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.