Thursday, July 29, 2021

Federal Transit Administration Public Listening Sessions

 

With traffic returning to America’s roads more people are riding public transportation nationwide. In some communities, transit ridership is up more than 80 percent over early 2020 levels. Join FTA all summer long in a national conversation about what’s working to help transit agencies across America renew ridership.

Listening Sessions:

  • Listening Session 1: 2-3:30 p.m. EDT, Friday July 30. This session will focus on best practices to renew ridership. Register | Agenda
     
  • Listening Session 2: 2-3:30 p.m. EDT, Friday, August 6. This session will focus on how improvements in safety can build public confidence in transit. Register
     
  • Listening Session 3: 2-3:30 p.m. EDT, Friday, August 13. This session will explore ways to increase ridership with a focus on building community partnerships. Register
     
  • National Transit Renewal Summit: 11 a.m. EDT, Friday, August 20. Register

FTA is committed to providing equal access to this session for all participants. If you need alternative formats, options or services, contact anna.corniel@dot.gov.

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Rural public transit vital for Wisconsin seniors

This is a repost from our parent organization, Wisconsin Transit Riders Alliance:

To Wisconsin’s rural seniors, access to bus transit can be a lifeline

Wisconsin is getting older, with one in four Wisconsinites projected to be 65 years or older by 2030, a notably larger share of the population than the United States as a whole. As the state’s population changes, so will the needs of its residents, and Wisconsin will need to address the needs of its growing senior population.

One major issue facing elderly drivers concerns being able to do just so. While admittedly  a highly sensitive topic to discuss, the reality is that elderly drivers are disproportionally at risk of being involved in a fatal car accident, with one in seven victims of fatal vehicle accidents being seniors and fatality rates for drivers over the age of 85 being a whopping four times higher than those of  teenage drivers

Even in accidents that are non fatal to the driver, there is still the threat of both injury and death to fellow motorists and pedestrians, the latter of whom are at especially high risk. Pedestrian deaths have increased by 46% over the past decade, (compared to just 5% in all other automobile related fatalities) and elderly pedestrians are greatly overrepresented in pedestrian deaths, as nearly one in every five pedestrians killed are seniors.

Perhaps most disturbingly, Wisconsin’s pedestrian death rate increased by 69% from 2019 to 2020 alone the highest of all the Midwestern states and the fourth highest death rate in the country.  

Access to safe, reliable, and affordable public transit is critical for Wisconsin seniors now and in the not so distant future, as well as for others who lack access to a private vehicle or simply don’t wish to own one. And as more and more Wisconsin residents become seniors, they’ll still need to be able to access transportation to visit stores, see doctors, and enjoy activities within their community.

But despite this growing need, the majority of state transportation funding is still centered almost exclusively towards the needs of automobiles, with more than half of all transportation funding going to state highways, leaving just a paltry 5% for public transportation.

Furthermore, recent budget cuts have slashed public transit funding by 50% in both the Milwaukee and Madison regions,  exacerbating the issue further and earning the condemnation of The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who claimed the decision to do so discriminated against those without access to a personal vehicle.

A lack of bus transit access puts an especially high burden on those living in rural parts of the state as older Americans as a whole are more likely to live in rural communities, a trend no different in Wisconsin, with 35% of all Wisconsin residents age 65 and older living in rural areas. Despite this, access to bus service is limited, if not nonexistent in much of rural Wisconsin and much of what is available is difficult and inconvenient for many seniors to use.

As a result, many senior Wisconsin drivers are forced to make a difficult decision: to keep driving at the risk of an accident or lose their independence. It’s not shocking that many refuse to let go of their keys, as many feel they have no other choice, especially for those living in rural areas with no or limited access to suitable public transportation.

And while the state of Wisconsin does run several bus lines, these buses are often limited in where they can go and can be difficult to access. Furthermore, bus service suffers from a lack of funding, with public transit in the state of Wisconsin receiving just a 1% annual increase in funding, in contrast to the 57% increase for highway funding.

