Madison Metro
Madison Metro Transit operates a bus service throughout the city of Madison, Wisconsin, United States and most of its immediate suburbs, including the Town of Madison, the City of Middleton, Fitchburg, Maple Bluff, Shorewood Hills, Sun Prairie, Verona, and a small portion of McFarland.[1] System-wide, fixed route ridership was 13,385,628 in 2018.[2] Metro Transit also provides supplemental transit services to some Madison middle and high schools. Several schools have switched to yellow buses in 2019. These routes are open to the general public, but have been designed to provide additional services during peak school times.[3] Metro also serves the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus, Eagle Heights University apartments, and some off-campus residential areas, via routes 80, 81, 82, and 84. The "80 routes" are free of charge.[4]
Slogan | Lots of ways to go. |
---|---|
Parent | City of Madison |
Headquarters | 1245 E. Washington Ave. |
Locale | Madison, Wisconsin |
Service area | 72 square miles |
Service type | Bus service, Paratransit |
Routes | 70 |
Stops | 2,119 bus stops |
Destinations | Town of Madison, Fitchburg, Maple Bluff, Middleton, Shorewood Hills, Verona, McFarland, Sun Prairie |
Hubs |
|
Fleet | 215 fixed-route buses, 20 paratransit vehicles |
Daily ridership | 58,700 trips |
Fuel type | Low Sulfur diesel, Hybrid diesel-electric, and some battery-operated electric buses (active 2020) |
Operator | City of Madison |
Website | www |
Metro also connects with suburban mass transit services, such as the Monona Lift/Monona Express and Sun Prairie Shared Taxi Shuttle.[5]
Route network
The route network focuses on hubs at the Capitol Square in downtown Madison and four major transfer points in outer parts of Madison. Core all day routes "pulse" at the transfer points every 30 to 60 minutes and are supplemented by an overlay of commuter service. Many routes serve downtown Madison and the University of Wisconsin Madison where transit use is high.[6]
The most recent service update reflected in this article went into effect in August 2013. Significant changes include the restructuring of Routes 9 and 10, significant changes to Route 18, and the introduction of several new routes in east Madison - Routes 31, 33, and 35. Route 85 was consolidated into Route 80 in August 2012 as a result of a UW budget shortfall.[7]
Routes
In the table below, "Via(s)" refer to different patterns the same route may take. For example, "Route 6 via Hayes" means that the bus will travel on the Hayes loop before reaching the West Transfer Point or East Towne Mall - other Route 6 trips may travel "via MATC".
Regular routes
Route | To/ From | Via(s) | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Capitol Square | Old University Ave & Highland Ave | Midday service, weekdays only | |
2 |
West Transfer Pt | North Transfer Pt | Fordem / Sherman | |
3 |
West Transfer Pt | East Transfer Pt | Division / Winnebago | Weekdays only |
4 |
South Transfer Pt | North Transfer Pt | ||
5 |
East Transfer Pt | South Transfer Pt | ||
6 |
West Transfer Pt | East Towne Mall | Tokay / Mineral Point,
MATC / Hayes |
|
10 |
University Row | Union Corners | Johnson or Gorham /
Jenifer, UW Hospital / Campus |
Weekdays only |
13 |
South Transfer Pt | UW Campus | ||
14 |
Wexford Ridge | Capitol Square | Gammon/Westfield/
Colony |
Weekdays only, route continues to
East Transfer Pt at rush hour |
15 |
Junction Ridge | Capitol Square | Old Middleton/Sheboygan,
Greenway/High Point |
Weekdays only, route continues to
East Transfer Pt at rush hour |
16 |
South Transfer Pt | East Transfer Pt | Broadway | No stops in Monona |
17 |
North Transfer Pt | East Transfer Pt | Shopko | |
18 |
West Transfer Pt | South Transfer Pt | Midvale/Hammersley | |
19 |
Chalet Gardens | Capitol Square | Red Arrow/Mohawk | Weekdays only |
20 |
North Transfer Pt | East Towne Mall | Airport / Shopko | |
21 |
North Transfer Pt | Lakeview | ||
22 |
North Transfer Pt | Mendota | ||
26 |
East Towne Mall | American Center | City View | |
30 |
East Transfer Pt | East Towne Mall | Nakoosa / Swanton | |
32 |
East Transfer Pt | Thompson Dr - Acewood Blvd | No service weekday peaks
See Routes 33 and 35 | |
34 |
East Transfer Pt | MATC-Truax | Weekdays only | |
39 |
East Transfer Pt | World Dairy | Dempsey | Weekday peak and midday only |
40 |
South Transfer Pt | Arbor Hills | Grandview and Hatchery Hill /
Coho and Post |
|
50 |
West Transfer Pt | Schroeder Rd - Raymond Rd | ||
51 |
West Transfer Pt | Muir Field Rd | No service weekday peaks
See Routes 56 and 57 | |
52 |
West Transfer Pt | Fitchburg | Weekday only | |
67 |
West Transfer Pt | West Towne | ||
70 |
Capitol Square | Middleton | Weekdays only, off-peak | |
73 |
Middleton | West Transfer Point | weekdays only | |
Peak-only routes
Route | To/ From | Via(s) | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11 |
Dutch Mill Park & Ride | UW Campus - West Transfer Pt | ||
12 |
West Transfer Pt | UW Campus - Dutch Mill Park & Ride | ||
23 |
Sun Prairie | Capitol Square | Limited Stops | |
25 |
American Center | Capitol Square | Limited stops | |
27 |
North Transfer Pt | Capitol Square - UW Campus | ||
28 |
West Transfer Pt | UW Campus - North Transfer Pt | ||
