People's Budget Hearings - Advocate for Transit!

 ADVOCATE FOR TRANSIT!

The Governor is hosting a series of online People's Budget town halls on different aspects of the 21-23 budget. The next one is at 6 p.m. on December 2 (online) and its focus is on the environment, infrastructure, and economy.

There is no special session specifically about transportation, so we are encouraging transit advocates to sign up to attend and speak at this session. You cannot separate a good, clean, equitable, comprehensive public transportation system from environmental concerns, from infrastructure spending priorities, and from planning for rebuilding a post-coronavirus economy. 

If it follows the format of the first session (on healthcare), the session will begin with a welcome and introduction and then participants will be assigned to virtual breakout rooms. Each room will have a facilitator to ensure everyone gets a chance to participate. The breakout sessions will last about an hour and will be organized around specific questions asked by the facilitator. 

SIGN UP NOW (space is limited!) TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DECEMBER 2 PEOPLE'S BUDGET TOWN HALL. If you don't want to participate in the town hall, you may submit written comments using this link.

If you decide to participate, it might be best to consider how public transportation intersects with the environment, infrastructure spending, and economic recovery. Here are just a few ideas to get your own thoughts flowing:

* Emissions from cars and light trucks currently lead all categories in greenhouse gases that are driving the climate catastrophe, for example

* Pollution from cars is a leading cause of asthma and other respiratory and heart diseases, especially in low-income communities near large highways

* Congestion wastes fuel, increases pollution, and reduces safety. Having more public transportation that can move more people in a single vehicle reduces those problems.

* For the billion dollars proposed to be spent expanding a 3-mile stretch of  interstate in Milwaukee that will cause more congestion, more pollution, and will divide important communities of color, we could be well on the way to the cross-state high speed rail line Scott Walker nixed in 2010.

* Many Wisconsin communities do not currently have public transportation systems. Those that do could use increased state support to provide more frequent, expanded service 

* Many Wisconsin taxpayers don't or can't drive their own cars. Many younger adults don't even want cars. The budget, to be equitable, should treat the transportation needs of the non-car population at as high a level as the car-drivers. That means ensuring non-car drivers have access and transportation not just a few hours during a work day but all hours of every day, not just to and from work, but to and from shopping, entertainment, services, recreation, and everyday life needs.

* Ensuring people can get to jobs should not mean ensuring that they buy and pay for expensive private cars. For a strong, people-centered economy, a good, comprehensive public transportation is required.

For more reading:

* The American Public Transportation Association has a series of white papers on the economic impact of public transportation

*  Smart Cities' Top Ten Benefits of Public Transportation

* Information from the U.S. Department of Transportation

New Buses - New Protections - New Fare Collection!

At the most recent MTU Board meeting, MTU director, Adam Lorentz announced some exciting NEWS!

The city is getting MANY new buses including "clean diesel" and hybrids. By the end of 2021, the MTU will be running TEN new buses! Funding is coming from the federal government and from the VW settlement money. This will be great for riders and for our environment.

There is ongoing consideration of a NORTHSIDE CIRCULATOR but no details have been announced yet. If you have thoughts about where such a route should go, visit the MTU page and click on the FEEDBACK link at the top.. 

In addition, using CARES funds, the city is ramping up the air filtration systems in all the buses. This will benefit drivers and passengers during the COVID-19 pandemic and all other times. HEPA level filters will help keep the buses cleaner and healthier. 

In addition, the city is retrofitting and ordering for new buses germ barriers in all buses. This will help keep people safer from illness.

FARES WILL BE FREE THROUGH THE END OF 2020. The city has used CARES funding to maintain free fairs though December and to keep contracts for other communities (Onalaska, Town of Campbell, and La Crescent) at the same levels as 2020. 

When fares are collected again, there will be a new touchless fare collection system. We don't have details yet, but this is exciting news as it opens other possibilities including capped fares and multi-day passes. More as soon as it's available.

If you have read the very good article the La Crosse Independent about the economics of PERMANENT FARE-FREE BUSES, please do. This is something more and more communities are doing and there are lots of benefits to consider.

Talking Transportation

On Thursday, October 8 at 6:30 p.m., the Coalition for More Responsible Transportation will host its next transportation-related webinar. Join us ONLINE for a talk about WHY TRANSPORTATION MATTERS: Communicating with decision-makers. 

"Get advice from a local politician on what works and how to communicate, hear personal stories from.transportation advocates around the state, and learn to tell your own story."

RSVP at this link for access information including alternate access options.

AND

Due to the pandemic and restrictions on the size of meetings, the WisARP (Wisconsin Association of Rail Passengers) fall meeting will be held as a Zoom videoconference. The meeting will be October 24th, from 9:00 am until Noon, or 10:00 am until 1:00 pm, depending on speaker availability. IMPORTANT: Please let me know immediately if you plan to attend. The Zoom license has a participation limit and we need to know if we will need to increase that limit. Thanks. 

Mark Weitenbeck
weitenbeck@sbcglobal.net

Good news! New buses!