Despite a clear need for bus service for Wisconsin’s elderly, the state has once again chosen to prioritize private cars at the cost of public safety and the wellbeing of the state’s seniors. It’s clear that unless significant changes are made to appropriately address the mobility concerns of seniors, the death rate for the elderly on Wisconsin roads will continue to climb and the quality of life will be greatly diminished.

It should be noted that access to bus transit does more than save lives, it enriches them. Being able to hop on a bus quickly and conveniently can be life changing for seniors who can no longer drive, allowing them to maintain both their independence and safety while still being a part of their community. Bus lines such as those run and maintained by the Terrace Height Retirement Community in Juneau county and Sauk County’s Aging and Disability Resource Center’s Transportation Unit provide these services to their respective communities at a low cost for those over the age of sixty and ensure they can easily access activities just as well as they can with a private automobile. With nearly half of older adults reporting they frequently feel lonely, being able to rely on bus service saves them from being forced to choose between risking their safety (and the safety of others) or being trapped in their own homes, isolated from others.

While the autocentric model of development and transit still reigns supreme, there are signs of improvement on the horizon, with ongoing efforts being made to make bus transit accessible to all. In southeastern Wisconsin, the Regional Transit Leadership Council is working to make bus service available for those living in communities with underdeveloped transit by 2022, an effort supported by the city of Franklin and The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp, among others. It’s among several new projects to increase bus transit availability in the state, action that is long overdue. And while much more needs to be done to address the transit needs of Wisconsin’s seniors both now and in the future, any step to increase availability is a step in the right direction.

Rachel Wick, July 8, 2021

 

Saturday, July 24, 2021

Mission accomplished!

Our very first Ride SMRT to Viroqua was a success! Six of us joined La Crosse Area Planning Committee transportation planner, Jackie Eastwood for a day trip to the land of quirky stores and local food. Participants visited Driftless Books and Music, the Viroqua Public Market, and the Vernon County Museum. One of our group was able to try out the Viroqua Taxi Service, too. In addition to interesting shops and exhibits, we also had wonderful, locally grown food. 

During our visit we were able to talk up the SMRT program with local merchants, letting them kow how much we appreciate the service. What if there were a Saturday SMRT bus that stopped at shopping and event locations, both in Viroqua and in La Crosse? We were also able to connect with some commuters during the return trip. 

Our next event will be an open house at the MTU Transit Center on World Car-Free Day, September 22. Stay tuned for more details and email MTUFriends@hotmail.com if you'd like to help out.

Saturday, July 17, 2021

Reminder! Ride SMRT to Viroqua, July 22

 Ride the Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit (SMRT) bus from La Crosse to Viroqua for a day of sight-seeing, shopping, dining, and exploring. We’ll leave mid-morning from La Crosse. Jackie Eastwood, Transportation Planner with the La Crosse Area Planning Committee, will join us to talk about the SMRT and answer questions.

We’ll arrive in Viroqua at about 11 a.m. and you will choose what to do, where to go, and how long to stay There are two return trip options which have you back in La Crosse between 4:30 and 6:00 p.m. LATA will provide trip participants with talking points, so we can be SMRT advocates, too!

The bus costs $3 cash each way - pay with exact change on the bus. Bring your own lunch or eat at a restaurant. Other expenses will depend on what you choose to do, including

  • Driftless Books & Music
  •  
  • The Vernon County Museum ($)
  • Ewetopia
  •  
  • Parrish Music
  • Paper, Scissors, Stone
  •  
  • Second Time Around
  • The Drifting Boutique
  •  
  • Jaali's Dollies
  • Viroqua Public Market
  •  
  • Viroqua Food Co-op
  • Thoreau’s Garden
  •  
  • Gary's Rock Shop
  • and more!

