# Metro Transit (Madison)

Metro Transit, formerly Madison Metro, operates bus services throughout the City of Madison, Wisconsin, United States and several of its suburbs, including Middleton, Fitchburg, Maple Bluff, Shorewood Hills, Sun Prairie, and Verona. System-wide, fixed route ridership was 9,514,620 in 2023. Metro Transit also provides supplemental transit services to Madison's high schools. These routes have been designed to provide additional services during peak school times. Metro Transit 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. These routes are free of charge for UW students and faculty.
Metro also connects with suburban mass transit services, such as the Monona Lift/Monona Express.

## History

Bus service in Madison was originally owned by a private company. It was established in 1910 to serve parts of Madison that weren't served by streetcars. In 1928, an ice storm heavily damaged the streetcar lines. The bus company replaced the streetcar lines with buses. After the company's revenues fell and the quality of service declined in the 1960s, the city agreed to purchase the Madison Bus Company, with the acquisition taking effect on May 1, 1970.
Metro Transit's routes were dramatically overhauled on July 19, 1998. Previously, all routes had passed through Capitol Square, making downtown the only interchange point for cross-town travel. The 1998 changes redesigned the entire network around four newly created "transfer points" on the north, east, south, and west sides of the city. The number of routes nearly doubled, from 23 to 43. Additionally, while the old routes had been indicated with letters, the new routes were given numbers to illustrate that they had no connection to the previous network. This transfer point system had been proposed as early as 1970, while the city was in the process of acquiring the bus company, by city council candidate Audrey Parkinson.
In 2019, Metro Transit updated its logo and bus look. The same year, several middle schools switched to yellow buses.
Several routes were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and did not return.
In 2023, the route network was overhauled to one with fewer routes and more frequent service. The newly redesigned network was launched on June 11, 2023. Most of the new routes are lettered rather than numbered. The north, east, and west transfer points were eliminated from the network. The south transfer point is still used and will eventually be replaced with standard streetside bus shelters and the transfer point will be redeveloped. The change has had a mixed reception; some have praised the redesign for more frequent service with fewer transfers, while others have criticized the redesign for eliminating service where the elderly, disabled, and low-income populations used to be able to ride the bus.
The same summer, the school routes received a handful of updates. Previously the school routes were lettered, but the routes are now numbered, each route has a triple-digit number. For the first time, supplemental school service was provided to Capital High, which had just moved into the former Hoyt School building. The remaining middle schools switched to yellow buses as part of recent route changes.
In December 2023 the Monona city council voted to join the Metro Transit network with a future branch of the C route slated to serve the suburb as well as opening stops along the existing G and L routes that currently operate express through Monona, this will replace the existing Monona Express commuter service.
On September 22, 2024, Metro Transit launched its first bus rapid transit line, Rapid Route A, to replace a core east–west bus route. Various city and regional governments had studied bus rapid transit and other high-capacity systems, including light rail, to serve the Madison area as early as the 1980s, but did not begin formal planning of a bus rapid transit system until 2011.

## Route network

The transit network focuses on point-to-point service with some routes having different destinations but sharing the same core segments. Many routes serve downtown Madison and the University of Wisconsin–Madison where transit usage is high. The vast majority of service updates reflected in this section went into effect in June 2023. Significant changes include the restructuring of the main route network, including the discontinuation of the previous transfer point system, and the reintroduction of lettered routes replacing the previous numbering system. Although a small amount of weekday commuter routes remain numbered for administrative reasons. The University of Wisconsin circulator network was largely unaffected by the changes and retain its previous numbers/ routes.

### Bus rapid transit

In the early 2020s, Metro Transit began design and construction of a bus rapid transit system that offers faster and more frequent service. The two BRT lines have buses that run every 5 to 15 minutes during weekday hours. The first line is Rapid Route A, an east–west line that replaced Route A on September 22, 2024. It cost $195 million to construct, with a majority of funds from a federal grant, and includes articulated buses, center-running bus lanes and stations. A north–south line will replace Route B in 2028 pending federal funding.

