Contacts: Diane Poole, WisDOT Bureau of Transit and Local Roads,
608-266-0189
Ethnie Groves, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2156
Keith Carlson, City of La Crosse, 608-789-7350
Bonnie Buchanan, Jefferson Lines, 612-359-3476
Governor Announces La Crosse to Madison
Bus Service Will Continue Uninterrupted
Minnesota Bus Company to Pick Up Line Being Abandoned by Greyhound
Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle joined La Crosse Mayor John
Medinger today in announcing that Jefferson Lines of Minneapolis, Minnesota
has agreed to take over the La Crosse to Madison bus route that Greyhound
has said it is abandoning. Jefferson Lines will begin serving the route on
August 18, 2004, the same day Greyhound service ends.
“This is great news for those who have come to depend on
reliable intercity bus service, and we’re extremely pleased that Jefferson
Lines has stepped forward to fill this need,” Governor Doyle said.
“Intercity bus provides an important transportation option, and it’s great
that there will be no interruption of service.”
The La Crosse-Madison route serves the communities of Black
Earth, Cross Plains, Coon Valley, La Crosse, Lone Rock, Madison, Mazomanie,
Reedstown, Richland Center, Spring Green, and Westby. Jefferson Lines will
also take over abandoned Greyhound routes in Minnesota and Iowa.
“We’re delighted that La Crosse area residents, and those
along the entire route, will continue to be served by intercity bus
service,” La Crosse Mayor John Medinger said. “It’s a vitally important
connection used by students and others who don’t have access to personal
transportation.”
Mayor Medinger added that Jefferson Lines is negotiating to
provide service from the same location currently serviced by Greyhound and
has expressed an interest in discussing the long-range possibility of a La
Crosse transportation center.
“We are excited about our decision to serve the communities
on the La Crosse to Madison route. We recognize the critical importance of
intercity transportation to many citizens, as well as the loss of feeder
passengers to our main route structure,” said Bonnie Buchanan, Vice
President of Marketing for Jefferson Lines. “Our first priority will be to
gain a better understanding of the market, to identify opportunities that
will help us increase the business.”
Governor Doyle said he hoped that other bus companies would
follow this example and come forward with offers to take over other
abandoned Greyhound routes.
Jefferson Lines currently offers scheduled bus service in 10
states and in Canada. The La Crosse to Madison route will be the first
regularly scheduled service route available from Jefferson Lines in
Wisconsin.
