Last call! Call or email by Thursday!

The La Crosse County Board will meet on Thursday, July 16 at 6:00 p.m. to vote on the resolution introduced earlier this month to end the SMRT at the end of December 2026. There is no public comment allowed at this meeting, so the best we can do is email and/or call/talk to County Board Supervisors. This address reaches all county board supervisors: countyboardsupervisors@lacrossecounty.org. Please be respectful.

We don't expect the resolution to fail. But, the year is not over yet, and the commitment many of us heard when they re-funded the service for 2026 is unfulfilled. If they vote to end the SMRT, what will be next? We must insist that it's not nothing. The same issues people wrote, called, and testified about last year are still valid. People still need to get to work or school. Patients still need to get to treatment. Folks still need to get to the train or the mall or the bus to Minneapolis. 

It is especially important for SMRT riders/advocates who live in La Crosse county to feed back. Your story is most important. If you want some other talking points, 

• We though the 2026 funding was meant to buy time to research more viable options. What research was done?
• No public involvement was invited. No outreach or input sessions were held. SMRT riders have not been kept up to date.
• Per the La Crosse Tribune article of July 10 (unfortunately behind a paywall), the County estimates that the entire cost of the SMRT as it is now for 2027 would be $280,000. If La Crosse County were to pay the entire amount, that would work out to less than $2.30 per county resident FOR THE YEAR (less than 5 cents PER WEEK). If that amount were split evenly among all the residents of the four counties the SMRT currently serves, it would cost each person $1.30 FOR THE YEAR.
• The county's budget for paving roads in 2026 is $14 million for 11 miles of road (more than $115 per resident per year).
• At the end of 2025, the county had $24.8 milion in its general fund (reserve).
• Thirty to forty percent of county residents are non-drivers per the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (that's about 36,000 to 48,000 people).
• The SMRT is the only public transit that stops at the Amtrak (demand-response on Yellow #2).

It is also important for those who live outside the county to weigh in. Your counties have already said no to funding, but we don't know what options they had, what other models were considered, or how much input they had in the process.

This board is mainly focused on La Crosse County, so whatever you can do to highlight how your ride benefits the county might have impact. Many come for work, school, shopping, medical appointments, social or recreational activities. It's too bad you have to justify your transportation needs by demonstrating how it benefits someone else, but that's where we are!

The recently published La Crosse Area Regional Transit Authority Feasibility Study (Executive Summary here) noted that for every $1 invested in regional public transit in our area, we can expect at $4 to $5 return in economic activity. There are also some other quotable quotes you might want to include.

No matter what happens on Thursday, we need to keep up advocacy for something. Non-drivers need a connected, accessible transportation system. Fewer cars means less air and particle pollution and lower greenhouse gas emissions. More people on buses means fewer traffic deaths and injuries. 

We will try to focus on what that or those programs might be in the coming months.

Summer Ride on the Bus

The City of La Crosse collaborated with the MTU for a free ride on Tuesday for students. We were told that it was a Scavenger Hunt. Students from across the La Crosse area were able to ride on the bus from wherever they started to the Transit Center. La Crosse Transit Advocates were there to give them information about riding the bus, and nylon backpacks which the kids really liked. 

Here’s the story from WIProud – City of La Crosse collaborating for youth summer ride.

Rozie Brooks, LATA Member

SMRT RED ALERT

 

 

The La Crosse County Board had a brief presentation about the SMRT bus outlook for 2026 and beyond at 6 p.m. on Monday evening, July 6. We were notified about this agenda item by a county board member at about 5:50 p.m. on Monday, July 6. The online TEAMS broadcast of the meeting did not include sound nor closed captioning, at least for most of the meeting, but the PowerPoint presentation is here. There may soon be  recording of the meeting but it's not available yet. The presentation does not provide much new information from the 2025 presentation.

On the agenda for the La Crosse County Executive Board meeting for Wednesday, July 8 at 8:00 a.m., is a resolution to discontinue the SMRT on December 31, 2026. If you are able to attend this meeting, arrive by 7:45 a.m. to speak or by 8 a.m. to show support, please do. There is a limited time available to speak. The meeting is at the County Administration Building, 7th and State Street. If you are able to email county board members about this again, please do. This email address will email ALL County Board Supervisors: countyboardsupervisors@lacrossecounty.org

 

This resolution will, we think, be discussed and voted on at the July 16 at 6 p.m. County Board meeting. You are encouraged to attend UPDATE - NO PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE ALLOWED AT THIS MEETING. This meeting will be at the County Administration Building, 7th & State Street. The agenda is not yet published, but we will post it at our website when it is.

