August 13 - Transit Talk and Treats

Calling all bus riders, public transit advocates, urbanists, climate activists, non-drivers, and people interested in better, safer, cleaner transportation options in our area!

• Meet & greet like-minded community members. Strengthen our network of active transportation advocates.
• Talk with representatives from the MTU, SMRT bus, and La Crosse Area Planning Committee. Learn what's new and share your experiences and ideas.
• Refreshments provided! 
• Door prizes including transit passes and transit riders' essentials.
• Music! (still working on it!)

Please share this invitation with others! Download, print, and post a .pdf flyer. Use this .jpg flyer to share on social media.

Contact LATA with questions or for more information!

July updates

Here are a few things that might be of interest.

LATA Leaders will meet on Wednesday, July 9 at 6:30 p.m. online. If you would like to join, please reply to this email. We'll be focusing on planning a transit advocates gathering this summer and planning for Week Without Driving (WWD) this fall.

MTU buses appear to be almost all connected to the new Transit app so you can see where your bus is in real time. Unfortunately, you can only view one route at a time so if you are planning to switch buses outside of the usual transfer points, you'll have to switch back and forth to see what bus is where. Do you have thoughts on the new app? Feedback on the new app is one of the things we hope to include in a summer transit advocates gathering.

The MTU ADA Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, July 8 at 5:30 p.m. in the Grandad Room at City Hall and on Zoom, but confirmation hasn't been sent yet. These meetings are open to the public. If you would like to attend, please contact Tim Koterwski at the MTU or email us for the Zoom link.

MTU Director Adam Lorentz is scheduled to be at this month's Citizens with Disabilities meeting, Thursday, July 10 at 9 a.m. The meeting will be held in the Hedgehog Room at City Hall and online. It is open to the public. The agenda is not posted yet. The Zoom link will be on the agenda. Find it at https://cityoflacrosse.legistar.com/DepartmentDetail.aspx?ID=42236&GUID=5C1B4DD4-92F5-4DF8-8681-8023B1556EE7

The La Crosse Area Planning Committee's Committee on Transit and Active Transportation will meet on Thursday, July 10 at 3:30 p.m. in person Room 2106 of the County Administrative Building (6th & State) and online. The agenda includes a report on a Regional Transit Authority study (alas, RTAs were not included in the budget Gov. Evers recently signed) and discussion of LAPC participation in Week Without Driving.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will hold a public input meeting as part of its US 53 & US 14/61 Corridor Study on Wednesday, July 16 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. at the Black River Beach Neighborhood Center. Learn more and get a link to comment online at https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/533516-lacrosse/us53us1461.aspx

The folks at America Walks, national sponsors of Week Without Driving, have been holding monthly webinars on different ways transit advocates, nonprofits, schools, government agencies, businesses, and more can use WWD to spread the word about their services, products, priorities. The next webinar is on July 9 at 1 p.m. and it will deal with rural transit. You can see the schedule of coming webinars and get links to view past ones at https://weekwithoutdriving.org/events/

America Walks is doing a research study with UC Davis on the importance of elevating non-drivers' experiences in transportation discussions. They are looking for non-drivers to interview as part of the project. There is a stipend for those who are chosen. If you cannot drive and would like to be considered, please fill out the form at https://forms.gle/bBDfY4h2EKs2aUtn8

You may have seen that the Borealis continues to overperform expectations, serving 222,475 passengers during the first full 12 months of operation (June 1, 2024 - May 31, 2025), as reported by the Wisconsin Association of Rail Passengers. They also note, “Since March 26, 2025, train capacity has been reduced approximately 20-25% due to a rail coach shortage (we're tracking it). We recommend avoiding peak days (Friday and Sunday) if possible. Sellouts are more likely on those days.”

The budget bill signed by the Governor a few days ago was disappointingly lacking in transit improvements, despite heavy lobbying by citizen groups.. As reported by Wisconsin Transit Riders Alliance secretary Susan DeVos, “It appears that aside from a 10% funding increase to local Paratransit funding for FY 2026, funding for Mass Transit Aids and Passenger Rail Operating Assistance will remain at FY 2025 base levels.”

