Madison Metro

Madison Metro

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	62 (77 including supplimental school service)
Stops	2,063 bus stops
Destinations	Town of Madison, Fitchburg, Maple Bluff, Middleton, Shorewood Hills, Verona McFarland (future), Stoughton (future)
Hubs	West Transfer Point East Transfer Point North Transfer Point South Transfer Point Memorial Union East Towne Mall Dutch Mill Park and Ride.
Fleet	215 fixed-route buses, 20 paratransit vehicles
Daily ridership	58,700 trips
Fuel type	Low Sulfur diesel
Operator	City of Madison
Website	www.mymetrobus.com

Madison Metro Transit operates a bus service throughout the city of Madison, Wisconsin, United States (US), and to the surrounding communities of Middleton, Fitchburg, and Verona. System-wide, fixed route ridership was 14,923,970 in 2011.^[1] Metro Transit also provides supplemental transit services to Madison middle and high schools. These routes are open to the general public, but have been designed to provide additional services during peak school times.^[2] 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.^[3] Routes 81 and 82 also operate as the university's "SAFEride" overnight service as well.

Metro also connects with suburban mass transit services, such as the Monona Public Transportation, Portage Public Transit, and Sun Prairie Shared Taxi Shuttle.^[4]

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.^[5]

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 resulting of a UW budget shortfall.^[6]

Hybrid bus on University Ave.

Standard paint scheme for conventional buses

Inside a conventional bus at night

A hybrid bus with its wheel chair ramp extended

Metro's Route 2 at Hilldale Mall

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

Peak-only routes

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 rush hour 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)

University of Wisconsin campus shuttles

All routes in this section are fare free.

• 80 Memorial Union / South Campus to Eagle Heights / West Campus (evening and late night)
• 81 Observatory Dr / Johnson St Loop(s) (evening and overnight) (SAFEride)
• 82 Breese Ter / W Washington Ave Loop (s) (evening and overnight) (SAFEride)
• 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

Bus fleet

• 800-875 New Flyer D40LF (Several have been retired)
• 876-999, 100-115 Gillig Advantage
• 001-021 Gillig/GM/Allison (Gillig BRT Hybrid)^[7]

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, 14, 15, 28, 37, 38, 44, 56, 57, 70, 71, 72, and 74)
• Verona (routes 55 and 75)
• Blooming Grove (routes 3, 5, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 39)
• Monona is not served but can be reached with Routes 11, 12, 16, 31, 37, and 38. Service in Monona is provided by Monona Public Transportation
• McFarland can be reached with Route 31
• Connection to Portage Public Transit via North Transfer Point
• Shuttle service to Sun Prairie via East Towne Mall

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

1. ↑ Staff (1995–2012). "2011 RECORD RIDERSHIP". Metro Transit. City of Madison, WI. Retrieved 1 July 2012. 
2. ↑ Supplemental School Service - Metro Transit - City of Madison, Wisconsin
3. ↑ Bus Routes
4. ↑ Sun Prairie Taxi Service - Routes & Schedules - Metro Transit - City of Madison, Wisconsin
5. ↑ http://www.madisonareampo.org/planning/documents/TDP_Final_Web..pdf
6. ↑ UW announces changes to campus bus routes : Wsj
7. ↑ Staff (2010). "METRO HYBRID BUSES". Metro Transit. City of Madison, WI. Retrieved 1 July 2012. 

External links

• Metro site
• Public Transit Data and Trends from the Madison Area Metropolitan Planning Organization