World Class American Transit

 

Don’t miss the upcoming webinar on Transportation for America’s latest report, World-Class American Transit, on Wednesday, February 11, at 11:00 pm CT.

Led by report author Corrigan Salerno, the webinar will break down what it would take to deliver frequent, reliable transit across the U.S. The analysis examines 452 urbanized areas and finds that a $4.6 trillion investment over 20 years would be required to approach global peers.

Join us to walk through the findings and discuss what they mean for communities and decision makers.

Register here.

February updates

Our main event is Transit Equity Day on Wednesday, February 4. The website is https://tinyurl.com/TEDLaCrosse-2026 

• FREE FARES on the MTU ALL DAY.

• Tabling all day at the Transit Center

• 1000 Friends of Wisconsin.webinar on transit at noon

• Grand River Station Transit Center Open House from 4 to 7 p.m.

Please share widely. PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL YOUR CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE AND YOUR COUNTY BOARD SUPERVISOR (use this Find My Elected Officials link) and ask them to come to the Open House. Again, we are looking for a few folks to take a shift tabling at the Transit Center between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.. If you can help, please email.

Please contact your state Representative and Senator and ask them to support SB 754, a bill that would allow for the creation of Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs). Representative Billings is a co-sponsor. Please thank her and invite Sen. Pfaff, Rep. Johnson, and Rep. Doyle to support. With the current makeup of the legislature, it's not likely to come out of committee, but demonstrating strong support will help its next iteration if new maps allow for better legislative representation in 2026.

On Friday, February 6, we're hosting a Transit Outreach SMRT ride from La Crosse to Viroqua. We'll catch the mid-morning Yellow #2 and arrive in Viroqua around 11 a.m. We'll hand out info about the SMRT.. If you want to go, please email since sometimes space is limited. Cost is $5 each way paid in cash to the driver. The trip flyer will be up at the Transit Equity Day site soon.

We still have not heard anything about opportunities for SMRT riders to get involved in discussions about improving the service but will pass along anything we hear of!

On Wednesday, February 11, there will be a program, Transportation Options at the McIntosh Memorial Library in Viroqua at 2:15 p.m. Learn more here: https://mcintoshmemoriallibrary.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=287644 The event is free and open to the public and is presented in partnership with Vernon County Over 50.

The next LATA Leaders meeting will be Wednesday, February 11 at 6:30 p.m. online. Please reply to this email if you would like to join in.

On Tuesday, February 17, the Coalition for More Responsible Transportation is hosting a 6 p.m. webinar about The Transit Crisis in Wisconsin. Register at this link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/TPiMjbxLS6uxYqrKrl8SPA

Tuesday, February 24 is Passenger Rail Legislative Day (the events are in-person only). The day includes a session in the Wisconsin State Capitol, Room 411 South, from 10 a.m. to noon. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. This event is free, and no registration required. The afternoon session is at the Top Of The Park room, Park Hotel, 22 South Carroll Street from 12:30 to 3:30. This event is $35, and includes lunch. Registration is required (register here!) Meet the leadership of Wisconsin’s rail advocacy groups, learn how the landscape has changed, and get the latest news! Interested i car pooling from La Crosse? Reply to this email. Going by public transit would take three days! Pitiful!!

On March 2, our wonderful local planners will do a program at the La Crosse Public Library, “Street Smarts – Designing Safe Streets for Everyone.” It's part of the library's Monday Mornings at Main which includes a 9 a.m. chair yoga session and a 9:30 coffee and socializing time before the 10 a.m. program. Learn more here: https://www.lacrosselibrary.org/event/monday-mornings-main-44565

New hours at the Transit Center. The Transit Center, 314 Jay Street is now open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Alas, still no weekend hours!

A few of us are working on an informational brochure about the SMRT. The hope is to have it done by February 4. Do you have ideas to get the word out? Can you talk to your workplace or school encouraging them to sponsor? Can you make a series of short videos about the greatness of public transit? Can you host a group ride with your friends, co-workers, or organization? How can we help spread the word?

Please consider joining LATA officially at https://tinyurl.com/joinLATA.

La Crosse to Green Bay bus!!!

 

Holy cow! There's a new bus route in town and it's actually good!

LamersConnect service started in January and offers DAILY service between La Crosse and Green Bay with stops in Tomah (Amtrak Station), Wisconsin Rapids, Stevens Point, Waupaca, Appleton, and DePere!