During debate on the budget, Sen Jeff Smith (District 31 – Chippewa Valley) supported an amendment that included authorization of RTAs which failed on party lines. The Governor did not elevate RTAs in his negations, either. Sen Smith's leadership on Regional Transportation Authorities should be recognized. You can send him a note of appreciation for this effort and for uplifting how important RTAs are: https://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/31/smith/contact/contact-me/

We are still looking for co-sponsors for La Crosse Area Week Without Driving (Sept. 29 – Oct. 5), including faith groups, businesses, non-profits, organizations, clubs, school groups, and service agencies. Co-sponsors help spread the word, encourage their contacts to participate, and, if they want, host a related activity or event. If you'd like more information, contact us. If you'd like to co-sponsor, please complete this form at your earliest convenience: https://forms.gle/gyon1uYL77Hb3mXw6

Check out this Project Drawdown webinar by Cameron Roberts about Low-Carbon Mobility - False Solutions, Partial Solutions and a Full Solution. https://youtu.be/2DOPLdE8mZw?feature=shared

 

June updates

The Transit Talk event we are working with MTU has been pushed to July as has the MTU Board meeting. No details yet. 

 

 The City is hosting two "Zoning 101" information sessions about its work to update zoning codes. There are zoning changes that can encourage transit and make transit safer and more efficient. If you can, consider attending the session TONIGHT at 6 p.m. at 401 West Ave. S (take the #2 OR the C2 Circulator) or on June 23 at 6:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church, Losey & Main (take the #4). This is a good place to learn more and advocate for better zoning for transit and Transit Oriented Development. Visit https://forwardlacrosse.org/ for more information.

LATA leaders are still meeting on the second Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. We haven't yet found another day and time but we're still trying! If you would like to attend the June LATA meeting (June 11 at 5:30 p.m. online), please email us = LaCrosseTransitAdvocates at proton.me

We are starting to schedule some back to school tabling in the fall. We will be at Western Tech's Resource Block Party on September 2.

There are a couple of public transit related Youth Climate Action Fund projects in the pipeline. We'll know more and report on these soon.

Week Without Driving planning continues. If your faith group, organization, business, or group would like to be a cosponsor and/or offer a program or activity during the week (September 29 through October 5), please use this form: https://tinyurl.com/LaXWWDCoSponsor  If possible, please complete the form by the end of June.

If you are hosting an event, please consider exchanging Where to Park information with HOW TO GET HERE information and prioritize bus/bike at the top. It seems like a small thing, but including information about taking the bus reminds people that the bus is an option. (If it isn't, maybe you should have your event someplace else!) Encouraging public/active transportation can also reduce parking stress. This article, How to use campaigns and marketing to encourage sustainable transport choices, from C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, provides more examples and ideas. https://www.c40knowledgehub.org/s/article/How-to-use-campaigns-and-marketing-to-encourage-sustainable-transport-choices?language=en_US

Construction and Detours

Reminder: There will be no bus service on Memorial Day Monday, May 26th.

This year's road construction is causing delays in car and bus travel! It's especially affecting the Route 5. Here are some notices about detours and options from the MTU. Note that MTU and Drift Link Public Transit (Onalaska-Holmen-West Salem Shared Ride) are coordinating even more than usual with special return transfers for those needing to get to the Target area from Valley View Mall. 

You can always set up a transfer ahead of time by phone or online from MTU to Drift Link. The transfer point is the #5 stop at Valley View Mall. Transfers are limited to Drift Link service hours and will get you to points in the City Limits of Onalaska, Village of Holmen, and Village of West Salem. Normally, for the return ride, you pay the Drift Link fare to get back to the Mall to transfer back to the MTU, $3.00 - $4.50, depending on age, ability, and status, but there's a special transfer for Target rides during this construction period.

If you have questions about any of these changes, please ask your driver or call 608-789-7350.

Route 8 Crossing Meadows - For the duration of the Highway 16 construction project, bus stops on Hemstock Street will be demand response only during MTU office hours M-F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please tell your driver that you want to be dropped off there OR CALL MTU at 608-789-7350 to get picked up there.

Ride SMRT but more smart is needed

Yesterday, we did our annual May Day SMRT 2 Viroqua ride. There were only three of us on this trip and the weather was a bit drizzly, but it was well worth the trip. Both buses I rode on were almost brand new! It was so great to have a much smoother ride (part of that is also due to road work done in 2024). Alas, there is no wifi on the buses now. The La Crosse to Viroqua bus had an American flag pinned up over where the wifi password used to be. The return bus had nothing. The return driver noted that wifi is difficult in that terrain and never seemed to work well anyway. This is true! Neigher bus had a bike rack either, though if you bring a bike, they will put it inside the bus. I didn't bring my bike on this ride as planned because of the drizzle.

