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 two new routes in east Madison - Routes 31 and 35, and expansion of Route 33 in east Madison. 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 | Suspended due to COVID | |
2 |
West Transfer Pt | North Transfer Pt | Fordem / Sherman | |
3 |
West Transfer Pt | East Transfer Pt | Division / Winnebago | Suspended due to COVID |
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 |
Suspended due to COVID |
15 |
Junction Ridge | East Transfer Pt | Old Middleton/Sheboygan,
Greenway/High Point |
|
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 | Suspended due to COVID |
20 |
North Transfer Pt | East Towne Mall | Airport | |
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 | |
31 |
East Transfer Pt | Marsh Rd | Dutch Mill | |
32 |
East Transfer Pt | Thompson Dr - Acewood Blvd | ||
34 |
East Transfer Pt | MATC-Truax | Suspended due to COVID | |
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 | ||
52 |
West Transfer Pt | Fitchburg | Weekday only | |
67 |
West Transfer Pt | West Towne | ||
70 |
Capitol Square | Middleton | ||
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 | Suspended due to COVID | |
29 |
Breese Terrace | School Rd | Suspended due to COVID | |
33 |
East Transfer Pt | Sprecher Rd - Thompson Dr | ||
35 |
East Transfer Pt | Richmond Hill - Acewood Blvd | Suspended due to COVID | |
37 |
Pflaum Rd | UW Campus - Sheboygan Ave | Suspended due to COVID | |
38 |
UW Campus - Sheboygan Ave | Pflaum Rd/Buckeye Rd | Capitol Square/John Nolen | Suspended due to COVID |
44 |
UW Campus | South Transfer Point | ||
47 |
Capitol Square | Arbor Hills | Suspended due to COVID | |
48 |
South Transfer Point | UW Campus | Limited Stops | |
49 |
South Transfer Pt | Hatchery Hill - Lacy | ||
55 |
West Transfer Pt | Verona - Epic Campus | Verona | Limited stops |
56 |
North Transfer Pt | West Transfer Pt - McKee Rd | Suspended due to COVID | |
57 |
North Transfer Pt | West Transfer Pt - McKee Rd | Suspended due to COVID | |
58 |
Capitol Square | Greentree | Suspended due to COVID | |
71 |
Capitol Square | Middleton | Suspended due to COVID | |
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 (operating 7 days a week during COVID)
- 8 Capitol Square to Spring Harbor (operating 7 days a week during COVID)
- 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
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 and 84 service is reduced and routes 81 and 82 do not run.[8]
- 80 Memorial Union - Eagle Heights (weekday, weekends, and late night)
- 81 Park, Broom, Johnson/Gorham Loop(s) (evening and late night)
- 82 Observatory, Breese Loop(s) (evening and late night)
- 84 Eagle Heights Express (limited stops) weekdays 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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 (first use) |
Downtown Get-Around | Discontinued on June 4, 2000; replaced by revised Route 4. Number reused by January 2006. | ||
7 (first use) |
Prairie Towne Center | East Towne Mall | Merged into Route 6 in August 2002. Number reused in August 27, 2006 restructuring. | |
9 (first use) |
? | ? | Merged or renumbered by November 17, 1999. Number reused by January 2006.[9] | |
9 |
East Transfer Pt | UW Hospital | weekdays only; merged into Route 10 on August 25, 2013. | |
11 (first use) |
Atwood-Division | UW Hospital | Discontinued by January 2006 as western portion was redundant with Route 28, central portion was redundant with Route 9, and eastern portion was redundant with Route 3. | |
16 (first use) |
East Transfer Point | North Transfer Point | Discontinued by January 2006 as portion of route on Stoughton Road south of Washington Avenue was discontinued, section west of Washington Avenue became part of revised Route 20, and section on International Lane became part of Route 24 (later it became part of Route 20). | |
17 (first use) |
? | ? | Merged or renumbered by November 17, 1999. Number reused by January 2006.[10] | |
20 (first use) |
? | ? | Merged or renumbered by November 17, 1999. Number reused in 2002 when Route 2 was split.[11] | |
24 |
North Transfer Point | Airport-Cherokee Park | weekdays only; discontinued on October 5, 2008; service on International Lane merged into Route 20, but the rest was eliminated without replacement, though Route 21 covers most of this area. | |
25 (first use) |
East Towne Mall | American Center | Discontinued on June 4, 2000. Number reused on similar route by January 2006. | |
30 (first use) |