### Regular routes

All routes in the table below run daily with varying service levels given the time/day. For example, route B runs every 15 minutes on weekdays, but every 30 minutes during evenings and weekends.
| Route | Terminals | Terminals | Major streets | Notes |
| Rapid A | Junction Rd Park & Ride | 1: Sun Prairie Park & Ride | East Springs Dr, High Crossing Blvd | BRT route |
| Rapid A | Junction Rd Park & Ride | 2: American Center/Hanson Rd | American Pkwy, Eastpark Blvd | BRT route |
| B | Fitchburg/Cahill Main | Northport Dr | Fish Hatchery Rd, Park St, Packers Ave | Planned North-South BRT route. Operates as BRT within Rapid A corridor. |
| C | UW Hospital/Highland Ave | 1: Sprecher & Cottage Grove | Old University Ave, King St, Wilson St, Jenifer St, Winnebago St, Atwood Ave | Interlines with Route R after 7 PM, weekends and holidays at UW Hospital. |
| C | UW Hospital/Highland Ave | 2: Buckeye Rd | Old University Ave, King St, Wilson St, Jenifer St, Winnebago St, Atwood Ave | Interlines with Route R after 7 PM, weekends and holidays at UW Hospital. |
| D | 1: Junction Rd Park & Ride | Sprecher & Cottage Grove | Schroeder Rd, Tokay Blvd, Odana Rd, Milwaukee St | |
| D | 2: McKee & Maple Grove | Airport/International Ln | Fitchrona Rd, Williamsburg Way, Allied Dr, Nakoma Rd, Sherman Ave | Future City of Verona service. |
| E | McKee & Maple Grove | Capitol Square | Raymond Rd, Whitney Way, Mineral Point Rd, Regent St, W. Washington Ave | |
| F | Junction Rd Park & Ride–Middleton | Sheboygan Ave–Capitol Square | Deming Way, University Ave, Parmenter St, Century Ave, Allen Blvd, Sheboygan Ave | Operates as BRT within Rapid A corridor. East terminus at Segoe after 7PM, weekends and holidays. |
| G | South Transfer Point | East Towne Mall/Independence Ln | Badger Rd, South Towne Dr, E. Broadway, Monona Dr (no stops), Dempsey Rd, Thompson Rd, Eagan Rd | Future City of Monona service. |
| H | West Towne Mall/Westfield Rd | South Transfer Point | Gammon Rd, McKenna Blvd, Raymond Rd, Todd Dr, Fish Hatchery Rd, Badger Rd | |
| J | West Towne Mall/Westfield Rd | Park St/Brooks & Johnson | Odana Rd, Tokay Blvd, Speedway Rd, Highland Ave/UW Hospital | |
| L | Femrite & Agriculture | Sherman & Delaware | Owl Creek Rd, Dutch Mill Rd, Agriculture Dr, Pflaum Rd, Atwood Ave, Sherman Ave | Future City of Monona service. |
| O | South Transfer Point | Park St/Brooks & Johnson-Park & Erin/St. Mary's Hospital | Badger Rd, Fish Hatchery Rd, Randall Ave, Olin Ave, John Nolen Dr, Rimrock Rd | Most peak hour trips terminate at St. Mary's Hospital |
| P | Independence & E Washington/East Towne Mall (loop) | Independence & E Washington/East Towne Mall (loop) | Hayes Rd, Portage Rd, Anniversary Ln | |
| R | 1: Junction Rd Park & Ride | UW Hospital/Highland Ave–Capitol Square | High Point Rd, Old Sauk Rd, Old Middleton Rd | East terminus at UW Hospital after 7 PM, weekends and holidays. Interlines with Route C after 7 PM, weekends and holidays at UW Hospital. |
| R | 2: South Ridge/Highway Q & Century Ave (Middleton) | UW Hospital/Highland Ave–Capitol Square | Century Ave, University Ave, Gammon Rd | East terminus at UW Hospital after 7 PM, weekends and holidays. Interlines with Route C after 7 PM, weekends and holidays at UW Hospital. |

### Weekday peak-only routes

| Route | Terminals | Terminals | Major Streets | Notes |
| 28 | University Row | Sherman Ave | Observatory Dr/UW Campus, Charter St, Fordem Ave | |
| 38 | University Row | Jenifer & Ingersoll | Babcock Dr/UW Campus, Bassett St, Broom St, Wilson St, Doty St, Williamson St | Future City of Monona service. |
| 55 | Junction Rd Park & Ride | Epic Campus | High Point Rd, Mid Town Rd, Northern Lights Rd | |
| 65 | UW Hospital | Fitchburg | John Nolen Dr, Rimrock Rd, Lacy Rd, E. Cheryl Pkwy | |
| 75 | Epic Campus/Verona | Capitol Square | Verona Ave, McKee Rd, Fish Hatchery Rd, Park St | |
* ↑ Routes may have multiple start/end points.
* ↑ Sections of roads with more than two concurrent routes are generally omitted for conciseness.
* ↑ Sections of roads with more than two concurrent routes are generally omitted for conciseness.

