5/18/26, WIZM La Crosse – Reliable and affordable transportation were a main focus of a Monday meeting in La Crosse.
The state’s Transportation Development Association (TDA) said highway and transit projects could use more state funding.
TDA director Debby Jackson said a lack of money prevents the state from funding innovative transportation projects.
In many cases, “the resources are not adequate for the community’s needs,” Jackson said, adding that those needs could vary from a state highway “that’s in bad shape,” or a highway expansion that’s limiting economic growth.
La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey spoke at the roundtable about how the city manages transportation.
“We are one of the few municipalities that own and operate our own airport,” the mayor said. “We have our MTU, and we have our street department and various road constructions.”
Washington-Spivey also considered the cost of fuel to be an important factor in the city transportation budget.
State lawmakers also attended, with some saying more could be done to improve local transit with more money from Madison.
The event sponsored by the TDA is one of several sessions being held around Wisconsin.