Madisonโs new electric 60-foot BRT buses are currently being manufactured. They'll be on the street later in 2024. ๐
We should be receiving our first bus very soon! Stay tuned for more pictures.
Effective TOMORROW 3/24:
Riders must enter and exit through the rear doors of the bus. (Passengers with wheelchairs can continue to board through the front doors.)
**Fares will not be collected.**
Full details:
Starting Wednesday, March 18, capacity on Metro Transit buses will be limited to 15 passengers plus the driver. Please use Metro only for essential trips such as traveling to employment, medical appointments, grocery stores, etc.
Full details:
The future BRT planned by the City of Madison will feature frequent all-day service, direct routing using fewer stops, transit signal priority, dedicated bus lanes, off-board fare payments, and the use of articulated buses. Learn more at: .
Metro's annual order of buses are starting to arrive - look how shiny! The new buses are branded in our updated color scheme and also feature a completely new interior that we are excited to have our riders see and experience! Look for new buses on your route soon.
The City of Madison is now exploring bus rapid transit (BRT), which is a high-frequency limited-stop transit system that offers faster, more direct service. Tell us about your trip. Tweet us your destinations that take too long to reach using Metroโs current system.
Congratulations to Bill on his upcoming retirement! ๐
Bill has worked at Metro for 30 years as a driver and driver instructor. Thank you, Bill, for your valuable service to Madison and surrounding communities.
Metro operators are on the front line, maintenance employees continue to ensure buses operate safely and call center staff are here to be that friendly, helpful voice. Thank you, Metro employees.
Help us celebrate our amazing staff! Send videos, emails, etc.
.
@MadisonBikes
is hosting a workshop on winter biking tips such as clothing and gear during the winter season.
Weโll be at Tenney Park with a bus on Saturday, 11/13 from 12pโ2p. If you havenโt been able to use the bike rack on the bus, this is your chance!
A behind the scenes look into our makeshift call center - yes, that is a truck in the background! A big thanks to our wonderful call center staff for working under some unusual and difficult circumstances.
Today,
@MayorOfMadison
announced Metroโs continued partnership with
@MMSDschools
to provide all Madison students graded 6-12 free summer youth passes!
Passes will be available in school offices and summer school locations beginning in the middle of May.
With heavy snow in the forecast for tomorrow, thereโs no better time to brush up on some winter weather riding tips! โ๏ธโ๏ธ
1. Plan extra time โ there may be delays to our service.
Happy Friday! ๐
Thanks to one of our fabulous drivers, Walter, for sending this cool photo of his bus at a layover point. We rarely see pictures of buses at night, so we just had to share it!
Winter Service Update 1/12:
Road conditions are worsening and many of our buses are running 10-15 minutes behind. This delay is likely to increase throughout the day as winds pick up and visibility decreases. Riders are encouraged to avoid travel and stay home if possible.
Madison's proposed BRT is expected to reduce travel times by nearly 40%. This would help address complaints that Metro buses are overcrowded & people are being passed up. Tell us about your trip. Are there connections you frequently miss? Or routes you feel should be more direct?
Looking to the future, Metro will be unable to handle ridership increases expected from new jobs in the area. The City of Madison is now exploring adding bus rapid transit (BRT) corridors to make Metroโs current transit system work smarter and faster.
In honor
#PSRW
, we want to highlight a group of public servants that often do not get the spotlight they deserve โ our service lane employees. Metro service lane workers are responsible for maintaining the inside and outside of every bus, every night.
Welcome back students!
If you havenโt already, make sure to pick up your ASM bus pass at Union South. Wiscards will not be accepted as payment starting 9/10.
Questions on bus routes? Give us a call at 608-266-4466.
More info on passes:
Despite the State lifting of the Safer at Home Order, Public Health Madison Dane County has put a local Safer at Home order in place. Metro will continue to operate its reduced service rules.
Local Safer at Home order:
The City of Madison continues to work on implementing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Proposed BRT lines will help Metro's current system get passengers to employment, school, shopping, entertainment, and other destinations faster than what is happening today.