Both rides were smooth and on time. The drivers have a tablet that tells them when to be at each time-point stop and this seems to work well. 

There were some new and ongoing challenges:

We learned that the Vernon Memorial Hospital stop was changed in November, but no one has noted this on the schedules or website at RideSMRT.com. Had we not learned about the change from our morning driver, we might have missed the return bus. While there is a sign on the door of the hospital (that someone waiting for the bus might not even notice), there's nothing on the sign that says where to go to catch the bus! Fortunately, our morning driver told us where to stand (on Hickory Street just south of the hospital between (Kwik Trip is on the south side of the street). There is no "CATCH THE SMRT HERE" sign anywhere near there.

The UWL stop continues to be a puzzle. There's a SMRT sign in the shelter by Newman Center (south side of State Street near the Campbell Road intersection) and the schedule says "State St - Cartwright Center" but there's not SMRT sign on the north side of State Street which is where the westbound SMRT would pick up. It would be nice if they could place as sign exactly where the bus picks up on State Street (I caught it just at the 17th & State Stop sign in front of Wing.)

The Western TC stop (on the east side of 7th Street at the MTU shelter) is well marked as is the Mayo stop (MTU shelter outside the hospital). The stop at Gundersen Lutheran - outside the East Building - is not marked, and with people dropping off and picking up patients there, you may have to stand in the road to see the bus and make sure the driver sees you.

Despite these glitches, the ride is great and very worthwhile. This bus especially, mid-morning to Viroqua - is often relatively empty and is a great opportunity for folks to go shopping and eating for the afternoon. With four return options (from 12:15 to 3:40 leave times), you can just do some quick shopping or make an afternoon of it.

LATA will do another SMRT ride this fall.

May Updates

First, join us on MAY 1 for a SMRT 2 Viroqua trip. Leave La Crosse mid-morning. Arrive in Viroqua at about 11 a.m. Enjoy Viroqua’s sights, history, shops, and food, and return on your own to La Crosse. The cost:is $5 cash (exact change) each way paid to bus driver. Catch the bus at UWL, WTC, 5th & King, Mayo, Gundersen Health, or Shopko South. Four return options get you back to La Crosse between 1:30 and 5:00 p.m. Check the yellow and blue schedules at schedule at the SMRT website: https://ridesmrt.com/assets/PDF/SMRT-Bus-Sched.pdf  If you want, register here: https://tinyurl.com/lata2Viroqua

In April, LATA tabled at the Earthapalooza at UWL and asked people stopping by our table to play, "Can I Get There with Public Transit?" The answers were surprising to some! We also let folks know about our advocacy work with local leaders, our group rides like the coming trip to Viroqua, and our ride with a guide program. Thank you Obbie, RoZie and Cathy for staffing the table! 

The MTU had a presence at the La Crosse Earth Fair on Sunday, April 27. They displayed one of the hybrid buses and seemed to have a great stream of interested people of all age ranges visiting throughout the day. They also had free fares on Fair day. Switching from fossil fuel car travel to bus travel, no matter what fuel the bus is using, is a great way to reduce transportation emissions!

The Tranist app is out but the AVL (vehicle locator) is still not hooked up. How do you like it? Please feed back by leaving a comment or emailing us. We have a range of reactions and would like to hear yours!

The MTU ADA Advisory Committee is still looking for members. The next meeting, which you may attend in person (at city hall) or online via zoom, will be on Tuesday, May 13 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public. Contact LATA or koterwskit@cityoflacrosse.org for details about location/access code and agenda.

LATA Leaders will meet on Wednesday, May 14 from 5:30 to 6:30 online. We will work on the calendar for the rest of the year. If you are interested in joining us, please email or call (608-315-2693) for the link to join.