The bus arrives at the Transit Center at 12:35 p.m. and leaves for the return trip at 2:50 p.m. They are still working out logistics because the Minneapolis bus also uses the Transit Center daily (leaves at 1:25 p.m., arrives at 2:35 p.m.)

This is a great new connecting that is really needed! 

January updates

First, a bill has been introduced in the state legislature to permit Regional Transit Authorities. Senate Bill 754 was introduced by Senator Kelda Roys and has several co-sponsors including Representative Jill Billings. Please contact your state assembly person and Senator Brad Pfaff encouraging them to support this bill. Find contact information here: https://maps.legis.wisconsin.gov/  Learn more about the bill at https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/sb754

While you're at it, ask them to join the state legislature's new Passenger Rail Caucus. There are no La Crosse area legislators listed as members right now. Call or write and tell them that you want more and better train service and connections, and encourage them to join the new Passenger Rail Caucus. Lawmakers who are interested in joining can contact Rep. Lori Palmeri, the Caucus chairperson, at 608-237-9154 or Rep.Palmeri@legis.wisconsin.gov. (Photo from Wisconsin Association of Rail Passengers newsletter, Badger Rails, 4th quarter, 2025.)

 

The La Crosse Area Planning Committee is in the middle of its Regional Transportation Safety Plan initiative (Safe Streets for All) which involves how people get around, including public transit. The survey is still live. Weigh in here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LAPCSS4ASurvey.

Last chance to comment on the State of Wisconsin 2050 Rail Plan amendment. Learn more and find the comment form here: https://www.wisdotplans.gov/announcement-pages/wisconsin-rail-plan-update The deadline for public input is January 15.

On Tuesday, January 13 at 5:30 p.m. the La Crosse MTU ADA Advisory Committee will meet online and in person. You can download the agenda and access information here: https://cityoflacrosse.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=AADA&ID=1376829&GUID=BBA833F1-D913-4B21-A8C7-32CCCF80505D

On Wednesday, January 14 at 11:45 a.m., some La Crosse area transit advocates will have lunch at Pickerman's on Jay Street across from the Transit Center. It's an informal get together. If you are interested, come on down. That same evening at 6:30 p.m. La Crosse Area Transit Advocates will hold its January LATA Leaders meeting on Zoom. We will discuss Transit Equity Days planning and follow up SMRT bus ideas. Please email us for access info if you would like to attend the one-hour meeting.

On Thursday, January 15, the La Crosse Area Planning Committee's Advisory Committee on Transit and Active Transportation will meet online beginning at 3:30 p.m. The agenda and access information is here: https://www.lacrossecounty.org/metropolitan-planning-organization/committees/committee-on-transit-and-active-transportation

On Monday, January 19, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a few transit advocates will take a SMRT trip to Viroqua from La Crosse. We will take the bus mid-morning (yellow-2) SMRT from La Crosse, arriving in Viroqua at about 11 a.m. There are several return options throughout the afternoon. Fare is $5 cash each way paid to the driver. If you want to join us, please email and we can give you more details

Liz Fryseth is working with La Crosse School District 4th and 5th graders to help them become transit advocates! She is set up with State Road School classes but would like to include the schools that will be closing—Harry Spence, Hintgen, and Emerson. If you know of grade 4 and 5 parents or teachers at these schools who might be interested in helping, please email us at LaCrosseTransitAdvocates@proton.me for more information.

We are looking for a couple of people to help hand out mini Transit Equity Day flyers from 6:15 to 7 p.m. at the MLK Jr Community Celebration on Monday, January 19 at the Viterbo Fine Arts Center. Please email if you can help.

We are looking for a few people to take a shift tabling about Transit Equity Day at the Transit Center. between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Can you spend an hour there? If yes, please email.

We may be looking for a few Viroqua area people to help with a transit outreach on or about February 4. More details in a couple of weeks!

We still haven't heard how transit riders and advocates can help improve and support the SMRT bus this year. If we learn of opportunities, we'll let you know and post info at our web page.

SAVE THE DATES:

Wednesday, February 4 (Transit Equity Day) – OPEN HOUSE at the Grand River Station Transit Center, 314 Jay Street between 4 and 7 p.m. More details coming soon! Look for an email later this month with a flyer and ask – we want to get as many elected officials to the open house as possible.

Tuesday, February 17 – The Coalition for More Responsible Transportation in Wisconsin (CMRT) is planning a 6 p.m. webinar on Challenges and Opportunities for Wisconsin Public Transportation in the New Year.

Tuesday, February 24 is Passenger Rail Legislative Day at the Wisconsin State Capitol. All Aboard Wisconsin is organizing the event. We will have details, when they are available, at our website.

