Residents urge Vernon County to keep regional ‘smart bus’ funded as riders cite medical and work access

Several Vernon County residents told the budget hearing the county should continue supporting the regional "smart bus" service so riders maintain access to medical care, jobs and intercity connections.

Leslie Salas, speaking from personal experience, described the route’s footprint and the populations it serves, saying the route serves "Viroqua, 4,500 people, Westby, 2,500 people, and **** Valley, 800 people," and urging the county to continue funding the service while stakeholders convene to improve ridership and schedule timing. Jennifer Morales described using the smart bus for emergency medical travel, saying she got a last-minute appointment at Gunderson Eye Clinic in La Crosse and "there's a smart bus in 20 minutes, and I got on the smart bus," which allowed her to get critical care.

Other residents reinforced those accounts: Kathleen Crosska said she personally knows nine people who rely on the smart bus for medical and work trips, Francesca Veil said she emailed a petition with about 800 signatures supporting continued service (she said roughly half were from Vernon County), and online commenter Alex said they helped organize support with La Crosse County and would ride more if local routing changed.

Speakers framed the smart bus as a public service akin to sidewalks or libraries — valuable despite not being self-sustaining financially — and urged a short-term county investment to preserve the route while planners and riders work to improve long-term viability. The hearing record does not show a budget vote on the smart-bus request during the public comment period; the chair closed the hearing and adjourned.