### Sun Prairie circulator service

Metro Transit provides two local bus routes within the City of Sun Prairie. Both routes run on a looping circulator system beginning and ending at the Sun Prairie Park and Ride, where it is possible to transfer to Route A into the city of Madison and connect with the rest of the Metro system. Route S runs seven days a week including holidays with 60 minute headways and route W operates on weekdays only with 30 minute headways. Route W previously interlined with the mainline east-west Route A at the Park & Ride, allowing for a single seat ride from Sun Prairie to downtown Madison, campus and points west, this ended with the launch of the Rapid A BRT service.
| Route | Terminal | Major Streets | Notes |
| S | Sun Prairie Park & Ride (counterclockwise loop) | O'Keefe Ave, Main St, Bristol St, Tower Dr, Windsor St, Grand Ave, Reiner Rd | |
| W | Sun Prairie Park & Ride (clockwise loop) | O'Keefe Ave, Main St, Bristol St, Bird St, US 151 (no stops), Grand Ave, Reiner Rd | Weekdays only |

### UW–Madison campus buses

All UW campus routes are fare free to students, faculty, and staff. Operating costs are paid by Associated Students of Madison, UW Transportation Services, and University Housing. When UW–Madison is not in session, service is reduced on routes 80 and 84 and routes 81 and 82 do not run.
| Route | Terminals | Terminals | Major Streets | Notes |
| 80 | Memorial Union | Eagle Heights/UW Hospital | Observatory Dr, Highland Ave, University Bay Dr, Lake Mendota Dr, Randall Ave, Dayton St, Lake St | Route terminates at UW Hospital during peak hours. |
| 81 | Memorial Union (loop) | Memorial Union (loop) | Langdon St, Wisconsin Ave, Gorham St, Lake St, Kohl Center, Broom St, Bassett St | Overnight service 6 PM - 3 AM |
| 82 | Memorial Union (loop) | Memorial Union (loop) | Observatory Dr, University Ave, Breese Terrace/ Camp Randall, Regent St, Park St, Lake St | Overnight service 6 PM - 3 AM |
| 84 | Linden & Charter | Eagle Heights | Observatory Dr, Highland Ave, University Bay Dr, Lake Mendota Dr, Linden St | Peak hours only |
* ↑ Sections of roads with more than two concurrent routes are generally omitted for conciseness.

### Supplemental school service

* 60 – East High School District
* 61 – La Follette High School District
* 62 – Memorial High School District
* 63 – West High School District
* 64 – Capital High School District

## Fleet

* Numerous between 909-999 & 100–160 Gillig Low Floor (40' ft) (Many are used mostly for school and peak-hour service.)
* 001–021 Gillig/GM/Allison (Gillig BRT Hybrid)
* 1901–1915 New Flyer Xcelsior (40' ft) added in 2019.
* 2001–2003 Proterra, Inc. Electric Buses, joined fleet in the summer of 2020, began service late 2022.
* 2004–2015, 2201–2215 New Flyer Xcelsior (40' ft) added 2020-22.
* 2301-2327 New Flyer Xcelsior 60-foot battery electric buses; mainly used for BRT service.

### Retired fleet

* 422-445 Saab-Scania CN112CLU
* 446-556 OBI Orion
* 557-719 Gillig Phantom
* 800–875 New Flyer D40LF
* 876–908, 910–912, 914–915, 917, 925, 927, 929, 932–934, 939, 942, 944, 950 Gillig Low Floor

## Ridership

| | Ridership | Change over previous year |
| 2013 | 15,001,760 | n/a |
| 2014 | 15,492,317 | 03.27% |
| 2015 | 14,632,229 | 05.55% |
| 2016 | 13,584,517 | 07.16% |
| 2017 | 13,108,095 | 03.51% |
| 2018 | 13,385,628 | 02.12% |
| 2019 | 12,969,815 | 03.11% |
| 2020 | 4,755,375 | 063.34% |
| 2021 | 5,458,011 | 014.7% |
| 2022 | 8,379,362 | 053.52% |
| 2023 | 9,514,620 | 013.55% |

## Gallery

* Metro bus on State Street
* A Metro bus stop sign
* The front of a Metro Gillig BRT hybrid bus
* A hybrid bus with its wheel chair ramp extended
* A bus at East Towne Mall in 2011
* Metro Transit headquarters and maintenance facility.
* The inside of a Metro bus