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.