On Thursday, May 15, the La Crosse Area Planning Committee (LAPC) Committee on Transit and Active Transportation meets from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in person (County Admin building, room 2106) and online. This meeting is open to the public. Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/LAPC-CTAT

The MTU Board will meet on Tuesday, May 20 at 4 p.m. in person and online. The agenda is not published yet. This meeting is open to the public. For access information, email lorentza@cityoflacrosse.org

Week Without Driving webinars help those co-sponsoring the fall event find ways to incorporate WWD into parallel efforts. Tentative dates and topics: on May 14 at 1 p.m.  the topic will be Engaging Parents and Caregivers and on May 28 at 1 p.m., How to connect/include WWD as part of your transportation equity work/possible Rural Transportation

On Thursday, May 29, the Wisconsin Transit Riders Alliance board will meet online from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The meeting is open to all WTRA members (if you are a LATA member, you are a WTRA member). Please email for the link if you are interested.

The Wisconsin DOT is doing a Public Transportation Trip Purpose and Impact survey "to learn why Wisconsinites use public transit and the department is asking for your help since it’s been about 10 years since we collected information from the last version. The results from this survey will help shape future transportation policies and funding decisions across the state. Feedback from this short survey will help WisDOT with transit research and support related initiatives. It will also give local transit agencies and the public useful insights into how transit is used and its impact on communities. Take the survey by May 26 at https://tinyurl.com/0525WisDOTTransitSurvey  There are also Spanish language and Hmong language versions available.

There will be a major detour on the Route 5 starting in mid-May as Onalaska replaces the four-way stop intersection at Theater Road and County PH with a roundabout. If you need to get to Target, Kohls, etc. from La Crosse by transit, you might consider taking the #5 to Valley View Mall and transferring to the Onalaska-Holmen-West Salem shared ride taxi. You will need to arrange for the transfer in advance by calling OHWS at  608-784-0000. Request a transfer from the MTU driver to use when you change. If you return via OHWS to Valley View to catch the MTU, you will need to pay the OHWS fare ($4.50 per adult, $4.00 for student/senior/citizen with disability) and get a transfer for the MTU. Punch cards are available for discounted fares. Read more about it at https://tinyurl.com/OHWS-SharedRide

We hope to organize a public event in early June where you can come and talk with area transit staff about your experiences. Please email or call with your suggestions! Watch this space for details! 

NO BUS SERVICE TONIGHT!

A friend just alerted me to an notice on the MTU Facebook page that they are cancelling service after 7:40 p.m. and you're on your own after that.

In case you're not on FB, here's the alert. If you know someone who works past 7, please let them know.

SMRT 2 Viroqua

Join LATA and friends for a ride on the Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit (SMRT) bus from La Crosse to Viroqua on Thursday, May 1. Leave La Crosse mid-morning. Arrive in Viroqua at
about 11 a.m. Enjoy Viroqua’s sights, history, shops, and food, and return on your own to La Crosse.

The cost:is $5 cash (exact change) each way paid to bus driver. Catch the bus at UWL, WTC, 5th & King, Mayo, Gundersen Health, or Shopko South. Four return options get you back to La Crosse between 1:30 and 5:00 p.m. Check the yellow and blue schedules at schedule at the SMRT website: https://ridesmrt.com/assets/PDF/SMRT-Bus-Sched.pdf

This is a great way to learn about, promote, and support this great regional public transit service. Join us and bring a friend! If you want, register here: https://tinyurl.com/lata2Viroqua

Free Fares on EARTH FAIR DAY

Ride the bus for free on

Sunday, April 27, 2025.

Go check out the Earth Fair at Myrick Park. 

Route 4 Losey Blvd will use La Crosse St to 23rd St, 23rd St to Campbell Rd and then back on route. Route 4 Downtown will do the detour in reverse. Temporary bus stops will be placed at East Ave and La Crosse St and Hillview & La Crosse St

Caij npav dawb rau hnub Sunday, Plaub Hlis 27, 2025.

Mus saib lub Ntiaj Teb Ncaj Ncees ntawm Myrick Park.

Txoj Kev 4 Losey Blvd yuav siv La Crosse St mus rau 23rd St, 23rd St mus rau Campbell Rd thiab tom qab ntawd rov qab rau txoj kev. Txoj Kev 4 Hauv Nroog yuav ua qhov kev taw qhia rov qab. Chaw nres tsheb npav ib ntus yuav muab tso rau ntawm East Ave thiab La Crosse St thiab Hillview & La Crosse St

Viaje en autobús gratis el domingo 27 de abril de 2025.

Visite la Feria de la Tierra en el Parque Myrick.