Please help spread the word and encourage people to again speak up about this issue, now is the time.

As far as we are aware, there have been zero public information or input sessions since the same decision was made in 2025. We have been asking since December for updates and information about opportunities for public involvement and input. In March, we received a very minimal list of steps being taken which actually left out some important items.

Ironically, as this execution is being planned, state transit advocates are organizing to help lawmakers craft Regional Transit Authority (RTA) enabling legislation that would provide avenues for funding and organizing administration of these important connections to jobs, education, healthcare, social activities, and other transportation, especially Amtrak, around the state.

There are two meetings this month that will discuss the RTA legislation.

On Thursday, July 9 at 3:30 p.m., this month's meeting of the La Crosse Area Planning Committee' advisory Committee on Transit and Active Transportation will include discussion of the RTA input session for our area. There is no agenda item specifically about the SMRT situation, but this will probably be brought up. You may attend the CTAT meeting in person (in the County Administration Building, 7th and State) or online. Find agenda and online access info here https://lacrossecounty.org/metropolitan-planning-organization/committees/committee-on-transit-and-active-transportation along with a recently completed RTA study report (executive summary here) that noted, "Comparing these benefits to the level of investment required to provide transit service under each scenario, benefit-cost ratios range from approximately 4 to 5, indicating that each scenario produces several dollars of estimated benefit for every dollar of investment."

On Tuesday, July 14 From 2 to 4 p.m., the Coalition for more Responsible Transportation will host an online session to look at how we can promote and support RTA legislation in 2027. If you are a member of the Sierra Club, 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, LATA, or other CMRT member organizations, you are invited to participate. Register here for the link to join: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TIli0dO0RYicYEjYBlQa5Q The CMRT Steering Committee has also prepared a survey that all coalition members are encouraged to complete. Survey responses submitted ahead of the meeting will help shape the discussion: https://forms.gle/pNWKNMWdPbL44bA28

If you would like to learn or discuss more about the state RTA effort, plan to attend one or both of these meetings. Otherwise, please at least try to do one or more of the following:

• spread the word about this development
• call, email, or visit with YOUR local and county electeds about this issue (for talking points, read the executive summary of the LAPC RTA study linked above)
• call, email, or visit with LA CROSSE COUNTY supervisors (see link to email all above)
• attend the July 8 8 a.m. La Crosse County Board Executive Committee meeting at the County Administration Building, 7th and State Street, La Crosse
• attend the July 16 6 p.m. La Crosse County Board meeting at the County Administration Building, 7th and State Street, La Crosse  [NO PUBLIC COMMENT ALLOWED AT THIS MEETING]

 

Please encourage others to speak up, too. This is not just about SMRT commuters or the thousands of non-drivers in our region. This is about reducing air and water pollution, making transportation more equitable and safer for all, regional economic development, and reducing transportation-related, greenhouse gas-causing emissions. 

July updates

First – from the La Crosse Area Planning Committee. “LAPC is updating the Regional Transit Development Plan and needs input from residents and visitors! This survey will take less than 5 minutes and will greatly help LAPC make recommendations that best represent how our community uses transit. Whether or not you ride transit, it provides an essential service to those that need it and is a great alternative to driving, walking, or biking. The Regional Transit Development Plan is a 5–10 year plan meant to track and recommend improvements to local transit services. Hearing from the public is an important part of making sure future investments in transit make the system work better. To complete an online survey, use the link below or to request hard copy of the survey, call Travis Key, LAPC Associate Transportation Planner, at 608-789-8548. Thank you!” https://forms.office.com/g/nz0YfwS0up 

[NOTE: YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A COUNTY RESIDENT TO COMPLETE THIS SURVEY. Especially if you use the SMRT, it's important for you to fill this survey out!]

On July 7, the MTU and School District are hosting a “Great Race” style scavenger hunt for local youth, ages 11-17, from noon to 4 p.m. Youth fares will be FREE on this day whether or not people are participating in the event. A flyer for the event is attached. Can you help LATA staff the Transit Center scavenger hunt stop any time between noon and 4 p.m. on July 7? If you can help, please email us!

