Fundraiser for NO DAPL

Update! Fundraiser is over. Today only. Watch for coming events to support 11-15 truckload of support from La Crosse. In the meantime, drop off donations at English Lutheran Church (16th and King) or UWL Cartwright Center.

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).

CR Sierra - October Newsletter

Our online only October newsletter is now available to view. Highlights include:

NEXT EVENT:  Highway Clean up  5 pm Tues., Oct. 4  Meet at city well bldg (Cty B & River Valley Dr)  North La Crosse Join Sierra Club friends on Oct. 4 to help clean up River Valley Drive (RVD) on La Crosse’s north side. Meet at the city’s water well near the intersection of Gillette Street and RVD at 5 p.m. We’ll pick up trash from St. James Street to Palace Street. Safety vests and bags will be provided. Many hands will make light work! After about 1.5 hours of clean up, some of us may meet up at a nearby restaurant for treats. Bring a friend and your camera! Questions? Contact Pat or Bobbie Wilson at pbwilson[at]centurytel.net or 608 788 8831.

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SOLAR IN WISCONSIN: Thank you, Michael Vickerman of RENEW Wisconsin, for a useful and interesting September 27 Sierra Club presentation on the amazing increase in solar power generation in our state and solar’s continuing cost effectiveness. An overview of the presentation can be found at Renew Wisconsin’s website at [NOTE: UPDATED LINK] http://renewwisconsin.org/presentations/. Renew Wisconsin is interested in working with citizen activists in pushing and lobbying local governments to install solar on government and public buildings, too. If any Sierra Club members are interested in forming a group to pursue this, please email crsierraclub[at]gmail.com

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STANDING WITH STANDING ROCK:  Miles Koenig, a member of the Ho-Chunk nation, updated us about local support for the environmental protectors of the Standing Rock Sioux reservation as they continue efforts to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline. The pipeline would carry Bakken (fracked) oil, threatening an important water resource and building new fossil fuel systems that threaten a sustainable climate. Miles and his brother Branson coordinated a truckload of relief supplies last month and plan another trip on October 14. Donate warm clothing, cold weather sleeping bags, hygiene products, food, school supplies, etc, if you can. More details at tinyurl.com/lax4stndingrk.
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OCTOBER 5 TRANSPORTATION FORUM: La Crosse needs a transportation system that connects more people to jobs, businesses and services; is safe, effective, fair and affordable for drivers and non-drivers; and uses our tax dollars responsibly to address real community needs. Transit riders and advocates will share personal stories about their local transportation system and offer insights on how the system could be improved to better serve everyone in the community. Sierra Club will present a statewide perspective on the transportation budget and how we could best meet the needs of local communities. In addition to programming about our transportation planning and budgets, we will host a Transportation Information Fair from 6 to 6:45 pm. Find out about your current transportation options - including car pools, car share, and public transportation - at the Forum.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016
6:00 Open House - 6:40 Presentation
Southside Neighborhood Center
1300 6th Street S, La Crosse WI ===
ENVIRO-EDUCATION GRANTS: The Coulee Region Sierra Club is offering grants of $50 to $200 for environmental education projects involving  young people at the elementary and middle school level. The application and more detalis are available at our website (sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee) and blog site (cr-sierra.blogspot.com). The application deadline is DECEMBER 1. Please spread the word about this opportunity!
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HELP NEEDED: We are seeking a Coulee Region Sierra Club member to represent our group at the John Muir Chapter state council. The council meets every other month, sometimes online, to discuss national and state plans and programs. If interested, email pbwilson[at]centurytel.net. We would like to find a Sierra Club member to help welcome and integrate new Coulee Region Sierra Club members into our group. Interested? Contact Pat!
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DATES TO REMEMBER!

• Tuesday, October 4 - River Valley Drive clean up. Meet at 5 p.m. Gillette St. pumping station.
• Wednesday, October 5 - La Crosse Area Transportation Forum. 6 p.m. Southside Neighborhood Center
• The October Autumn Assembly has been cancelled.
• Friday, October 14 - Traditional Ecological Knowledge Conference/Keynote: Winona Duke (tinyurl.com/vutek)
• Friday, October 14 - Standing Rock protectors donation truck leaves (tinyurl.com/laxstndingrk)
• Oct. 16-19 - Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference (www.umisc.net/schedule--program.html)
• Monday, October 17 - Absentee in person voting begins in municipal clerks’ offices (myvote.wi.gov)

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2017 Sierra Club calendars, our group's primary fundraiser, are now available. These beautiful calendars (wall = $13.95/desk = $14.95) feature photos worth framing. Get your calendar at our December holiday party or order from Maureen Kinney: 784-9324/784-5678 or email her at
maureen[at]johnsflaherty.com

Reminder - OCT 4 HIGHWAY CLEAN UP!

Please join us if you can at 5 p.m. for highway clean up on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4! More details at the Highway Clean Up page.