La ruta 4 Losey Blvd usará la calle La Crosse hasta la calle 23, de la calle 23 a Campbell Rd y luego regresará a su ruta. La ruta 4 Downtown hará el desvío en sentido inverso. Se instalarán paradas temporales en East Ave y la calle La Crosse, y en Hillview y la calle La Crosse.

Seeking members for MTU ADA Advisory Committee!

The La Crosse MTU is looking for more members for its ADA Advisory Committee. 

The committee meets every other month (January, March, May, July, September, November) on the second Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. online and in-person.

This information is provided by Tim Koterwski from the MTU:

WHAT IS THE ADA ADVISORY COMMITTEE?

The ADA Advisory Committee is a group of people that have a disability, that use the MTU bus system and want to help MTU make sure its passengers with disabilities have an excellent experience while using the bus.

Some of the functions of the committee include but are not limited to the following items as they affect persons with disabilities: MTU Paratransit, MTU reports, programs and performance of the fixed route service.

If this is something that you think you are interested in give me a call and we can discuss when the committee meets.

Tim Koterwski,Operations Manager, ADA Coordinator, La Crosse MTU, 608-789-7350 or email KoterwskiT@cityoflacrosse.org

April updates

First, if you can, attend today's WisARP spring meeting! (Online 10 to 3)

LATA leaders will meet on Wednesday, April 9 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss future events for the year. If ou want to join the discussion please email for Zoom access information.

LATA will table at UWL Earthapolalooza on April 25. If you can volunteer for 30 or 60 minutes, please email! We won't formally table at Earth Fair, but the MTU will be free on Sunday, April 27 and offer a slight detour to get folks to the Earth Fair at Myrick Park.

LATA will host a MAY DAY (Thursday, May 1)  ride on the SMRT bus to Viroqua. We leave mid-morning from La Crosse and arrive in Viroqua about 11 a.m. After that, your schedule is up to you. There are many restaurants and shops in the area and a few schedule options for return trips (check the schedule at https://ridesmrt.com/ and see Blue or Yellow routes). More details will be posted here soon. Sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/LATA2Viroqua

The MTU has suddenly activated its new app - TRANSIT! This app helps you ride with info on routes, times, and connections. We thought they were going to trial it first, but here it is and we're so happy. No more wondering if the bus has already gone past or if it's delayed! Download here.

The La Crosse Area Planning Committee (LAPC) has issued a Request for Proposals for a consultant to "conduct a feasibility study to evaluate the establishment of a Regional Transit Authority (RTA) serving the Greater La Crosse Area in Wisconsin. The study will assess the legal, financial, operational, and organizational feasibility of an RTA to enhance regional mobility, promote sustainable transportation options, and support economic growth. All proposals are due for submission on May 9, 2025, at 5:00pm CST.

"Additional updates, Q & A, information, and a downloadable RFP, will be available on the LAPC Website: Public Notices."

RTAs were eliminated by the 2011 state legislature, but are back in the Governor's 2025-27 budget proposal and may have a chance to be included in the Joint Finance Committee's version.

Please consider weighing in for transit as the 2025-2027 budget is being put together! JFC public sessions are far away and not very transit-accessible, but you can email the JFC (see here for a sample) AND you can attend and speak at a budget listening session being hosted by our local state legislators:

• April 7 at 5 p.m. at Bekkum Library in Westby (Sen. Brad Pfaff and Rep. Tara Johnson)
• April 11 at 3:30 p.m. at the Onalaska Public Library (Sen. Pfaff, Rep. Steve Doyle)
• April 14 at 4 p.m. at the La Crosse Public Library (Sen. Pfaff, Rep. Jill Billings)

If your group or office or business would like to be a co-sponsor for Week Without Driving ((September 29 - October 5), please email!

WisARP Spring Meeting

 

WisARP Spring 2025 General Membership Meeting

Green Bay, Saturday, April 5, 2025 9 am to 3 pm

Agenda includes

• Wisconsin Projects Overview. Feature on Green Bay Route.
• Diesel Multiple Units – an option for intercity service in the Midwest. Lessons from around the world.
• Transit in Wisconsin - Connections to Rail.

Green Bay is part of the Amtrak Network with a bus link from Milwaukee via I41. Book at the Amtrak website. You do not need to have a train segment to book this. You can also book from intermediate stops.

