TWO DISCONTINUATION HEARINGS NEXT WEEK!

Two area public transportation systems are on the chopping block.

From Abby Vans: Abby Vans has been made aware of a Public Hearing for the residents of the City of Tomah regarding possible discontinuation of the Tomah Transit service effective January 1, 2027. We are sharing this information in case you were not aware. Any interested person, please plan to attend the public hearing on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the City Hall, 819 Superior Avenue, Tomah, Wisconsin.

And, we have learned from a La Crosse County Board member that a public hearing on the discontinuation of the SMRT bus will be held by the La Crosse County Board Executive Committee on Tuesday, September 15 at 4:30 p.m. We have not found the public notice in the La Crosse Tribune, we were told it was published on July 30. 

Here is the notice emailed from the County Planning and Zoning Department:

While testimony at the meeting will likely not change the plan to discontinue the SMRT at the end of this year, it is an opportunity to go on the record about the process and the lack of planning for something to replace this vital service. If you are able to attend, please be polite and keep your comments short (I think the time limit is three minutes but it might be two!)

There is no online option for providing testimony. You can learn more about the County Board Executive Committee, including members' email addresses, here:  https://www.lacrossecounty.org/countyboard/committees/standing-committees-boards-and-commissions/executive-committee

Just as the UN has released a report about the dire climate situation if we do not stop fossil fuel emissions immediately, and as the cost of private car ownership becomes ever more unaffordable, we are losing funding and support for public transportation around the country. Taking every opportunity to remind electeds that public transportation is a vital, essential service is important.

Please spread the word. 

September updates AND ACTION ALERT!

Thanks to those of you who attended our Transit Talk & Treats event. To be honest, attendance was low and we are looking at changing things up for next year. On the bright side, the food was plentiful and great and almost everyone won a door prize. We would like to thank those who provided the prizes, including People's Food Co-op, LATA, The Root Note, Pearl Street Books, Kroner's Hardware, and Markos Apparel.

 

CAN YOU HELP? LATA will table at postsecondary back-to-school events this fall: Viterbo on 9/3 between 12:45 and 2:15 p.m. WTC on 9/8 from noon to 1:30 p.m., and UWL on 9/9 from 10:30 a.m. to noon (the later shift is filled). It's a great chance to highlight the availability of car-free transportation options and connect with students. If you can help out by taking a shift at our table, please sign up at https://tinyurl.com/latatablefall26.

The La Crosse Area Planning Committee's advisory Committee on Transit and Active Transportation is scheduled to meet at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 10 in person and online. The meetings are open to the public. The agenda is not yet published but may include ranking of 2026-2030 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) applications. Details about the meeting along with information about the TAP applications can be found at https://www.lacrossecounty.org/metropolitan-planning-organization/committees/committee-on-transit-and-active-transportation

LATA Leaders will meet on Tuesday, September 15 at 6:30 p.m. online. The agenda will focus mostly on Week Without Driving planning. If you would like to join the discussion, please call or email us for the link to join (or phone number to call in).

ACTION ALERT!! From the Coalition for More Responsible Transportation. "MCDOT director Joe Lamers sent out this email with an attached template letter. This is regarding a critical issue facing federal transit funding. Please engage your Congressional representative before they return from the summer recess. Also, pass this on to others!" Read details and access the email template here.

On September 8 at 10 a.m., the Cities for Everyone webinar series hosted by Canadian planner Gil Penalosa will feature Anna Zivarts, author of When Driving is Not an Option. These webinars are usually super interesting, especially the Q & A following the presentation. Anna is a founder of national Week Without Driving event. Learn more and register here: https://gpenalosa.ca/webinar

Week Without Driving is October 1 through 8 this year. We are now trying to finalize the schedule of events and hope to have info available by mid-September. There are a few things you can do to help.

1. If you are with an organization, business, faith group, or non-profit that supports the effort to increase transportation options in our community, please consider being a co-sponsor. There's no charge – you just agree to help promote the event and encourage your contacts to participate. Sign up here asap: https://tinyurl.com/wwdlax-cosponsor

2. Call or email your city council representative and county board member. Identify yourself as a transit user or advocate to ask them to participate in Week Without Driving by signing up at https://weekwithoutdriving.org/join and/or scheduling a ride on the MTU between October 1-8 at https://tinyurl.com/wwdlacrosse (after September 13).

3. Write a 250 word letter to the editor about why we need more and better transportation options in our community. You can email your letter to letters@lacrossetribune.com.

4. If you are able, participate in and attend WWD events. At the very least, fill out a WWD bingo card (and maybe win a prize!) which will be available soon at https://tinyurl.com/wwdlacrosse.

5. For more ideas, visit https://weekwithoutdriving.org/participate/

MTU Board Meeting

Tuesday, August 18 at 4 p.m., there will be a meeting of the MTU Board in person and online.

The agenda is shown below. Find links to supporting documents on the .pdf agenda page.

Members of the public who wish to zoom in should email Adam Lorentz (lorentza@cityoflacrosse.org) for the link.