December updates

We will do a SMRT ride from La Crosse to Viroqua on Wednesday, December 3, leaving La Crosse mid-morning and arriving in Viroqua at about 11 a.m. The fare is $5 each way paid in cash to the driver (no change!) We will meet up with some Viroqua area transit advocates for lunch and talk and then return on our own. The lunch is $5 and the menu is Chicken Thighs, Red Potato, Creamed Corn, Peach Cobbler. Or you can bring your own. Please sign up by the end of day on November 30. at https://tinyurl.com/ridesmrt120325

LATA Leaders will meet on Wednesday, December 10 at 6:30 p.m. online. We will mostly discuss Feb. 4 Transit Equity Day and 2026 programming. If you would like to join us, please reply to this email and I will send you a link to the meeting.

 

Also, on December 3 at noon, the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at UW-Milwaukee is hosting a webinar on “Transit Priority – Improving Public Transit Through Collaboration.” Register to attend or to receive the link to the recording at https://uwm.edu/architecture/event/transit-priority-improving-public-transit-through-collaboration/

And, on December 3, America Walks will host a Week Without Driving wrap up online at 1 p.m. Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/b7frTnFjQjOLjPbjQRK01w?_x_zm_rtaid=wU0PiuXNTl-IQbPy4KVF1g.1763049628045.709d8f8d08fd690b03cd8abfa2412c4b&_x_zm_rhtaid=195#/registration

SMRT Bus update: Thanks to Vernon County advocates and the 800+ petition signers, Vernon County added SMRT funding back into its 2026 budget. There are still gaps, though and we hope to hear what the next steps will be soon. We know a La Crosse County board supervisor recommended a steering committee be set up and several Vernon County board supervisors said they would like to be more represented in decision-making going forward. If we hear of opportunities for SMRT riders to provide input and suggestions, we will let you know. If you hear of something, please let us know.

The MTU December board meeting is canceled. There will be one in February.

On November 5, State Senator Kelda Roys and State Representative Mike Bare introduced legislation that would resurrect Retional Transit Authorities in our state. Their bill would allow for an RTA for each state Metropolitan Planning Organization. This would allow local units of government to operate and fund regional public transit. RTAs were in Governor Evers' 25-27 budget that was scrapped by the legislature. A copy of the bill can be found at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZKgsVVm-LV9yDpk95OBxrXeZCw9fKnNH/view?usp=sharing Please contact Sen. Brad Pfaff and your State Representative and ask them to co-sponsor this bill. Find contact info here: https://legis.wisconsin.gov/about/contact

While you're at it, please ask them to join the new Passenger Rail Caucus, too. Read more about that here: https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/09/15/legislatures-new-passenger-rail-caucus-wants-to-see-train-service-open-the-throttle/

On Thursday, December 11 at 8:30 p.m., the Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) HolidayTrain will be at the La Crosse Amtrak Station to put on  a live concert and raise money for local food banks. A cargo car is turned into a stage (performers include American Authors and Pynk Beard) and the event is free with guests encouraged to bring non-perishable food and/or cash donations. 

Have a happy holiday season and sate travels!

LATA

SMRT Ride - December 3

­Connect with transit advocates in Vernon County on Wednesday, December 3 by riding the Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit (SMRT) bus from La Crosse to Viroqua!

Leave from La Crosse between about 9:14 and 9:45 (see schedule below) and arrive in Viroqua at about 11. We'll eat lunch and chat with Viroqua area transit advocate friends, then come right back or stay and come back later - there are several options. See the Blue and Yellow route schedules. Space is limited. Cost is $5 cash each way (paid to the driver – no change!)

The lunch cost is $5 for chicken thighs, red potatoes, creamed corn, peach cobbler. OR you can bring your own lunch. (If you want to order lunch, you MUST RSVP by 11/30 evening!)

Pick up the SMRT at

• 9:48 a.m. - UWL (State Street by the blue mail box in front of Graff Main Hall)
• 9:54 - WTC (MTU shelter on the east side of 7th Street near Student Success Center)
• 9:58 - 5th & King (in front of La Crosse Polytechnic School by the MTU stop)
• 10:03 – Mayo (1th St. MTU shelter between the St. Francis Building and Skemp Building)
• 10:08 – Emplify (outside the entrance of the East Building)
• 10:18 – Aldi South (MTU stop near the Mayo Clinic Store at the south end of Shelby Mall)

Please RSVP by November 30 at https://tinyurl.com/ridesmrt120325