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.