First, if you haven't made a plan to vote yet, please do. You can look yourself up at myvote.wi.gov to see if you are registered, where your polling place is, what's on your ballot and more. In most places, you can vote absentee in person at your municipal clerk's office from now until Friday, November 4. Early voting hours in City of La Crosse are shown at the city's Vote Absentee web page. Other voters should contact their clerks. Many find early voting works better for them as they can go when it fits their schedules. The MTU will offer FREE FARES ON Election day, Tuesday, November 8. If you need to, you can register at the polls when you vote. Be sure to check with your clerk to learn what documents you need to bring. This site provides that information: https://bringit.wi.gov/
On Tuesday, November 1, there will be a public presentation about the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago (TCMC) 2nd Amtrak rail line coming soon through La Crosse. The meeting starts at 4:30 and will be held at Moxie's, 1835 Rose Street. Take the #6 to the Rose Court Motel stop, cross Rose Street and head south to Moxie's at the AmericInn. If you can't make the meeting, you can learn about the program at the website linked above. Comments about the project may be submitted with this comment form.
Written comments can be mailed to Thomas Kratt at Wisconsin Department
of Transportation, 3550 Mormon Coulee Road La Crosse, WI 54601.
Coming next year, 1,000 Friends of Wisconsin will host a ten-week Community Transportation Academy in La Crosse. The Community Transportation Academy is designed to help
bridge the gap between community advocates and transportation planning
entities. Over ten weeks, participants will learn about the fundamentals
of transportation planning, hear from guest speakers with local and
national expertise, and have the opportunity to propose a solution to a
local transportation problem. Community members will come away from the
Academy with skills and knowledge to advocate for safe and accessible
transportation networks that work for everyone. The first Community
Transportation Academy will be held in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in
Winter/Spring 2023, taught by Community Programs Director Susan
Gaeddert.
The academy will meet on Wednesdays from 4 to 6 p.m. Some sessions will be in person at UWL and some will be online via Zoom. There will be homework and opportunities for participants to plan and do a project. Learn more and find out how to register at their website.
The MTU has rolled out its GenFare, pay by phone, app. Have you tried it? I still have not been able to use it. It took about a week to set me up with a senior fare structure, but now I am not able to get to a payment screen. If you have had a great experience with it or frustration, please comment or email us at LaCrosseTransitAdvocates@proton.me.
Speaking of frustrations, has anyone else found that too many buses pass stops early? I have missed a couple of important connections because buses were early or late. It's frustrating! We encourage people to use the MTU's feedback form at https://www.cityoflacrosse.org/your-government/departments/municipal-transit-mtu/customer-feedback
We are looking for a few people to help plan Transit Equity Day or week events with the MTU, Ohalaska-Holmen-West Salem Shared Ride, and SMRT bus in early February. Do you have ideas for ways to demonstrate that "transportation is a civil right" or to promote public transit in our community? Would you like to ride the bus with an elected official to talk about how our public transit works well and could be even better? Please comment here or email us at LaCrosseTransitAdvocates@proton.me.
We are still looking for two or three additional members of our leaders team. We meet one time a month, often over zoom, for an hour to talk about events and activities and how we can educate about and advocate for transit. Please email or call (608-315-2693) if you are interested. Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 9 at 5:30 p.m. by Zoom.
If you haven't yet participated in the Forward La Crosse surveys, to help guide the city's update of its comprehensive plan for 2040. Find and take the surveys at their website. https://forwardlacrosse.org/
The City of La Crosse Bike/Ped Advisory Committee
meeting for November has been rescheduled since its normal day, second
Tuesday, is Election Day. This month, the committee will meet on Monday,
November 14 at 8:30 a.m. at City Hall (no online option this month).
Transit advocates are encouraged to attend these meetings to help voice
support for better bicycle and pedestrian (and transit) in our
community. Normally, the committee meets on the second Tuesday at 8:30
a.m. Learn more at their legistar page.
