I traveled to northern Wisconsin during the week of Dec. 10,  2018 providing technical assistance to three tribes, each a participant in the USDA-sponsored Tribal Passenger Transportation Technical Assistance Program. The first stop was at the St. Croix Indian Tribe of Wisconsin in Siren, Wis., which has 11 separate communities scattered over four counties. Three tribal casinos and hotels are primary sources of jobs for tribal members, but can be an hour’s drive from members’ homes. Because there are no public transportation services in the area, these jobs, as well as other services and programs, are not easily accessible for persons without automobile. Over the coming months, CTAA will assessing mobility needs, identifying transportation resources and developing a strategy and plan for initiation of a sustainable tribal transit program.

Next, I visited with staff of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians in Odanah, Wis. The Bad River Band has a transit service that operates within the Reservation and also connects to the City of Ashland, and the Bay Area Rural Transit (BART) program. A technical assistance plan completed over the past two years focused on improving the effectiveness of Bad River Transit’s route structure, as well as its marketing and community outreach. CTAA’s recommendations have been implemented, and are enabling more tribal residents to use the transit service.