Support the Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act!

The Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act, would authorize $20 billion annually for four years ($80B total) to transit systems for their operating budgets.

Please learn about the bill: https://usa.streetsblog.org/2024/02/01/could-this-bill-finally-give-transit-agencies-the-operations-funding-they-need

And contact your legislators to support and co-sponsor the bill. 

View the bill, summary, co-sponsors, schedule here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3744

And, please support the Transit to Trails Act to ensure that anyone can access public green spaces, parks, and recreation areas whether or not they have a car.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/3092

This recent post by Voices for Public Transportation looks at how transit continues to play a critical role in the continuing fight for racial justice and equity.

Transit Equity Days

In February 2018, the Amalgamated Transit Union partnered with the Labor Network for Sustainability to launch Transit Equity Day in honor of Rosa Parks, on her birthday, February 4. Mrs. Parks played a crucial role in the civil rights movement by increasing access and equity in public transportation. Today, that movement and her actions continue to resonate, lifting up transit as a workers’ rights, civil rights, and climate-justice issue.

For the past few years, the La Crosse area has recognized Transit Equity Days (TED), this year, January 29 through February 4 to educate our neighbors and community leaders about the importance of a strong public transportation system and to share our stories about using our current public transportation system. We are fortunate to have one of the best public transit systems in the state, but challenges remain for those who rely on transit as their main way to get around.

We are looking forward to a full week of activities and events. Here's an overview. For details, please see tinyurl.com/TEDLaCrosse2024. 

First, please SIGN OUR CARD to local transit operators, staff, and administrators by Jan. 27 so we can present the card at our Monday event.

FREE FARES on the MTU from Monday, Jan. 29 through Sunday, Feb. 4!

FREE FARES on the SMRT on Tuesday, January 30.

Monday, Jan. 29 at 11:15 a.m. at the Transit Center, a TED press event. 

Monday through Sunday, Jan. 29 through Feb. 4, the La Crosse Public Library will host a display. (The library is accessible via the Circulators.)

Monday through Friday, Jan. 29 through Feb. 2, Office Hours on the Bus. We invite local elected and community leaders to ride a circuit on the bus, talking with riders and drivers about their experiences.

Wednesday, January 31 at the Southside Neighborhood Center from 7 to 8:30 p.m. TRANSPORTATION LIBERATION to help people consider and plan to go car-lite or car-free. (Get there on the Circulators or #1.)

Thursday, February 1, the Wisconsin Sierra Club and Coulee Region Group Sierra Club will host an online program about the national Transit to Trails for All initiative that is working for better access via public transit to local, state, and national wild, green, and recreation areas. Learn more and register at tinyurl.com/WISC224-T2T4A

Sunday, February 4, the AARP will host a free screening of the Peabody Award-winning film, The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks at the Rivoli Theater at 1:30 p.m. followed by a panel discussion about transit equity in the La Crosse area. MUST PRE-REGISTER by clicking here (free). (Get there with #5.)

Monday, February 5, the Labor Network for Sustainability will host its annual Transit Equity Day livestream on its YouTube channel, including voices and events from around the country. Learn how to access the program at www.labor4sustainability.org/transit-equity-2024/livestream/ 

There's more! Please visit tinyurl.com/TEDLaCrosse2024 and plan to participate! 

If you'd like to help or co-sponsor, please email LaCrosseTransitAdvocates-at-proton.me. 

Thank you, co-sponsors:

• La Crosse Area Transit Advocates
• La Crosse MTU
• Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit
• Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin
• Citizen Action of Wisconsin - Driftless Co-op
• Coulee Region Sierra Club
• Sustainability Institute
• YWCA La Crosse
• Climate Alliance for the Common Good
• AARP-Wisconsin
• Disability Action Network
  

Rail Pass Discount

 

Explore the country with the USA Rail Pass

The USA Rail Pass gives you 10 rides (segments) over 30 days to your choice of over 500 destinations. When you book through January 25, 2024, you can explore for just $449. That’s a $50 saving and less than $45 per segment.

The USA Rail Pass allows you to take a multi-segment journey on Amtrak for one low, fixed price. After you purchase your pass, you will be able to start booking each segment of your trip directly from your purchase confirmation.

A travel segment occurs any time you board and disembark one of our trains (or other scheduled services). If your trip involves making one connection, you will use two segments of your USA Rail Pass.

The pass validity period is 120 days following the date of your purchase. Once you begin travel on your first segment, you will have 30 days to complete all remaining travel segments.

There are three important restrictions to keep in mind as you consider purchasing a USA Rail Pass:

Route Restrictions: USA Rail Pass is available on all Amtrak services with the exception of:

• Acela
• Auto Train
• Maple Leaf (Canadian stations only)
• Thruway Bus Series 7000-7999

Fare Types: USA Rail Pass is available for Sale and Value Fares only. Segments offering only Flex Fares are not available for rail pass bookings. When booking your segment on Amtrak.com or the Amtrak app, we will provide guidance on which departures are available with your pass.

City Pairs: Travel is restricted to two roundtrips (four one-way trips) between the same two stations — as well as all intermediate destinations on the route. To book multiple trips between the same two stations, consider a multi-ride pass.