On Thursday, July 9 at 3:30 p.m. the Advisory Committee on Transit and Active Transportation (CTAT) of the La Crosse Area Planning Committee (LAPC) is scheduled to meet online and in person. The agenda has not been published yet but will be available at https://www.lacrossecounty.org/metropolitan-planning-organization/committees/committee-on-transit-and-active-transportation

On Tuesday, July 14 from 2 to 4 p.m., the Coalition for More Responsible Transportation (CMRT) is planning an online program for all members  (LATA members are members of Wisconsin Transit Riders Alliance which is a member of CMRT, so you are invited!) As discussions around Regional Transit Authorities and transit policy continue, we want to bring the coalition together for a candid conversation to better understand members' collective priorities and begin developing a strong, unified advocacy agenda moving forward. We'll aim to conclude the planned program by 3:30, leaving room for continued discussion until 4. Register here for the link to join: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TIli0dO0RYicYEjYBlQa5Q The CMRT Steering Committee has also prepared a survey that all coalition members are encouraged to complete. Survey responses submitted ahead of the meeting will help shape the discussion: https://forms.gle/pNWKNMWdPbL44bA28

Did you know our region once had regional rail lines that connected our small communities with daily service? Arlyn Colby writes books about these services and he is coming to our area. Last year, he published The Coon Valley Line and he has just finished a book about The Viroqua Line. We are working to finalize an author talk on Friday afternoon, July 17 in La Crosse. Once details are finalized, information will be posted at our website.

On July 28 at 10 a.m., the topic of Gil Penalosa's Cities for Everyone Webinar will be Imagining a Life After Cars with Doug Gorden and Sarah Goodyear, hosts of The War on Cars podcast. Learn more about this and other programs, past and future, and register at https://gpenalosa.ca/webinar/

On July 29, there will be a Week Without Driving webinar at 1 p.m. online. The topic is: Week Without Driving – A Global Movement for Transportation Access. You can learn more about this and past and future events at https://weekwithoutdriving.org/organize/

LATA is working on scheduling a Transit Talk & Treats event in mid-August at Peoples Food Co-op. Stay tuned for details.

We will table at postsecondary back-to-school events this fall between September 3 and 9. Shifts are 1.5 hours and you will talk with college students about our transit systems and how to use and support them. If you can help out, please sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/LATAtabling2026.

We are still seeking co-sponsors for this year's Week Without Driving (Oct. 1-8). If you, your workplace, faith group, business, or organization would like to help promote this important event to highlight the need for better transportation choices to ensure access to life for everyone, please fill out this form. Here's a sample email you can send to your school, workplace, club, faith group, or favorite store!

I'm emailing to invite you to co-sponsor this year's Week Without Driving, October 1-8, a national event that highlights the need to ensure we have affordable, accessible transportation options so everyone, including non-drivers, can get where they need to go. In La Crosse, we will have a week of programs and activities to help people learn about local transportation challenges and options. Co-sponsors will have their names on event literature, will help promote the event, and will encourage their contacts to participate. If they want to, co-sponsors may donate a prize for Week Without Driving Bingo and/or schedule a program during the week. To see what we did last year, visit https://tinyurl.com/wwdlacrosse. To sign up as a co-sponsor, visit https://tinyurl.com/wwdlaxcosponsor. If you need more information before deciding, please ask me or call 608-315-2693 or email LaCrosseTransitAdvocates@proton.me.

WisARP Happy Hour

The monthly Wisconsin Association of Rail Passrngers Wisconsin Association of Rail Passengers Social Hour will be Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at 7 p.m. CT

This event is only online:  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88139547851?pwd=PAmPiVyU3PirygbjxgWQNZ8Ocazjr8.1

This monthly virtual get-together is a convenient way to meet your fellow WisARP members.
A great place to bring your questions about how to make passenger rail happen!
A great place to discuss the latest news.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Ian Weisser
Your friendly WisARP VP of Internet Communication
ianw.wisarp@gmail.com

City-wide Youth MTU Scavenger Hunt

 

Join the City of La Crosse MTU, youth agencies, and local organizations for a City-Wide Summer Ride event. Youth organizations are challenged to visit various locations around the city of La Crosse  while naviagating the MTU. Groups will end at a  local ice cream shop to celebrate!