We received an awesome email from a family who had a great experience with Metro driver, Ricky! After reading the note, he said โThis gets to me, man. Itโs what I want every experience to be like for my passengers.โ
Read the note:
City staff will be discussing the East-West BRT line and station locations at three upcoming public information meetings. Each meeting will focus on a specific section of the line โ east, west and downtown.
Tell us how service can be improved!
Take our quick and easy Transit Choices survey and let your voice be heard. What is important to you when it comes to public transit? Feel free to share!
English survey:
Spanish survey:
Reminder! ๐ข
The virtual public hearing is on Wed. 3/13 at 6p to discuss fare technology updates. Please note that fares will not be increasing.
Attend this hearing and give us your feedback!
We purchased another maintenance facility!
The
@CityofMadison
is finalizing the purchase of two FedEx buildings on Hanson Rd., located on the far eastside of Madison. With this added space we will be able to add more vehicles to Metro's fleet and prepare for Bus Rapid Transit.
We'd like to extend our deepest appreciation to all of our local essential workers that tirelessly continue to serve the Madison community. We'll be honoring them in various social media posts. Help us celebrate them by retweeting, liking & thanking those around you.
Stay tuned!
Last Friday,
@SenatorBaldwin
and
@MayorOfMadison
visited Metro Transitโs maintenance building to announce a $6.4 million federal grant to help upgrade our facilities and convert our bus fleet to all-electric.
Watch the recording of the press conference:
Madison's proposed BRT system is expected to alleviate overcrowding on Metro buses, improve travel times throughout the city and prepare for expected future transit demands. Tell us about your trip. What route and when is your bus too crowded for comfortable travel?
In 2018, the City of Madison adopted the โImagine Madison Comprehensive Planโ which placed a heavy emphasis on transit. With over 15,000 resident interactions, the plans shows that as a community we do not want to grow by adding lanes or building roads.
Today the Mayor unveiled her rapid transit plan called
#MetroForward
-- a major investment in transit to speed workforce transportation, reduce congestion & create the backbone of a vibrant regional economy.
Learn more at:
#TBT
- back when we were known as โMadison Metro.โ Now we like to call ourselves Metro Transit because we donโt just serve Madison anymore. Fast forward to today, we have expanded our service to Middleton, Verona, Fitchburg & Sun Prairie!
Weโve come a long wayโฆ next stop, BRT!
The Madison region is growing rapidly and ready to move forward. Metro is preparing to grow with the region and provide a system that is faster and more frequent, especially during off-peak hours.
SERVICE UPDATE:
After careful consideration, Metro will be reducing service and following SATURDAY schedules beginning Monday, March 23. Schedules will be implemented 7-days a week, with some commuter routes running Monday-Friday service.
Celebrate Transit Equity Day with us on Sunday, February 4!
Transit Equity Day is a National Day of Action commemorating the birthday of Rosa Parks. In her honor, Metro will be reserving a seat on a number of buses this Sunday.
Read more:
Upcoming Service Updates!
To improve bus on-time performance and overall reliability, schedule adjustments will be made to most routes on Sunday, December 3.
Adjustments may include trip times shifted earlier/later, timepoint changes & additional trips.
On 2/14, Metro officially broke ground on our newest bus facility on Hanson Rd. Once completed, the building will support electric bus storage, maintenance & charging for the 62 electric buses needed for full operational capacity in our growing region.
Join us in planning for the future of public transit in Madison! A public kickoff meeting to explore a possible East/West Bus Rapid Transit Corridor is scheduled for Wednesday, December 12.
Our Maintenance dept. is making sure our buses are clean and disinfected for passengers/drivers. You can do your part by:
-Riding the bus for essential trips only
-Exiting through the rear doors
-Avoid touching your face & public rails
-Covering your sneeze/cough with your elbow
In 2019, Madison was ranked as the
#3
place to live by . Madisonโs continued popularity and growth is expected to create 85,000 new jobs and 100,000 new residents in Dane County. This would create 800,000 new road trips. See ranking:
Today, we honor local restaurant and food service workers.