Full Details at the Registration Page. Register now if attending in person. 
Events | Wisconsin Association of Railroad Passengers

Register in advance to attend by Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Wtob9MZ0Sx2E44Uqtzk60w

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

March updates

One Transit Equity Day related event we failed to report on was a great student project.  A State Road School fourth grade class got a lesson in transit advocacy from LATA leader Liz Fryseth as they contacted local leaders about getting a bus stop closer to their school. +In addition to their letter-writing campaign, the students learned how to ride the bus and had a tour of the Transit Center. On the following day, they took the bus for a field trip at the Urban Agriculture greenhouse on 7th Street. We would love to encourage more classes to become bus advocates and to use the bus for class trips.

We are starting to plan now for Week Without Driving, a similar but not as transit-specific event, held every year in the fall. The event focuses on the challenges faced by non-drivers trying to navigate a car-centric world. If you would like to help plan or co-sponsor WWD 2025 (September 29 – October 5), please email. See https://weekwithoutdriving.org for more information.

On Thursday, March 6, Wisconsin Transit Riders Alliance welcomed Patty Kiewiz, Director, Green Bay Metro Transit, who talked about their integration of on-demand transit with their fixed route system. Then, we heard from Gary Goyke, public policy consultant, about what's happening with the state budget and what opportunities transit advocates have to advocate for improvements. He shared really useful information. View the program at https://youtu.be/JnUzTu4df9E

On February 13, Adam Lorentz, MTU Director, was at the La Crosse Citizens with Disabilities committee to follow up on plans to improve access and information for those with disabilities. They are nearly done with putting signs at all bus stops indicating which routes stop there. They will soon have large print information available and at the Transit Center along with Braille materials. They are making some large maps, too, and are working on a way to have a large map available when the Center is closed. They have restarted the effort to make official 3-D tactile maps based off the maps the Fryseth family made in 2023. There was discussion of improving the website so people needed accessible information could find it more easily. The MTU ADA Advisory Committee is seeking more members. The committee meets every other month (see below).

On February 15, more than 40 transit advocates from around the state gathered online at the Wisconsin Transit Summit to get organized for state budget season. The group is working to settle on top priorities, create messaging and outreach scripts and talking points, and scheduling opportunities for advocates to talk to our elected representatives about transit issues. As we know, the governor has released his budget for 2025-2027 which includes increases in transit funding, state-wide Regional Transit Authorities, and other positive items. The Joint Finance Committee will be holding public hearings later in March and in April as it prepares its own budget. We will probably send another group notice when the JFC public hearing schedule is available. For now, please consider calling or emailing our La Crosse area state legislators (see contact info below) to encourage them to support increases in funding for public transit, RTAs, better intercity transit, better support for multi-modal transportation, and a transportation budget that prioritizes equity and carbon reduction. We hope the Transit Summit Talking Points will be available soon and we will post them here.

Coming up:

March 11 at 8:30 a.m. the city's Bike Ped Advisory Committee meets in person with online access. It's a public meeting. Transit is pedestrian infrastructure. Link to agenda and online access info: https://tinyurl.com/laxbpac325

March 11 at 5:30 p.m. the MTU ADA Advisory Committee meets. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR MORE MEMBERS and the public may attend. Agenda and access information is here: https://lacrosseata.blogspot.com/p/mtu-ada-advisory-committee.html

March 12 at 5:30 p.m. LATA Leaders meeting online. We will plan events for the year. Email for the link to participate.

March 13 at 4:30 p.m. La Crosse Area Planning Committee – Advisory Committee on Transit and Active Transportation meets in person and online. Find more information here: https://tinyurl.com/LAPCCTAT325

Here is a good article in Vox: Congestion pricing is good for low-income residents. Why? Because it improves public transit.

Thanks and next steps!

Thanks to all co-sponsors, participants, elected leaders and candidates, staff, drivers, and community who made 2025 Transit Equity Days so successful. The library's Story Time on the Bus had more than 75 children! Many local candidates attended the press event. We had wonderful, informative rides with candidates for council and mayor. 

Planning is now underway for Week Without Driving from September 29 through October 5. If you would like to help plan, organize an event that highlights the challenges of non-drivers and possible solutions, or keep up on what's happening, please email us at LaCrosseTransitRiders@proton.me.

Two events are coming up of interest to transit advocates and riders.