Bus fare is FREE for all youth this day, regardless of participation.

 TUESDAY,  JULY 7

NOON to 4:00 PM

This  event  is  for  youth  ages 11+  participating  with a community organization.  To sign up, please  email Andy Kiel at akiel@lacrossesd.org by June 29.

Contact our reps!

From the National Campaign for Transit Justice:

Despite all of your great work over the last few years getting members of Congress to support transit, and specifically federal support for transit operations, the Build America 250 Act advanced through the House T&I Committee. It had less funding for transit than IIJA did, no support for transit operations, and continues to treat transit as an afterthought to highways. But without pushback, it’s at risk of passing through the House, letting the Senate potentially lock in these horrible details just months before a much more pro-transit Congress comes to D.C. We must do everything we can to keep this bill from advancing.

Right now, that means keeping the bill from reaching the House floor. If the bill reaches the House floor, it becomes a lot more difficult to flex our collective muscle and show that transit is essential. There is already frustration within both the Democratic caucus about the quality of the bill that passed T&I, including committee members regretting their votes, and the Republican party. We need to add to this storm. 

Please use this template email and the information sheet above to reach out to your House representative(s) and ask them to tell House Democratic Leadership — Representative Hakeem Jeffries, Representative Katherine Clark, Representative Pete Aguilar, Representative Ted Lieu, and Representative Joe Neguse — that they don’t want this bill to come to the floor. Those of us based in D.C. will also be walking the halls of congress to spread the message and share the one-pager, but it will be much more effective the more emails that all of you send in. 

SMRT Ride Update

The schedule for the SMRT ride from La Crosse to Viroqua on June 10 has changed slightly.

The optional video, Transportation Liberation, hosted by Vernon County Over 50, will be shown at 2:15 p.m. at McIntosh Memorial Library rather than at noon. If you choose to attend the video presentation, the return trip to La Crosse will be on the last, bus for the day (leaves Kwik Trip South at 3:24 p.m.). See schedules for YELLOW and BLUE routes at https://ridesmrt.com

Lunch with Vernon County Over 60 at 12:15 at the Bethel Home Fellowship Hall, 614 S. Rock Ave., is still available IF you register by TODAY, June 5 at https://tinyurl.com/SMRT-TransLib-June10. The menu is Country Fried Steak, Potato, Gravy, Green Beans, and Blueberry Crisp, and the cost is $5 paid to VCO50 on site.

Please email or call with questions.

Detours

From MTU:

Notice to all Route #4 Passengers:

At the beginning of service on Friday June 05 to the end of service on Saturday June 06 we will be using the following detour due to the State Track Meet being held on the UWL Campus.

Route 4 Losey Blvd will use West Ave to Main St and Main St to 19th St to resume the route. Route #4 Downtown will use Main St to 13th St and 13th St to Badger St to resume the route.

If you have any questions, please ask your driver, or contact MTU at 608.789.7350

The state track meet detour is going to be used for construction projects on campus beginning on Monday. We are going to use this detour for most of the summer. Details coming soon.

Route #5 & #8 Riders:

Starting Monday 6/8/26, Gillette Street from Ranger Drive to Hwy 16 will be closed to vehicle traffic. 

Route 5 

All the stops north of St. Cloud Street on George Street will be closed. Any stops east of George Street on Gilette will be closed to the route 5 and route 8. The stops on Hwy 16 and along the Frontage Road will be closed during this detour also.

Route 8 

All the stops from Clinton and Caledonia to River Valley Drive, in both directions, will be closed.

June Updates

 COMING EVENTS

On June 10, LATA will host a SMRT ride from La Crosse to Viroqua. We'll leave La Crosse mid-morning and arrive in Viroqua at about 11 a.m. Lunch and return trip are on your own. Vernon County Over 50 will host filmmakers (and LATA leaders) Obbie King and Rozie Brooks at noon who will show and talk about their video, Transportation Liberation. Everyone is welcome to this free event. Bring your own lunch or get a catered lunch ($5 on site). RSVP (by June 5 if you want a VCO50-catered lunch) at https://tinyurl.com/SMRT-TransLib-June10.