    Catch the SMRT Yellow Route to Viroqua:

    •   9:48 - UWL (State St shelter between Iguana’s and Newman Center)     
    •   9:54 - WTC (7th St. Academic Resources Center shelter)       
    • 10:03 - Mayo Clinic shelter near building                         
    • 10:08 - Gundersen Health (Founders’ Building entrance on 8th St.) 
    • 10:16 - Shopko South

    Return trip YOUR CHOICE:

    • Yellow Route leaves at 3:24 p.m., back in La Crosse 4:22 - 4:50 p.m. or
    • Blue Route leaves at 4:39 p.m., back in La Crosse 5:30 - 6:00 p.m.
    THERE WILL BE WALKING or wheeling!
    Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather.
    Masks are required on all public transportation.

    Sign up by July 20: tinyurl.com/LATA2VIROQUA.

    Questions? MTUFriends@hotmail.com or 608-315-2693

    Friday, July 9, 2021

    State transportation budget most harmful in a decade

    For Immediate Release: July 9, 2021

    Media contact: Gregg May, 1000 Friends of WI - Transportation Policy Director, 402-707-7379, gregg@1kfriends.org

    State transportation budget is most harmful in a decade

    Transportation advocates condemn unprecedented cuts to Milwaukee and Madison transits stems while green-lighting the unnecessary I-94 E/W highway expansion project Governor Evers signed the 2021-23 biennial budget (2021 Wisconsin Act 58) on Thursday, which included a one-time 50% cut to the transit systems in Milwaukee and Madison over the next two years. 

    While the shortfall in transit funding may be filled by federal COVID relief funds, it is not guaranteed. 

    Additionally, the budget also funded the proposed $1.1 billion I-94 highway expansion in Milwaukee. This project will have significant impacts on the region’s population by creating new congestion and adding air pollution, while failing to help those who do not own a personal automobile or who are unable to drive.

    Organizations from the Coalition for More Responsible Transportation (CMRT) issued the following statements:

    “This transportation budget is devastating for all Wisconsinites,” said Gregg May, Transportation Policy Director at 1000 Friends of Wisconsin. “Wisconsin cannot continue to expand highways while gutting public transportation. It is bad for the environment, bad for transit riders, and bad for Wisconsin’s economic recovery. At a time when we should be making historic investments in transit to get people too jobs, we are doing the opposite. If these cuts cannot be filled with federal funds, it will lead to the largest disinvestment in public transit in a generation.”

    “The majority of this budget maintains the status quo, which means lead in drinking water, public lands strapped for funding, air pollution, barriers to clean energy and energy efficiency, and a transportation system that is not working for Wisconsin residents. However, the budget does even more damage than inaction. The transportation budget in particular is adding insult to injury,” said Elizabeth Ward, Chapter Director at Sierra Club - Wisconsin. “Public transportation is critical for stopping a climate catastrophe and is an essential form of transportation that provides access to jobs, recreation and other opportunities.”

    “The budget signed yesterday will slash transit funding in Milwaukee by 50% and fully fund a $1 billion, unnecessary highway expansion of I-94 (from 16th to 70th Streets). This budget is contrary to public opinion, damaging to the climate, and exposes our communities and environment to increased air and water pollution,” said Cheryl Nenn, Riverkeeper with Milwaukee Riverkeeper. “We should be working toward a greener, healthier, and more climate resilient future; this budget takes us backwards.”

    “The cuts to transit are a devastating blow to people of color, low-income people, the elderly, the disabled, and anyone who, for whatever reason, does not drive”, said Rabbi Bonnie Margulis, Executive Director of Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice. “Cutting transportation funding is short-sighted, as access to public transportation is one of the determinants of access to jobs, education, health care, and recreation, and therefore is a key driver of a robust economy. It is further short-sighted in reducing efforts to deal with climate change.”