On Saturday, February 15, the Coalition for More Responsible Transportation will host a Wisconsin Transit Summit from 10 a.m. to noon online. This is an opportunity to hear what's happening around the state and organize to support good transit policies and budgets in our state. Learn more and register for the link at https://tinyurl.com/CMRTSummit.

On Thursday, March 6, Wisconsin Transit Riders Alliance will host a special online lunch time program about challenges facing Wisconsin transit providers featuring the director of Green Bay Metro Transit, Patricia Kiewiz and public affairs consultant Gary Goyke. Get more information, including the registration link, at https://witransitriders.org/events/annual-meeting/

The group's annual spring membership meeting which normally occurs just after the speaker will be held on Saturday, March 8 at 11 a.m. Information about the meeting is shown at the link above. 

LATA is a member of WTRA and that means anyone who is a member of LATA is also a member of WTRA and can attend the membership meeting.

February Updates

 

We hope you will be able to join the Transit Equity Days events, Sunday, February 2 through Wednesday, February 5. Good public transportation is important for ensuring that everyone—no matter their age, health, or financial status—can get to their full life. These events are a way to consider what's equitable when it comes to transportation and advocate for better, more connected, more accessible transit in our area. See the full list of events at https://tinyurl.com/TEDLaCrosse-2025 and note that there are FREE FARES on the MTU on February 4 and FREE FARES on the SMRT (if you have or show on your phone a TED flyer) on February 5.We would especially encourage transit advocates to take a ride with candidates for mayor and city council and tell your transit story! If you can't our story collection form is always open for business at https://tinyurl.com/LaXTEDStory.

There is also a national Transit Equity Day livestream happening on the Labor Network for Sustainability's YouTube channel on February 4 at 11 a.m. Central. Find the link at https://www.labor4sustainability.org/transportation/transit-equity-2025/

Some local elementary school students are also advocating for better bus service during Transit Equity Days! Stay tuned!

LATA Leaders will hold its monthly meeting on Zoom on Wednesday, February 12 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. We will likely evaluate TED, talk more about engaging candidates before the April election for mayor and council, and discuss future LATA programming for 2025. Please email if you would like to join the discussion!

Government committees meet soon.

• The Bike Ped Advisory Committee (transit is pedestrian infrastructure) meets on Tuesday, February 11 at 8:30 a.m. Meeting details are not yet available.

• The Committee for Citizens with Disabilities will meet on Thursday, February 13 at 9 a.m. MTU Director, Adam Lorentz, is supposed to be at this meeting for follow up on items discussed in December. Get details and online access information from https://cityoflacrosse.legistar.com

• The MTU Board is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, February 18 at 4 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and is held in person and online.

On Saturday, February 15, the Coalition for More Responsible Transportation will host a Wisconsin Transit Summit in Madison (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with lunch provided) and online. “This event is open to transportation advocates in Wisconsin who prioritize public transportation, mass transit, walking and biking infrastructure in order to increase sustainable and accessible transportation choices, improve connectedness in both urban and rural areas of the state, and decrease being forced to drive and depend on an individually-owned vehicle. Please only share this invitation with like-minded individuals who want to collaborate to take action together.” Get more info and register (to attend in person or for the Zoom link) at https://tinyurl.com/cmrtsummit

The SMRT has raised fares for 2025 to $5 per ride (less per ride if you buy a punch card or month pass.) Please advocate for SMRT with our county board representatives and businesses and communities served by the SMRT, including Sparta, Tomah, Westby, Viroqua, Coon Valley, Stoddard, Genoa, De Soto, Prairie du Chien.

The MTU needs more drivers! These are union jobs. MTU is also seeking more members for its ADA Advisory Committee. Meetings are held every other month. Email for more information.

Amtrak is having a Roomette Free Companion Flash Sale for Valentine's Day. “Now through February 6, book an elevated, First Class experience in a Roomette and bring a friend along on the journey for free.” The Borealis continues to perform well. If you are a bicyclist, please write to Amtrak and tell them we need bike accommodations on those trains. If you have been outside of our region, you know that there are a variety of ways to accept bikes without having whole baggage cars for them!

Believe it or not, planning is already starting for Week Without Driving, Sept. 29 through October 5, 2025. At the initial planning call, there were people from all over North America plus the UK and event Australia! Let's start planning locally with a Zoom meeting in early March. If you are interested, please email with best days/times for a one-hour meeting!

