Transportation Forum

La Crosse area residents talked about transportation alternatives and equity.

On Wednesday, October 5 about thirty La Crosse area residents gathered at the Southside Neighborhood Center to learn more about transportation options in our community and to discuss their concerns, needs, and ideas for transportation planning and funding. This is one of several similar meetings being held around the state, sponsored by the Coalition for More Responsible Transportation in Wisconsin. The coalition includes the state (John Muir Chapter) Sierra Club, the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group (WISPIRG); 1,000 Friends of Wisconsin,  and many others. (Read more about the coalition in this September 22 Wisconsin Gazette article).

Tim Koterwski, Transit Supervisor at La Crosse's Municipal Transit Utility (MTU), answered questions about MTU routes and schedules and heard suggestions for increased service including routes that serve Onalaska, Holmen, and West Salem. Valerie Hoff represented the Enterprise Car Share program which is now open to all La Crosse community members. There was also information about other local and regional transportation options, the benefits of car pooling and park and ride programs, and how to get started as a bicycle commuter.

Peter Skopek, Director of WISPIRG facilitated the formal program, leading participants in brainstorming and visioning better transportation options, and giving an overview of Wisconsin's transportation budget. Skopek noted that funding for public transportation and road maintenance have remained relatively flat over the past several years while "mega projects" in southeast Wisconsin have receive an increasing share of the budget. Wisconsin's population is aging and will need transportation options that do not require driving a private car. In addition, a WISPIRG survey of millennials at the state's universities confirmed that young adults consider the availability of good public transportation an important factor in determining where they will live and work.

Dr. Chuck Lee, professor emeritus of history at UWL, gave an overview of local transportation challenges, and Jackie Eastwood, a La Crosse county transportation planner, discussed the county transportation budget as it affects public transportation and other non-private car transportation options and the La Crosse Area Planning Committee's (LAPC) plan to examine traffic management options. There will be an LAPC meeting on Wednesday, October 19, open to the public, to discuss some of these options and the committee's planned Transportation Improvements Program projects for 2017-2020.

Several elected officials from the city and county attended and all stressed that people need to contact local AND state officials about transportation budget priorities. In addition, it would be helpful if those who live outside of the city of La Crosse and share the goal of protecting our marshlands and seeking other less expensive and more sustainable transportation options should make sure their elected officials know how they feel. Too often, it seems, LAPC representatives of communities that surround La Crosse seem to prefer road building and highway expansion rather than car pool and park and ride promotion.

Even if you were not able to attend, you can still share your Transit Story by completing this online form. There will be a state Transportation Equity Summit on December 3 in Milwaukee to summarize results from the regional forums and provide more information and opportunities for activism. We will post details as they become available (and you can stay up to date by visiting the event website).