    “Wisconsin needs better public transit, not bigger highways," said Tony Wilkin Gibart, Executive Director of Midwest Environmental Advocates, "The new transportation budget cuts public transit funding in Milwaukee and Madison and, instead, funds the I-94 highway expansion project which has not yet been thoroughly reviewed, updated to reflect recent data, or subject to meaningful public input. This proposal would increase our dependence on cars, add to greenhouse gas emissions, disproportionately hurt Milwaukeeans of color and cause significant harm to surrounding neighborhoods. We are disappointed that the biennial budget misses an important opportunity to prioritize climate-friendly solutions.”

    “Global warming is the most important challenge of our time and no investment should be made without considering it,” said Megan Severson, State Director for Wisconsin Environment. “Transportation is now the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in our country, and we need a comprehensive approach to reducing transportation’s impact on the global climate crisis. We can only do this by getting people out of their cars and onto cleaner options, like public transit or a bicycle.”

    “It’s clear from this latest budget that Wisconsin still has a misplaced appetite for costly, polluting and ineffective highway expansion projects,” said Susanna Cain, Transform Transportation Associate for WISPIRG. “COVID-19 has highlighted how stark our transportation needs truly are, especially for essential workers and low-income households without access to a car. Rather than cutting funding for public transportation and wasting money on highway boondoggles, we need to start using our taxpayer dollars more wisely by investing in public transit, walking and biking instead.”

    Wednesday, July 7, 2021

    MTU's Jon Williams

    From Adam Lorentz, MTU Director:

    I am saddened to inform everyone that one of our MTU employees, Jon Williams, has passed. 

    Jon was not only an amazing employee but more importantly an amazing person.  I recall many conversations on the weekend shifts with Jon regarding his passion of working on cars and the love he had for his children.

    Jon was a true team player, always helping out others with guidance over the radio.  It was also not uncommon to get a calling from a bus rider that wanted to share a good deed that Jon had done for them, always going the extra mile for his passengers.

    Jon will be deeply missed by his friends, family, fellow employees, and all of the passengers Jon has served over his time at the MTU.

    Thursday, July 1, 2021

    July 22 - Ride SMRT to Viroqua with LATA

    Ride the Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit (SMRT) bus from La Crosse to Viroqua for a day of sight-seeing, shopping, dining, and exploring. We’ll leave mid-morning from La Crosse. Jackie Eastwood, Transportation Planner with the La Crosse Area Planning Committee, will join us to talk about the SMRT and answer questions.

    We’ll arrive in Viroqua at about 11 a.m. and you will choose what to do, where to go, and how long to stay There are two return trip options which have you back in La Crosse between 4:30 and 6:00 p.m. LATA will provide trip participants with talking points, so we can be SMRT advocates, too!

    The bus costs $3 cash each way - pay with exact change on the bus. Bring your own lunch or eat at a restaurant. Other expenses will depend on what you choose to do, including

  • Driftless Books & Music
  •  
  • The Vernon County Museum ($)
  • Ewetopia
  •  
  • Parrish Music
  • Paper, Scissors, Stone
  •  
  • Second Time Around
  • The Drifting Boutique
  •  
  • Jaali's Dollies
  • Viroqua Public Market
  •  
  • Viroqua Food Co-op
  • Thoreau’s Garden
  •  
  • Gary's Rock Shop
  • and more!

    Catch the SMRT Yellow Route to Viroqua:

    •   9:48 - UWL (State St shelter between Iguana’s and Newman Center)     
    •   9:54 - WTC (7th St. Academic Resources Center shelter)       
    • 10:03 - Mayo Clinic shelter near building                         
    • 10:08 - Gundersen Health (Founders’ Building entrance on 8th St.) 
    • 10:16 - Shopko South

    Return trip YOUR CHOICE:

    • Yellow Route leaves at 3:24 p.m., back in La Crosse 4:22 - 4:50 p.m. or
    • Blue Route leaves at 4:39 p.m., back in La Crosse 5:30 - 6:00 p.m.
    THERE WILL BE WALKING or wheeling!
    Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather.

    Sign up by July 20: tinyurl.com/LATA2VIROQUA.

    Questions? MTUFriends@hotmail.com or 608-315-2693