Who knows what's going to happen to transit under the new regime. Will anyone uphold the laws, like you can't freeze money that's already been appropriated? We'll see. Transportation for America has a suggestion: Confused about the chaos? Make Congress and the administration clarify the transportation funding freeze.

Here are a couple of interesting articles that seem pertinent to our area:

Dedicated transit lanes help increase ridership and reduce emissions, https://mntransportationresearch.org/2024/07/01/dedicated-transit-lanes-help-attract-riders-reduce-carbon-emissions/ (what if we had an express bus that went from Mormon Coulee Road, straight up Losey to Woodmans and back every 15 minutes?)

No Bus Stop Seating? No Problem. (Actually, There is Definitely a Problem.) https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2024/10/29/no-bus-stop-seating-no-problem-actually-there-is-definitely-a-problem Is anyone is interested in working on some simple bus stop seating? We have been asking for it for years and yet people end up sitting on sidewalks, rock walls, lamp post bases, curbs, stumps, and even in the dirt waiting for their bus. This is not good customer service. There are lots of plans and examples out there. Let's make some seating!

If you know of a transit related event, meeting, speaker, or program coming up, please email so we can share it on this web page.

Remember, shifting from a private gas-powered car to public transit is one of the immediate most impactful ways a household can reduce its carbon emissions!

January updates

Happy new year! Take the bus!

Here are a few things coming up that may interest you.

First, we are planning for Transit Equity Days in La Crosse, starting February 2, which will include a couple of opportunities for transit advocates to make a difference! 

 

On Monday, February 3, we will host a guided ride on the Circulator (C2) from the Transit Center past the La Crosse Public Library and back to the Transit Center. We are going the long way around to have time to talk about riding the bus and LATA's Ride with a Guide program. Those who are interested may get off at the library at about 5 p.m. and attend a free screening of the film The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks. There is no sign up for this ride – just show up!

On Tuesday, February 4, we will have a morning press event at the Grand River Station Transit Center then offer three opportunities for City Council and Mayoral candidates to ride the bus with transit advocates. If you are available to ride along and talk about transit with candidates, please attend. All rides on the MTU will be FREE on Tuesday, February 4. All candidate rides leave from the Transit Center.

• Depart at 10:42 a.m. on the Route 1-2 for a one hour ride

• Depart at 12:30 p.m. on the Circulator for a one-half hour ride

• Depart at 3:30 p.m. on the Route 1-2 for a one hour ride

Read more about Transit Equity Day events at https://tinyurl.com/TEDLaCrosse-2025  We are accepting co-sponsors until January 15. If your group, office, or organization would like to help support this event, please sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/cosponsor25laxted

The MTU's ADA Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 14 in person in the Grand Conference Room at City Hall and online from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Please contact us for login information. The MTU will soon have large print and Braille materials available!

The MTU's Double Map app is officially dead and that means we are back to having to guess when our bus will come. You may call the office, 608-789-7350, to get information but only during office hours. The new system is expected to come online in March. One consequence of this system break is that the tablets that provided audible signals on buses for important stops is no longer working. But the ADA requires audible signals, mechanical or human voice, at transfer points, other major intersections and destinations, and points along the route to allow someone with a visual impairment or other disability to be oriented to their location. If you are riding the bus and the driver is not calling out these stops, please use the MTU feedback form to report this or call the office. Audible stops are not optional

Other issues some have experienced are early buses and buses that blow past waiting passengers. The MTU has the ability to tell if a bus leaves an official time point early, but some drivers seem to be hurrying between time points so they may pass intermediate stops earlier than normal to get to and wait at the time point. If you note that a bus is early and/or if you have been bypassed by a bus, please use the feedback form to report.

LATA will invite candidates for mayor and city council to complete a transit-related survey so we can post results at our web page. If you have suggestions, please email them right away. We hope to finalize the questionnaire this coming week.

The SMRT bus fare has gone up again. A one-way ride now costs $5. Discounts for frequent riders are available. Learn more at https://rideSMRT.com

Amtrak is still having a group sale and the Amtrak USA Rail Pass Sale (sale price $299, regularly $499)

The Rail Passengers Association is hosting training and lobbying opportunities in DC this spring. Midwest rail advocates may attend from March 31 to April 1. Get more details here: https://railpassengers.org/happening-now/events/railnation-dc-2025/

Our next LATA leaders meeting will be on Wednesday, February 12 at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. Please email for access information.