Agenda

• 26-0876 Specialized Transportation RFP
• 26-0877 Western Technical College Fall 2026 / Spring 2027 Agreement
• 26-0878 Viterbo University Fall 2026 / Spring, Summer 2027 Agreement
• System Analysis 2027 - Public Input 2026
• Upcoming events and projects

 YOU'RE INVITED!

Thursday, August 20, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

TRANSIT TALK & TREATS

People's Food Co-op

(Second Floor)

315 Fifth Ave. S.

Calling all bus riders, public transit advocates, urbanists, climate activists, non-drivers, and people interested in better, safer, cleaner transportation options in our area. 

Join La Crosse Area Transit Advocates (LATA) for an informal open house meet and greet to talk about our transit experiences and how local and regional public transit can be improved. Get info about regional connections. Learn about LATA and opportunities to get involved in local advocacy. 

Music, refreshments, and DOOR PRIZES (bus passes, gift cards, bus rider essentials). Come when you can, leave when you must.

FREE and open to all.

TAKE THE BUS!

MTU ADA meeting canceled

Tonight's meeting of the MTU ADA Advisory Committee meeting has been canceled due to quorum issues. They will reschedule to September.

Route 5 Detour 8/5-8/14

From MTU:

At the beginning of service on Wednesday, August 05, through Friday, August 14 the intersection of Hwy 16 and Gillette St will be closed for road construction. Route 5 will go through the industrial park to get to the mall and back. 

The bus stops on Hwy 16 will be closed and the bus stop at Office Depot will be demand response during this time.

 If you have any questions, please ask your driver or call MTU at 608-789-7350.

Special Meeting of MTU ADA Advisory Committee

There will be a special meeting of the MTU's ADA Advisory committee on Tuesday, August 11 at 6 p.m. The link to join will be added to this post when available. The meeting is open to the public.

            Call to Order

Roll Call

Approval of Minutes

 

Agenda Items:

Public Input Regarding Transit ADA Issues
MTU Board Update
Updates on Routes and Detours
ADA Complimentary Paratransit Update
Paratransit Coordinator report

Week Without Driving

Discuss Chair and Co-Chair

Talking Transit Mobility Night Dates

Agenda Notice at Least 1 Week before the meeting

MTM Disability Bus Pass Discussion

Removal of Member Due to Non-Attendance

Paratransit RFP 2027-2031

 

Access via zoom:
https://cityoflacrosse-org.zoom.us/j/86319223115?
pwd=VmliZVpWK29qTW01bG5FNG9QeXBNUT09
Meeting ID: 863 1922 3115
Passcode: 811321
One tap mobile
+13052241968, 86319223115#, *811321# US
+13092053325, 86319223115#, *811321# US 

August updates

Please plan to pop in to our Transit Talk and Treats open house meet and greet on Thursday, August 20 between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. at People's Food Co-op, 315 Fifth Avenue South. It's a chance to share ideas about public transportation, meet other riders and advocates, and show support. We'll have refreshments, music, and DOOR PRIZES. If you'd like to donate a door prize, please email us. Free and open to everyone. Please share the flyer on social media!\

LATA Leaders will not meet in August. Our next meeting is on Tuesday, September 15 at 6:30 p.m. Please email if you would like to join us.

Wisconsin Transit Riders Alliance will host a meeting of all members on Thursday, August 6 at 6:30 p.m. online. The agenda includes discussion of WTRA feedback on RTA legislation, connections with other transit-friendly state organizations, and reports from around the state. Please email for the link to join.

The MTU Board is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, August 18 at 4 p.m. in person and online. The agenda is not yet available but will be at https://tinyurl.com/LaxMTUBoard when finalized. The public is welcome at these meetings.

 On Monday, August 24, 1000 Friends of Wisconsin will host a program, "Let's Talk Parking," in Stevens Point and online from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. featuring Daniel Herriges, Policy Director at the Parking Reform Network.While parking isn't transit, it could help fund better transit and its abundance may discourage people from using transit. You can learn more at https://1kfriends.org/how-much-is-parking-really-costing-our-communities/

CAN YOU HELP? LATA will table at postsecondary back-to-school events this fall (Viterbo on 9/3 between 12:45 and 2:15 p.m., WTC on 9/8 from noon to 1:30 p.m., UWL on 9/9 from 10:30 a.m. to noon OR noon to 1:30 p.m.). It's a great chance to highlight the availability of car-free transportation options and connect with students. If you can help out by taking a shift or two at our table, please sign up at https://tinyurl.com/latatablefall26

Week Without Driving is coming soon! We are hoping to host a WWD Stories event this year including written and recorded personal experiences of non-drivers and those who will try to be non-drivers during the week. Look for details on or before September 1! Also, if you can donate a WWD Bingo prize like a gift card or useful item please let us know before August 31. Please consider being a co-sponsor of our local WWD event, October 1-8, by signing up at https://tinyurl.com/laxwwdcosponsor. If you are planning a WWD event, please get info to us no later than August 31 if possible! Email with questions.