On June 2, the Wisconsin Chapter Sierra Club will discuss Paved Paradise – How Parking Explains the World, a book about the high cost of car dependency, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. online. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/WISC-PavedBook

On June 4, the Wisconsin Transit Riders Alliance will host an at-large meeting online at 6:30 p.m. Please email for a link to join.

The MTU Board will meet in person and online on June 16 at 4 p.m. The May meeting was postponed due to a schedule conflict. When it's available, the agenda and link to join will be posted at their legistar page: https://tinyurl.com/MTUBoard. The MTU ADA Advisory Committee meeting from May was canceled due to schedule conflicts.

On June 25, the High Speed Rail Alliance will host Thinking Big About Wisconsin Passenger Rail - A Conference Advancing a Generational Opportunity for Economic Growth from 1:30 to 4:30 at the Oriental Theater in Milwaukee. “This is the launch of a statewide effort to develop strong intercity rail connections throughout Wisconsin. Attendees will be equipped with actionable steps and a community of stakeholders to set these projects up for success.” Learn more and register here: https://www.hsrail.org/events/thinking-big-about-wisconsin-passenger-rail/

LATA Leaders will meet on June 30 at 6:30 p.m. rather than June 16 to accommodate vacation schedules. Please email for the link to join.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

We are looking for volunteers for an MTU event for La Crosse School District students on Wednesday, July 8. We don't have all the details yet, but if you might be available to help, please email us at LaCrosseTransitAdvocates@proton.me.

RECENT EVENTS

On May 14, LATA members Alex McDonough, Obbie King, Rozie Brooks, and Cathy Van Maren met and rode the bus with about 60 Logan Middle School students and teachers. With their North side Library closing, the students visited the Main Street Library to get familiar with resources there and took a ride on the circulator to get more comfortable riding the bus. We shared our own bus experiences and some information about the costs of taking the bus versus the cost of owning and driving a car. The MTU provided students with free passes for their next trip.

On May 21, Hintgen School students rode the MTU for a field trip to Trane Park. LATA Leader Liz Fryseth has been doing outreach to public schools to encourage them to use the bus more. Liz and Cathy Van Maren talked with the Hintgen class earlier in the year and Cathy was able to ride with the group during their May field trip. LATA paid the field trip bus fares for the group and the MTU provided free passes for students' next MTU trips.

Also on May 21, several LATA members had lunch with Nick DeMarsh of Forward Together Wisconsin who is a Milwaukee and Madison area bus and rail advocate to talk about public transit advocacy and opportunities for expanding transit as part of rail expansion.

ADVOCACY

We still have not heard anything about what might replace the SMRT bus next year or about any opportunities for public input. Our post-SMRT group hasn't been able to meet since April. We hope to come together in June to look at how we can advocate for something other than nothing. Transit champion Barbara Cline, who single-handedly built a public transit system in her rural South Dakota community, spoke during a recent call with the National Campaign for Transit Justice. Her story might provide an example.

You might run into a county board member or state elected official at a community event this month. Please bring up the importance of the SMRT to them and ask them what they are doing to ensure we don't lose our regional public transit. Let them know how important this is for students, workers, elders, and others who may not be able to drive or be able to afford to drive.

Does anyone want to build some simple bus stop benches? In the past few weeks, How inviting is it to see people sitting on street curbs or in the grass waiting for a bus. We have examples and plans from activists in many other communities. Interested? Contact us.

We are still seeking co-sponsors for Week Without Driving, October 1-8. Co-sponsors help spread the word and encourage their contacts to participate. If they wish, they can donate a WWD Bingo prize and/or host a WWD event or activity. Please ask your fav business, your faith group, your neighborhood association, workplace, school, or club to fill out the co-sponsor form at https://tinyurl.com/wwdlax-cosponsor.

The LAPC has released its RTA study. LATA hopes to host an information and discussion session some time during the next few months. Their announcement and more information is shown below.

The Coalition for More Responsible Transportation is working on an initiative to gather input and ideas from transit agencies, governmental bodies, and transit advocates in preparation for another round of advocacy for Regional Transit Authority enabling legislation that we can all enthusiastically support. A survey should be out in July or August along with guidance for advocates. Dave Steele of MobiliSE in Milwaukee talked about RTAs at the May 26 Great Waters Group Wisconsin Sierra Club action hour. We hope to find a link to the program soon!