Great news released today!! La Crosse applied for 2 Hybrid buses late last year and today received notification approving these buses! More details will be available at the October MTU Board meeting.

The hybrids are Diesel/ Electric. The bus runs electric until it gets to a certain speed where the diesel kicks in.  During the time of the diesel engine running the batteries are recharging.  

Gov. Evers, WisDOT, DOA Announce $18 Million in Public Transit Grants for Wisconsin Communities

Grants will enable Beloit, Wausau, Sheboygan, Madison, Eau Claire, Racine, Green Bay, and La Crosse to purchase a total of 34 public transit buses

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, together with Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Secretary-designee Craig Thompson and Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) Secretary Joel Brennan, today announced $18 million in public transit grants for Wisconsin communities.   “Wisconsinites from Beloit to Eau Claire depend on reliable public transit systems for everything from getting to work or school safely, visiting the doctor, and everyday things like grabbing groceries,” said Gov. Evers. “It is not only a more sustainable form of travel, but it is also an economic driver, and this critical investment will support communities across our state.”  The grants are part of the second round of State of Wisconsin Transit Capital Assistance Grants made possible through the Volkswagen Mitigation Program and will enable the transit systems in Beloit, Wausau, Sheboygan, Madison, Eau Claire, Racine, Green Bay, and La Crosse to purchase a total of 34 public transit buses. A complete list of grants can be found here. “This is a much needed boost to capital investment in our public transit systems, investments that will increase fleet performance and reduce maintenance costs,” said WisDOT Secretary-designee Craig Thompson. “We know that reliable transportation is critical for many Wisconsinites,” said DOA Secretary Brennan. “I am proud we can support these communities by investing in their public transportation efforts through these grants. A Wisconsin Supreme Court decision earlier this year overturned the governor’s veto authorizing a $10 million grant program for electric vehicle charging station infrastructure. The decision did not affect capital transit grants. The first round of Transit Capital Assistance Grants was competitively awarded in 2019, providing $32 million of Volkswagen funds to 10 communities to replace 58 eligible public transit buses. The DOA negotiates the final grant amounts and specific bus replacement plans with the local transit systems.

Envision our (public transportation) future

Here is an opportunity to participate in imagining what a future downtown La Crosse might look like and especially how public transportation might fit into it. 

If you live in, work in, or visit downtown La Crosse, this news story will link you to a survey.
https://www.news8000.com/community-members-encouraged-to-take-part-in-shaping-the-future-of-la-crosse/

In addition, the La Crosse Area Planning Commission is working on its TRANSPORTATION PLAN FOR THE NEXT TWENTY YEARS.

From the LAPC planner:

We will be holding a public input opportunity for our draft metropolitan transportation plan, Beyond Coulee Vision 2040, during the meeting of our Technical Advisory Committee scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on September 9, 2020.

Due to COVID-19 the meeting will be held remotely via TEAMS and/or teleconference call. The agenda and remote participation information are attached and provided below:

AGENDA

1.       Approval of Minutes of the July 15, 2020 Meeting.

2.       Recommendation to approve amending the 2020-2023 Transportation Improvement Program.

3.       Recommendation to approve the 2021-2024 Transportation Improvement Program Minnesota Project List.

4.       The La Crosse Area Planning Committee Title VI / Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Plan. (action possible)

5.       Public Meeting for Update of La Crosse Area Planning Committee Metropolitan Transportation Plan, Beyond Coulee Vision 2040. (link to draft plan full draft document)

6.       Other updates and information items.

7.       October 2020 agenda items:

• 2021-2024 TIP

8.       Other business; Adjourn; Next meeting to be announced.

Public Access: Any person may access the meeting utilizing the following options.

MEETING ACCESS/MONITORING INSTRUCTIONS:

Option 1: Use the link below to join the TEAMS meeting on your desktop/laptop/phone to stream audio, video or both.  If you do not have TEAMS on your desktop/laptop/phone, after you activate the link “Join Microsoft Teams Meeting” you will have to follow several prompts to join the meeting.

Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

Option 2: Join by phone (audio only): 1-262-683-8845, and enter 148472849# at the prompt

+1 262-683-8845   United States, Kenosha (Toll)
Conference ID: 148 472 849#

If you need assistance participating in this meeting, please contact me as soon as you can.

Thank you for your continued interest and participation.

Jackie Eastwood
Transportation Planner
La Crosse Area Planning Committee
Metropolitan Planning Organization
212 6^th St N, Room 1200
La Crosse Wi  54601
608.785.6141 or 608.792.0520 (cell)

CMRT Webinar - Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

The Coalition for More Responsible Transportation (CMRT), a statewide group of groups including the Sierra Club, 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, WISPIRG, Wisconsin Transit Riders Alliance, and more has been holding transportation webinars over the summer that look at different issues around public transportation.

The next webinar is this Thursday, August 6 at 6:30 p.m. ONLINE. The discussion will be about college campuses as hubs for car-free transportation. Guest speakers will include the UW-Madison transportation manager, a college student, and (we think) MTU manager, Adam Lorentz.

RSVP to get access information!