Save the SMRT

At the September 8 La Crosse County Board planning meeting, the County Administrator recommended ending the four-county Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit service at the end of 2025 citing low ridership and a budget deficit.

This page will have links, info, and updates about the potential ending of SMRT service and how transit advocates can encourage decision-makers to keep it.

See below for all public input opportunities, but November 6 is the most important! Speaking time will probably be limited to two or three minutes, so consider writing out the top two or three points that illustrate why the SMRT is important to you.

IF YOU CAN, PLEASE COME TO AND SPEAK AT THE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6 SMRT PUBLIC HEARING
AT 4:30 p.m. at the County Administration Building,
7th & State Street, La Crosse
AND
MONDAY NOVEMBER 10
Budget Hearing at 5 p.m.
(full board will be there) 

Can you set up a meeting or phone call with your county board representative in October? It would be helpful to have SMRT advocates talk directly, in person or on the phone, with as many county board members as possible before November. Your personal SMRT story will have an impact. If you would like help setting up a meeting with your rep., please contact us. If you get a meeting, write out your testimony so you can leave a copy with your representative and please email to let us know so we can keep track of which board members still need a meeting.

If you can't meet with your rep. in person or by phone, consider making a short video, telling why you support the SMRT and what it would mean to you if the SMRT ended. You can use a smartphone or laptop. It doesn't have to be fancy or long. Make a test recording to ensure lighting, focus, and sound are working properly. You might have a friend help. We may be able to help with this, too.

We can create a collection of video SMRT stories to share with all board members. If you are interested contact us.

Information about SMRT

A general rider survey of 41 people was done in April 2025 but it doesn't look like there were any questions about whether riders had alternative means of transportation or mentioned that ending the SMRT was being considered.

You can listen to the audio of the September 8 County Board planning meeting where the plan to stop the SMRT at the end of 2025 was presented (starts at 31:09). The minutes of the meeting are here; they include a summary of some of the numbers mentioned in the audio. The presentation slides are here. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vEkG_8xSI7dHoNZ_bD66BhyGuDjqRX26/view?usp=sharing

If you'd like to help edit a "talking points" doc, please email Lacrossetransitadvocates@proton.me for access. We would like to get this together fairly quickly.

Please download, print, and post this flyer wherever other SMRT riders and advocates might see it! There are two per page - cut in half at the middle. 

If you haven't yet, please sign the petition at https://tinyurl.com/savethesmrt

Download one to print and circulate at https://tinyurl.com/SaveTheSMRT-PrintThePetition

In addition to signing the petition, 

 
PUBLIC INPUT ALLOWED AT THESE MEETINGS
Input must be in person
County Admin. Building, 7th & State,
Rm. 1107.
Watch (only) the meetings online with
The public notice of the November 6 meeting was in the October 7 pay-per-view La Crosse Tribune. Here is a screenshot. There is no information about what to do if you require an accommodation to participate. Contact us if you do. Speakers must be in person. Rides may be available from LATA. Contact us for more info.

November 6 is the most important meeting. Please plan to attend if you can. If you plan to speak please keep your comments to 2 to 3 minutes. "The committee reserves the right to limit the time that the public may comment." 

A few more tips.
  • Be polite and not confrontational
  • Write out or outline your comment in advance
  • Practice your comment for time & content check
  • Tell your personal story - how will ending SMRT affect you (and/or your family, community, clients, etc.). Use facts to support your claims if needed.
  • End with your ask - fund the SMRT and let's  work together to find ways to make it more viable.

Anyone wishing to help put a talking points document together can email our group or call 608-315-2693.

*See A Guide to Successfully Contacting Your Elected Officials [2025], especially the part about Crafting Your Message: The Art of Persuasion

1. Always identify as a constituent
2. Be specific with a clear "ask"
3. Tell your story; make policy personal
4. Be informed, factual, and brief
5. Be polite and respectful 
6. Respect the staff
7. Follow up


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