+++ 

LAPC Announces RTA Feasibility Study

We're happy to finally share with everyone the finished products of the RTA Feasibility Study that was started late last year with our consultant SRF. All three technical memos and the executive summary can be found on our Modal Planning page of our website. Additionally, we'll be developing a one-pager document to capture the brief highlights and purpose of this study, which will be available by the end of this month.

Next steps for this effort are to continue engaging the community and elected officials about this study and advocating for enabling Regional Transit Authority legislation in Wisconsin. We're thankful for all the interest and support we've received throughout the study and are excited to continue supporting regional transit.

Please reach out if you'd like to discuss further or schedule a meeting with your respective organization.

Travis Key (He/Him)

Associate Transportation Planner

La Crosse Area Planning Committee, MPO

(608)-789-8548

tkey@lacrossecounty.org

Detours & Missed Opportunities

= NO BUS SERVICE ON MEMORIAL DAY, MAY 25. =

AND ...

The MTU #4 will detour AWAY from the UWL campus during the first weekend in Jjnd because of the state track meet. 

"At the beginning of service on Friday June 05 to the end of service on Saturday June 06 we will be using the following detour due to the State Track Meet being held on the UWL Campus.

"Route 4 Losey Blvd will use West Ave to Main St and Main St to 19th St to resume the route. Route #4 Downtown will use Main St to 13th St and 13th St to Badger St to resume the route."

What if we had a transit-forward mindset and saw public transit as a way to help move visitors and reduce congestion? What if promotion and information for participants and viewers included advice and encouragement to use the bus as a great way to access this event without clogging the streets?

We have many models now from the Olympics to state fairs to other sports events.

Why don't the city, UWL, and MTU get together to provide event passes that include weekend transit passes? When will we break free from car-centrism?

MTU Board Meeting rescheduled

The MTU Board Meeting planned for May has been rescheduled to Tuesday, June 16 at 4 p.m. Check the legistar page for agenda and details.

https://tinyurl.com/laxmtuboard

May Updates

The City of La Crosse Bike-Ped Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, May 12 at 8:30 a.m. in person and online. While much of the committee's work revolves around bikes, it also addresses pedestrian and general active transportation issues. When available, the agenda and link to join will be here: https://tinyurl.com/laxbpacommittee (choose date: this month).

The MTU Board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 12 has been postponed. Check their legistar page for updates: https://tinyurl.com/laxmtuboard (choose date: 2026).

The MTU ADA Advisory Committee meets that same day at 5:30 p.m. in person and online. For agenda and online access information, please email KoterwskiT@cityoflacrosse.org.

The LAPC Committee on Transit and Active Transportation (CTAT) is scheduled to meet on Thursday, May 14 at 3:30 p.m. in person and online. Learn more here: https://tinyurl.com/lapc-ctat

Wisconsin Transit Riders Alliance at-large committee (anyone who wants to talk about transit) will meet on May 14 at 6:30 p.m. Email LaCrosseTransitAdvocates@proton.me for access information. 

The post-SMRT group will meet on Friday, May 15 at 5:30 p.m. online. This is a grassroots group interested in finding something or things for regional transportation in 2027 and beyond. If you are interested in joining the conversation, please email or call us for the link to join.

LATA Leaders will meet on Tuesday, May 19 at 6:30 p.m. online. We will discuss SMRT and MTU issues, RTA legislation support, upcoming LATA and related events, and Week Without Driving planning. Please email or call us for the link to join.

The Assembly companion bill to RTA legislation introduced by Sen. Kelda Roys before the legislature ended its session is now out with Representatives Jill Billings and Tara Johnson as co-sponsors. It appears some issues have been fixed but others may still need attention. The new version is here: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/ab1178   Please thank Reps. Billings and Johnsons for being transit champions. LATA might try setting up a meeting with Sen. Pfaff about supporting regional transit. Stay tuned. 

LATA has made a new connection with the group National Campaign for Transit Justice. This group hosts a biweekly call for Rural and Small Town Transit discussions; An April 20 NCTJ call with Sarah Kline, the principal at SK Solutions, LLC, highlighted insights from a new study on “Improving Mobility in Rural and Tribal Communities.” The content was pertinent to us but we don't yet have a link to that call.

