Save the SMRT UPDATED

It's a MIRACLE! La Crosse County Board Supervisor Mader's resolution, to fund the SMRT for another year, PASSED!!

THANKS to everyone who signed and circulated petitions, emailed or called supervisors, put up flyers, talked to friends, and testified at public meetings! 

NOW WE MUST ENSURE OTHER PARTNERS COMMIT TO THEIR FUNDING!
 
VERNON COUNTY RESIDENTS &THOSE WHO USE THE SMRT TO GET TO VERNON COUNTY 
  
1. Email the board. Board@vernoncountywi.gov illustrating your support of the SMRT bus. Even if you have already emailed, email again, especially if you can't do the next step:
 
2. Attend and speak at the public hearing regarding the Vernon County budget at 9 a.m. on Thursday, November 20 in the County Board Room of the Courthouse Annex. Arrive a little early. We don't know what speaking time limit will be. Aim for two minutes. There will be a county board meeting after the public hearing where an amendment to restore SMRT funding will be introduced.
 
We do know that La Crosse County Board members were very moved by the emailed and in-person testimony they heard from SMRT bus users. Every story makes a difference!! If you need help crafting your message, please email us at LaCrosseTransitAdvocates@proton.me. 
 
### 

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.

Since December 2012, this rural public transit system has been available to serve not only tens of thousands of non-drivers, including seniors, youth, people with disabilities, those who can't afford to own a car, and members of the Amish communitiy, but also many others who prefer the SMRT because it is safer, more social, and less expensive than driving - students, workers, patients, people going to visit friends and family, shoppers, and those connecting with Amtrak.

We believe the proposal to end the SMRT has been made without enough concern for these riders and the far-reaching benefits of the service and without enough research into how the system could be improved to address the issues outlined. We strongly urge the County Boards and other partners to fund the SMRT in 2026. 

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


 
=
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.

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.

*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

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)