29 |
Breese Terrace | School Rd | Limited Stops | |
31 |
East Transfer Pt | Marsh Rd | Dutch Mill | Operates evenings and weekends also |
33 |
East Transfer Pt | Sprecher Rd - Thompson Dr | ||
35 |
East Transfer Pt | Richmond Hill - Acewood Blvd | ||
37 |
Pflaum Rd | UW Campus - Sheboygan Ave | ||
38 |
UW Campus - Sheboygan Ave | Pflaum Rd/Buckeye Rd | Capitol Square/John Nolen | Atwood & Dennett/
Oakridge & Cottage Grove |
44 |
UW Campus | South Transfer Point | ||
47 |
Capitol Square | Arbor Hills | ||
48 |
South Transfer Point | UW Campus | Limited Stops | |
55 |
West Transfer Pt | Verona - Epic Campus | Verona | Limited stops |
56 |
North Transfer Pt | West Transfer Pt - McKee Rd | Limited stops | |
57 |
North Transfer Pt | West Transfer Pt - McKee Rd | Limited stops | |
58 |
Capitol Square | Greentree | ||
71 |
Capitol Square | Middleton | Limited stops | |
72 |
Capitol Square | Middleton | Limited stops | |
75 |
Capitol Square | Verona - Epic Campus | Verona | Limited stops |
Weekend-only routes
- 7 West Transfer Pt to East Transfer Pt Via Monroe/Tokay
- 8 Capitol Square to Spring Harbor
- 31 East Transfer Pt to Marsh Rd (operates AM/PM rush hour and evenings on weekdays also)
- 59 West Transfer Pt to Fitchburg
- 63 West Transfer Pt to Prairie Town Center via West Towne Mall, Odana & Watts Rds
- 68 West Transfer Pt to Prairie Town Center via Old Sauk & Junction Rds
- 78 West Transfer Pt to Middleton (Saturday only)
UW–Madison Campus Buses
All routes in this section are fare free. Operating costs are paid by Associated Students of Madison, UW Transportation Services, and University Housing. When UW–Madison is out of session, route 80 service is reduced and routes 81-84 do not run.[8]
Proposed changes for the 2020-2021 academic year include an expansion of route 84 and shifting of routes 80, 81, and 82.[9]
- 80 Memorial Union / West Campus to Eagle Heights / South Campus (weekday, weekend, and late night)
- 81 Observatory Dr / Johnson St Loop(s) (evening and late night)
- 82 Breese Ter / W Washington Ave Loop(s) (evening and late night)
- 84 Eagle Heights Express (limited stops) (weekday PM rush hour only)
Supplemental Schoolday Service
- W, W1, W3, W5, W7 - West High School District
- E, E1, E3, E5 - East High School District
- M, M1, M3, M5, M7 - Memorial High School District
- L, L1, L3, L5, L7 - La Follette High School District
Former Routes
Route | To/ From | Via(s) | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
9 |
East Transfer Pt | UW Hospital | weekdays only; merged into Route 10 on August 25, 2013 | |
74 |
Middleton Transfer Pt | Middleton Business Park- Capitol Square | Limited stops; merged into Route 72 on August 24, 2014 |
- 85 UW South Campus Circulator (weekday only)- Discontinued Monday, August 27, 2012 and merged into Route 80.
Bus fleet
- 800-875 New Flyer D40LF (Most have been retired, Main use for school service and extra buses)
- 876-999, 100-160 Gillig Advantage (several of the oldest in the fleet have been retired)
- 001-021 Gillig/GM/Allison (Gillig BRT Hybrid)[10]
- 3 Proterra, Inc. Electric Buses Coming 2020
- 1901-1915 New Flyer Xcelsior (Unsure Of Type) added in 2019.
Service to suburban communities
- Town of Madison (routes 4, 11, 13, 16, 18, 40, 44, 47, 48, and 75)
- Fitchburg (routes 16, 18, 19, 40, 44, 47, 48, 49, 52, 56, 59, and 75)
- Maple Bluff (routes 2 and 28)
- Middleton (routes 70, 71, 72, 73, and 78)
- Shorewood Hills (routes 2, 10, 11, 12, 15, 28, 37, 38, 44, 56, 57, 70, 71, and 72)
- Verona (routes 55 and 75, weekday rush hour service only).
- Blooming Grove (routes 3, 5, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 39)
- Monona is not served directly but can be reached with Routes 11, 12, 16, 31, 37, and 38. Service in Monona is provided by Monona Mass Transit Council, with peak hour weekday service to the Capitol Square, University of Wisconsin, and all 4 hospitals; and mid-day accessible circulator to the Capitol Square.
- McFarland can be reached with Route 31
- Sun Prairie has peak-hour weekday service with Route 23. All-day shared taxi Shuttle service to Sun Prairie is via East Towne Mall (routes 6, 20, 23, 25, 26, 30, and 36)
Gallery
- Metro bus on State Street
- A Madison Metro bus stop sign
- The front of a Metro Gillig BRT hybrid bus
- Inside a hybrid bus at night
References
- Madison Metro Transit (2018). "Madison Metro System Maps". City of Madison. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- Staff (2018). "2018 Annual Report" (PDF). Metro Transit. City of Madison, WI. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- Supplemental School Service - Metro Transit - City of Madison, Wisconsin
- Bus Routes
- Sun Prairie Taxi Service - Routes & Schedules - Metro Transit - City of Madison, Wisconsin Archived 2012-09-26 at the Wayback Machine
- http://www.madisonareampo.org/planning/documents/TDP_Final_Web..pdf%5B%5D
- UW announces changes to campus bus routes : Wsj
- "UW Service Calendar". Metro Transit. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
- "Campus Bus Forums". Transportation Services. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
- Staff (2010). "METRO HYBRID BUSES". Metro Transit. City of Madison, WI. Retrieved 1 July 2012.