? | ? | Merged or renumbered by November 17, 1999. Number reused in 2002 when Route 3 was split.[12] | |
31 (first use) |
East Transfer Point | Pflaum Road | Combined with Route 42 and Route 43 to form Route 16 as part of the August 27, 2006 restructuring. Service on Dempsey Road discontinued off peak; Route 39 covers during peak hours; service on Monona Drive from Pflaum Road to Buckeye Road was completely discontinued. | |
39 (first use) |
East Transfer Point | Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection | Combined with Route 14 on June 4, 2000. Resplit by January 2006. | |
41 |
South Transfer Point | Lake Point Drive | Portion on Waunona Avenue replaced by revisions to Route 12 and rest replaced by new Route 11 as part of the August 27, 2006 restructuring. | |
42 |
South Transfer Point | Southdale-Moorland | Combined with Route 31 and Route 43 as part of the August 27, 2006 restructuring. | |
43 |
South Transfer Point | Lake Point Drive | combined with Route 31 and Route 42 to form Route 16 as part of the August 27, 2006 restructuring. | |
52 (first use) |
West Transfer Point | Fitchburg | Discontinued on June 10, 2001. Portion replaced by southwest extension of Route 19 and other sections already covered by Routes 50 and 56. No service on Verona ROad south of Williamsburg Road or McKee Road from there to Fish Hatchery Road. New Route 52 was created in August 2007 serving most of this route, but does not serve Verona Road or McKee Road. | |
53 |
West Transfer Pt | UW Hospital | Dutch Mill Park & Ride | Limited stops; discontinued in August 2007; redundant with Routes 6 and 11. |
59 (first use) |
West Transfer Point | Fitchburg | Discontinued on June 10, 2001. Portions replaced by southwest extension of Route 19 and rerouting of Route 65 and another section already covered by Route 18. | |
60 |
Capitol Square | Middleton Business Park | Replaced by new Routes 72 and 73 as part of the August 27, 2006 restructuring. | |
61 |
Capitol Square | Middleton-West Transfer Point | Replaced by new Routes 70 and 71 as part of the August 27, 2006 restructuring. | |
62 |
West Transfer Point | Middleton Business Park-Greenway Station | Replaced by new Route 74 (this section now part of Route 71) as part of the August 27, 2006 restructuring. | |
65 |
West Transfer Point | Capitol Square | Replaced by new Route 11 and revised Route 14 as part of the August 27, 2006 restructuring. | |
74 |
Middleton Transfer Pt | Middleton Business Park- Capitol Square | Limited stops; merged into Routes 71 and 72 on August 24, 2014. |
- 85 UW South Campus Circulator (weekday only)- Discontinued Monday, August 27, 2012 and merged into Route 80 due to budget crisis.
- 89 Parking Ramp Shuttle- Operated from January 2, 2007 to June 15, 2007.
Pre-1998 Routes
After the 1998 restructuring, L and LN were the only letter routes; in August 2002, L was numbered 80 and LN was numbered 81/82. These were the routes before the 1998 restructuring:[13]
- A East Towne / West Towne
- B Lansing/Meadowood
- C Lakeview/Burr Oaks
- D Jamestown Limited
- E Monona/Allied
- G Mendota/Hillfarms
- H Arbor Hills
- I Acewood/Old Sauk
- J Buckeye/Parkwood
- JX Greentree Limited
- K Middleton
- L UW Campus
- LN Lakeshore Dorms/Langdon-Johnson/Regent-Breese/Bedford-Broom
- M Moorland
- P Walnut Grove Limited
- Q Glendale
- R North Thompson Drive
- S Sherman Limited
- U Johnson/Gorham Shuttle
- W East Washington Limited
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)[14]
- 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.
- https://web.archive.org/web/19981206211852/http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/metro/pages/routes.htm. Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - https://web.archive.org/web/19981206211852/http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/metro/pages/routes.htm. Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - https://web.archive.org/web/19981206211852/http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/metro/pages/routes.htm. Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - https://web.archive.org/web/19981206211852/http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/metro/pages/routes.htm. Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - https://web.archive.org/web/19970208013227/http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/metro/routes.html. Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - Staff (2010). "METRO HYBRID BUSES". Metro Transit. City of Madison, WI. Retrieved 1 July 2012.