Also, keep in mind that there are a limited number of seats available on each train for passengers booking trips on a USA Rail Pass.

New Year, New Opportunities!

Happy New Year! Let's work to help more people make the transition to cleaner, cheaper, healthier, safer, and more environmentally friendly public transportation AND make public transportation stronger and better!

Here are some opportunities:

Transportation Camp is Saturday, January 6. This online national
unconference brings transit pros and advocates together to share ideas and plan for local and national improvements. The break-out board looks great and the speakers will be inspirational. Register at https://t4america.org/transportation-camp/

Our LATA Leaders group will meet online on Wednesday, January 10 at 5:30 p.m. to finalize plans for Transit Equity Days and continue planning for 2024 advocacy and events. Please join us! Email or call 608-315-2693 for access information. 

Transit Equity Days (TED) are coming January 29 through February 4. This annual event is a chance to educate our neighbors and community leaders about the importance of a strong public transportation system. The more of us participating and sharing our stories and ideas, the stronger our voices will be. 

We are still finalizing some parts of the event, but please pencil in these dates and times and join us if you can.

FREE FARES on the MTU from Monday, Jan. 29 through Friday, Feb. 2!

FREE FARES on the SMRT on one day during the week (TBD)

Monday morning at 10:15 a.m. on Jan. 29 at the Transit Center, a TED press event. Can you come and show your support?

Monday through Friday, Jan. 29 through Feb. 2, Office Hours on the Bus. Our local elected and community leaders have been very willing to ride and talk about transit in past years. It helps for them to hear from the many people with many reasons who ride the bus. We will post a schedule later this month at our event page. 

Monday through Sunday, Jan. 29 through Feb. 4 we are grateful to the La Crosse Public Library who will again host a display about the many aspects of Transit Equity. Please visit (you can take the Circulator!) and thank the Library for their support!

Wednesday, January 31 at the Southside Neighborhood Center from 7 to 8:30 p.m. TRANSPORTATION LIBERATION to help people consider and plan to go car-lite or car-free.

Thursday, February 1, the Wisconsin Sierra Club and Coulee Region Group Sierra Club will host an online program about the national Transit to Trails for All initiative that is working for better access via public transit to local, state, and national wild, green, and recreation areas. Without transit, many people are unable to access these health-giving, healing public spaces. Learn more and register at tinyurl.com/WISC224-T2T4A

Sunday, February 4, the AARP will host a free screening of the Peabody Award-winning film, The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks at the Rivoli Theater at 1:30 p.m. followed by a panel discussion about transit equity in the La Crosse area.

Monday, February 5, the Labor Network for Sustainability will host its annual Transit Equity Day livestream on its YouTube channel, including voices and events from around the country. Learn how to access the program at www.labor4sustainability.org/transit-equity-2024/livestream/ 

We are still working on a couple of other events! Please visit the event page at tinyurl.com/TEDLaCrosse2024 and plan to participate! 

Finally, PLEASE JOIN US! Our group has many friends but we have not really sought official members. But now we are. This year, no dues! Just fill out this form (no info will be sold or shared) tinyurl.com/JoinLATA and you will be an official La Crosse Area Transit Advocate!

Amtrak free companion with roomette

Amtrak will give a free companion ticket for those booking a roomette by Dec. 8 for travel from January 3 through March 27. Use code C103.

 

Learn and Feed Back!

There are several opportunities for us to learn about what's happening at the city level concerning walking, biking, and taking the bus. Please try to attend one or more if you can. Also, would you be interested in joining a panel to talk about Transit Equity in early February? If yes, please email LaCrosseTransitAdvocates@proton.me.

But first, please come on Thursday, December 14 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Talk Transit with MTU staff at the Southside Neighborhood Center, 1300 South 6th Street (accessibly via #1 or Circulators). The event is hosted by the MTU, but LATA will have a table there. Can you help staff it? Please email or call 608-315-2693 if yes!

 

 

There are a couple of city meetings coming up that the public may attend.

• On Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 8:30 a.m., the city's Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) will meet in the Council Chambers at City Hall AND online. The agenda is available at least 24 hours before the meeting and includes the link to attend online. Learn more here: https://tinyurl.com/LaXBPAC
• On Tuesday, December 12 at 4:00 p.m., the city's MTU Board will meet online at 4:00 p.m. Find more information, agendas, and link to attend at https://tinyurl.com/LaXMTUBd

Our LATA leaders meeting will be on Wednesday, December 13 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. We'll talk about Transit Equity Days plans (Jan. 29 through Feb. 4) and what we want to do in 2024. Please join us if you can! Call or email for the link to join.

We would love to include more communities in our recognition of Transit Equity Days (TED), Jan. 29 through Feb. 4. Without access to good transit, many people are left our of life. We are building a week of transit/equity-related programs and events. If your group, organization, faith community, non-profit, or business would like to support TED, please email or call.

Remember, the Transportation for Amerca Transportation Camp Unconference happens on Saturday, January 6. This is a great chance to hear good ideas from around the country, connect with other transit advocates, and listen to fantastic speakers. The keynoter will be Veronica O. Davis, Transportation Manager, City of Houston. Her new book, Inclusive Transporation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities is a must-read! Get more information and register for the online conference here: https://t4america.org/transportation-camp/