The next Week Without Driving (WWD) webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, August 26 at 1 p.m. online. These webinars help people connect their lives, agencies, communities, and organizations to Week Without Driving to elevate and amplify both. This link takes you to a registration page and includes links to past webinars: https://weekwithoutdriving.org/organize/ 

As you know, the La Crosse County Board decided to end funding for the current SMRT program after this year. They are still required to hold a public meeting but we don't know when that will be. Some board members have indicated they would like to find something to serve La Crosse county residents, but of course if that ends at the county line, it doesn't really help workers, patients,students and others get here and back from out-of-county locations. If you have opportunities to speak with county board supervisors—in your neighborhood, at events, at public meetings—please bring this up and encourage them to keep working on it.

In July, the Coalition for More Responsible Transportation hosted an online forum on the possibility of Regional Transit Authority (RTA) enabling legislation coming back to the legislature next year. A regional transit authority would ensure that system administration is shared among those who benefit and that there is a way to fund the system. The CMRT group is working to gather suggestions from advocates, operators, planners, electeds, and transit users that will help a new RTA bill be the best possible that everyone can support. If you haven't yet completed the survey (which also provides links to educational materials), please do so at https://forms.gle/pNWKNMWdPbL44bA28. We expect there will be a statewide RTA advocacy campaign later this year. We will keep you posted.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has sounded the alarm on the latest plans for funding transportation. Proposed cuts to rail and transit are so bad that APTA and Transportation 4 America are urging legislators to extend the current extension of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in order to fund these essential services at current levels. A recent New York Times article (paywall, but article maybe be archived at https://archive.is) reports that “Congress Budgeted Billions for Big Transit Projects. Trump Isn’t Spending It.” The Union of Concerned Scientists has created “An Illustrated Guide to Surface Transportation Reauthorization” which you can access here: https://ucs-documents.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/clean-vehicles/funding-future-reauthorization-zine-2026.pdf Consider emailing our Congress and Senators supporting adequate funding for transit.

Elections have consequences

Election Days - August primary, August 11. Congressional election, November 3.

From the American Public Transportation Association:

DOT Proposes to Eliminate All Guaranteed Funding for Public Transit and Passenger Rail

"On July 22, Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy sent a letter to Senate Committee leaders outlining the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) proposals for the Surface Transportation Authorization Act or related Surface Transportation Authorization Extension Act.

"APTA strongly opposes DOT’s proposals to eliminate all guaranteed funding for public transit and passenger rail by eliminating the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund and advance appropriations. These proposals jeopardize more than 85 percent of Federal public transit and passenger rail investment across the nation, including all public transit formula grants. On July 23, APTA issued a statement urging Congress to reject these funding proposals and build upon current public transit and passenger rail investment in the next Surface Transportation Authorization Act.  

"We strongly encourage APTA members to make their voices heard on these and other critical issues. We urge all APTA members to invite your Members of Congress to Site Visits during the August recess to allow lawmakers to see firsthand the impact of Federal public transportation investments and connect policy decisions to their local constituents. To assist with your planning, please use APTA’s Guidance for Planning Site Visits and Events with your Members of Congress."

Read more here: https://www.apta.com/advocacy-material/u-s-department-of-transportation-submits-surface-transportation-authorization-proposals/

###

From Transportation for AmericaTransportation for America: "If there was any lingering confusion about the Trump administration’s willingness to faithfully and fully implement any current or future bipartisan deal on transportation reauthorization that Congress might consider, USDOT Secretary Duffy’s unhinged letter to Senate leadership about the administration’s reauthorization priorities should put a nail in that coffin. 

"Congress should extend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for a year to keep the transportation funding moving, and then they should not even consider coming to the negotiating table on a long-term bill until past grants that are rescinded are restored, frozen transit capital projects are restarted, and ironclad protections are put in place to ensure that USDOT faithfully implements whatever Congress assembles—whether it aligns with the administration’s priorities or not."

Read more here: https://t4america.org/2026/07/27/usdot-letter-shows-it-will-likely-undermine-any-bipartisan-reauthorization-deal

###

From Urban Wire: "Adjusted for inflation, the BUILD Act would authorize lower overall transportation funding than the current federal transportation legislation, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which expires on September 30, 2026. Transit and rail programs face some of the deepest cuts under the BUILD Act, which prioritizes funding instead for road and highway infrastructure."

Read article: https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/how-will-congresss-proposed-cuts-transit-funding-affect-your-state-and-congressional

Transit Talk & Treats - August 20

 

Please mark your calendars and plan to join us for a few minutes or a longer time on Thursday, August 20 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the La Crosse People's Food Co-op Community Room (2nd Floor), 315 Fifth Avenue South, for our annual TRANSIT TALK & TREATS open house Meet & Greet.

We'll have refreshments, music, info about upcoming events and advocacy opportunities, and DOOR PRIZES (including transit essentials and gift cards from area businesses). And it's all TOTALLY FREE and OPEN FOR EVERYONE!

Please help us share the flyer! Here's one to share online and here's one to print and post.

To donate a door prize, please contact us at LaCrosseTransitAdvocates@proton.me.

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.