financed via bonds and tipping fees.
2. S46 – Territorial Highway Corridor Improvements - identified in the Lane County Transportation System Plan (TSP 2017), this project modernizes roadway alignment, shoulders, and stormwater facilities to improve safety and multimodal access. Estimated cost: $12,050,000.
3. S07 – Adult Corrections Facilities and Technology Upgrades - complete replacement of detention control systems, fire alarms, surveillance, and cell door integration with upgraded control panels and UPS backup. Estimated cost: $8,305,000.
Spending Trends and Insights
- Overall reduction: Total CIP funding was down by $37.3 million (28.4%).
- Largest decreases: Facilities (-43.3%), Solid Waste (-34.6%), and Roads (-20.8%).
- Stable area: Parks funding remains nearly level.
- Focus areas: Investments emphasize infrastructure safety, waste management modernization, and public facility renewal.
- Portfolio shift: County appears to prioritize sustainability and core infrastructure over expansion.
History of Lane County, Oregon
Established in 1851 and named for Oregon's first territorial governor, Joseph Lane, Lane County originally spanned vast territory before its boundaries were refined over time. The region grew quickly as settlers arrived via wagon trails and the fertile Willamette Valley attracted agricultural development. Over the decades, its economy diversified from timber and farming into education, healthcare and high-value manufacturing — anchored by the city of Eugene, Oregon.
Sources: Lane County History Online – https://www.lanecounty.org/government/county_departments/county_administration/equity_access_and_inclusion/lane_county_history
Fun Facts about Lane County, Oregon
- The county stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the Cascade Range — it is one of only two Oregon counties with that geography.
- The region is home to the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in North America — the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area in Lane County features dunes rising to 500 ft above sea level.
- The county contains one of the purest natural lakes in the U.S. — Waldo Lake near Oakridge.
- The city of Eugene in Lane County is known as “TrackTown USA” for its rich history in track & field, including hosting numerous national championships and Olympic training.
- Lane County is named after Joseph Lane, the first Governor of Oregon Territory.
- The county’s largest city is Eugene, which is also the second-largest city in Oregon
How FirmoGraphs Can Help
FirmoGraphs curates data about U.S. public sector markets, including transportation improvement programs, regulatory developments, and other critical information. We help our customers use this information to gain a competitive advantage and improve proactive conversations with their clients. We’d be glad to meet with you and help your company sort through the wealth of information in improvement programs and other publicly available documents. Feel free to request a meeting and review the data live on our Business Intelligence platform.