LATA members (Rozie B., Obbie K., and Cathy VM) tabled at UWL's Earthapalooza on April 22. We also provided some info for those visiting the MTU bus at the La Crosse Earth Fair on April 26. In May, we'll meet with some local students to help them learn to ride the bus.

On Wednesday, June 10, LATA will host a special Transportation Liberation ride on the SMRT from La Crosse to Viroqua. We'll meet up at about noon for lunch with Vernon County Over 50 and watch a video about living car-free by La Crosse transit advocates Obbie King and Rozie Brooks. RSVP here if you want to participate: https://tinyurl.com/SMRT-TransLib-June10. Bring your own lunch or register by June 6 for lunch provided by VCO50 (meat, veg, starch, bread). The bus arrives in Viroqua around 11 a.m. and you can decide when to return (several options).

 

SMRT - what next?

 

We have asked but haven't yet heard what La Crosse County plans to do to look at replacing the SMRT with other transportation options. Based on reporting from the Vernon Reporter, we know that the current system will not be funded beyond this year.

A grassroots group has formed to look at options. Building on the work of a 2023 group - Coulee Region Rides and Transit - the new After-SMRT group is looking at how to organize for some kind of transit that will serve all who need it going forward. There are other models out there. How can we find one that works here.

While some people--those with disabilities and seniors--have access to (limited) transportation options, even those are being cut back and may be expensive or difficult to use. We know that transportation is the spine of our society. If people can't get to work or school, if patients can't get to care, if seniors can't get to visits with friends and family, our whole community suffers. That transportation isn't prioritized among our elected leaders and decision-makers is, at least in part, a result of nearly 100 years of automobile and fossil fuel industry marketing.

But economics, health and safety, and climate action demand change.

Monday at noon, Sarah Kline will talk about a new report "Improving Mobility in Rural and Tribal Communities."  that will highlight that there are more ways to run rural transit than we might think, more ways to fund it and more potential partners. Sara is Principal at SK Solutions LLC, former Counsel to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and former Director of Policy and Government Relations at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Here is the Zoom link. 

The next After-SMRT group meeting is tentatively scheduled for Friday, May 1 at 5:30 p.m. We will continue planning how to connect with those who can help find a way forward. If you are interested in participating, especially if you are a PdC or Tomah SMRT route user or connected with the Amish community, please contact us for join info. The meeting will be on Zoom. 

April updates

La Crosse Area Transit Advocates leader meeting will be on Tuesday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. We will discuss upcoming LATA events, next steps on post-SMRT plans, Week Without Driving. If you are interested in joining us, please  email for access information.

A group of us are meeting on April 17 to look at how to advocate for something to replace the SMRT in 2027 and beyond. We are considering some kind of public program early this summer. If you would like to join the conversation, please email for more details.

We are inviting former and potential new co-sponsors of Week Without Driving to sign up for this year's event, October 1 – 8. Co-sponsors will have their name/logo on event flyers, encourage their contacts/employees to participate, and help spread the word about WWD events. If they wish, co-sponsors can also be a drop off point for WWD bingo cards, donate a prize for WWD bingo, and/or host or present a program, activity, or event during the week. In addition, they are welcome to join in on planning. If interested, please fill out this form: https://tinyurl.com/wwdlaxcosponsor. Please also share this information with other faith groups, clubs, organizations, agencies, and businesses that might be interested!

If you missed the program, Advocating for Seamless Intercity Public Transportation in Wisconsin, which was part of the March 14 Wisconsin Transit Riders Alliance annual spring meeting, you can watch online at https://youtu.be/LCAZP9OyIwM?si=3FslP1_pg4NSAs4n. Guests included Chris Ott, President, Wisconsin Association of Rail Passengers and Rep. Amaad Rivera-Wagner, a transit proponent serving in our state legislature.

During this program, we learned about the new Passenger Rail caucus in the Wisconsin state legislature and why we should encourage Representatives Tara Johnson, Jill Billings, and Steve Doyle and State Senator Brad Pfaff to join this caucus. For now, individuals are invited to email or visit with them; in future, LATA may put together a group to make a formal request. For more information about this and talking points and other suggestions, visit https://www.hsrail.org/wi-guide/

LATA will table at Earthapalooza at UWL on April 22 from 3 to 7 p.m. (tentative date/time). This is a chance to engage with UWL students and promote public transit as a primo tool for climate action. If you would like to sign up for a shift, please email.

We believe the MTU will be free on Sunday, April 26 with a slight detour in the #4 bus route to drop people at and pick people up from the southeast corner of Myrick Park (Hillview Avenue & La Crosse Street) for THE EARTH FAIR, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Get more Earth Fair information here: https://www.sustaininstitute.com/earthfairlacrosse 

The MTU has bus operator positions available. Read more about it here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacrossewi/jobs/4898211/bus-operator

We expect to host a SMRT ride to Viroqua in early May. Stay tuned for details! 

The SMRT is dead. Long Live the SMRT.

 

Last fall the La Crosse County Board voted to fund the SMRT in 2026 to give time to find a more sustainable regional public transportation system.

So far, it seems little effort has been made to research those options, talk to those who rely on the SMRT, or do anything but demand a huge increase in payments from counties. 

So it was that last Wednesday night, an article in a Viroqua paper reported the Vernon County Board had been told they had to decide right away whether or not to pay a lot more in 2027 to keep the SMRT going. We don't know who decided the amounts, what they would have paid for, if any changes to the current system or any other models were considered, or who had or didn't have a role in making the plan. We had asked to be informed and involved as the process played out, but we were not. We have heard that some La Crosse County Board members didn't even know what was happening.

Of course the Vernon County Board voted to not pay the much higher amount. So, it seems, the SMRT is dead. 

But the commitment made at that La Crosse County Board vote last winter has not yet been met. There still needs to be research and effort made to find a solution. Public transit is essential, especially now that the costs of private driving are rising exponentially and global heating, driven in part by transportation emissions, is accelerating.

We don't know if those responsible are really this unimaginative or disinterested or uninformed about the importance of investing in maintaining a connected network of public transportation infrastructure. But, if the job is to find a more sustainable system, the job is not done. More work is needed.

La Crosse Area Transit Advocates is reaching out to riders, advocates, agencies, and electeds to plan next steps. We can't let this be the end. Ending things here is unacceptable. That's what we need to push for now.

If you would like to join the Zoom planning meeting in April 17 at 6 p.m., please email or text for access information. We are trying to collect more data and would like to host a public forum or town hall in late spring or early summer to bring attention to this ongoing need and illustrate that solutions are possible and must be investigated.

Saturday, 3/28 - WISARP spring meeting

 

On Saturday, March 28, 2026, WisARP will hold its Spring Membership Meeting. We’ll hold this event online, starting at 9:00 AM for a couple of hours.

—> Register Here (Free) <—

Originally, we planned to hold this event in Milwaukee. The upbeat atmosphere and connections we’ve had at recent in-person WisARP events can’t be beat!

The reason that we’ve switched this meeting to online is because nationwide No Kings rallies were announced for the same day we planned on. And the reason that we didn’t just pick another date is that WisARP’s bylaws currently require holding this meeting on the last Saturday in March (we’re working to change this for the future).

We know that some WisARP members want to attend both our membership meeting and a No Kings event because you told us, proactively—thank you. And even for those not interested in No Kings, those events have been big, bringing out tens of thousands of people in cities like Milwaukee. This would probably have caused trouble for everyone traveling to and from the WisARP meeting.

Bipartisan bill to support rural transit

Rounds Introduces Legislation to Support Rural Transit

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced the Investments in Rural Transit Act, legislation that would help rural transit providers improve their services. Rural transit operators provide essential lifeline services to millions of Americans, getting them to work, school, grocery stores, medical appointments and more. Co(sponsors included Minnesota Senator Tina Smith and Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin.

“Whether you are in a big city or a rural part of our state, every Wisconsinite should have access to good public transit. Unfortunately, that is just not the case in too many places and limited transit options are a significant barrier for folks trying to get to work, the store, or the doctor,” said Baldwin. “Our bipartisan legislation will invest in rural communities so workers and families are better connected to what they need.”

Specifically, the Investments in Rural Transit Act would:

• Increase federal share for operating costs. 
• Cut red tape. Rural transit providers are often small and efficient, but federal reporting requirements and other rules add significant administrative burdens to their operations without meaningful benefit. 
• Make procurement easier. 
• Support Tribal transit agencies.

Learn more here: https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-introduces-legislation-to-support-rural-transit

Email or call Senator Baldwin and thank her for supporting rural transit.