@TheRomanCandle
is one of the many places continuing to serve our community day in & day out. On numerous occasions, they have provided free delicious pizza to essential workers in the Madison area!
#thankyou
#candlecares
Read City of Madison Transportation Director Tom Lynch discuss how important steps must be taken to prepare for the region's expected population and job growth in the February edition of The Municipality.
@LeagueWIMunis
Starting on Monday, 7/13, all riders are required to wear a face covering while riding. In addition, bus capacity will be reduced to a max. of 20 passengers.
Free reusable face coverings will be available on all buses if you need one.
#MaskUpMadison
Mayor Satya has unveiled her plan to invest in fast, reliable and accessible transportation for the Madison metropolitan region. Itโs called
#MetroForward
. Learn more at
Weโre aware that many of you are concerned about COVID-19. While the risk to exposure remains low, be assured that Metro is taking steps to keep passengers and drivers safe on the bus.
For information on what we're doing or what you can do to help, visit:
Metro and the City of Madison have taken another important step forward in the implementation of a Bus Rapid Transit System in Madison. Learn more about queue jump traffic signals installed on E. Washington Ave. at 4th St.
E. Washington Ave. has opened and buses are now operating normally through the area, however MPD and Metro staff continue to encourage passengers to avoid traveling through the area if possible.
Gridlock from Madisonโs projected job growth is expected to more than double travel times on the road. If people travel alone in their cars to these new jobs, weโd need additional lanes on the Isthmus and parking costs would top more than $250 million.
We will continue to provide free rides to emergency cooling centers until 5p tomorrow. When boarding, just let your driver know you are headed. Take care, Madison!
As
@MGEMadison
crews continue to work on restoring power,
@RedCrossWIS
is planning to open an emergency overnight shelter
@MadisonCollege
tonight, until 5pm tomorrow.
Pets are allowed, just bring a carrier or a kennel.
Staff is proud to announce the launch of the new Metro website! The new site has a clean, sleek design, is customer-friendly and features our live-arrival data on almost every page so you always know where the next bus is.
Check it out now!
COVID-19 Riding Rule: To protect Metro drivers, riders are required to enter and exit the bus through the rear doors until further notice. The front door is only available to riders that need the ramp to board.
UPCOMING DETOUR
Starting Sunday, January 17, buses will detour from the Square ALL DAY. This is expected to continue until the end of service on Wednesday, January 20. Board at stops one block off the Square.
Metro Rapid is coming to Madison later this year! Rapid Route A will provide frequent, fast and reliable service through our communityโs east-west corridor.
Metro Transit is looking for a permanent, part-time Map and Layout Designer. Meticulous work includes creating clear, concise and functional transit maps, schedules and signage in digital and paper formats for the general public.
Apply here:
NEXT WEEK ๐ฃ
Learn more about a proposed second BRT route to run from the north side of Madison to Fitchburg.
๐ถVirtual - 11/8 at 6:30p-7:30p
(register online to receive link)
๐นIn-Person - 11/9 at 5:30p-7:30p
MainStay Suites - 5421 Caddis Bend
Starting Mon. 4/1, surveyors will be out riding fixed-route buses and asking Metro passengers to fill out a survey, which includes questions about themselves and their trip. Look for surveyors wearing yellow safety vests and 'Field Surveyor' ID badges.
We received so many amazing submissions for the BRT station contest! Take a look at the 23 remaining designs and be sure to share your likes, dislikes or things you would change on each design by May 2.
Today is national 'Get on Board Day,' and we are celebrating a little differently this year... by staying
#saferathome
! Instead of riding, we encourage you to join us and the
@MayorOfMadison
in thanking our wonderful staff during this tough time. Thank you, Mayor Satya!
These workers play an integral part of keeping our riders and employees healthy during the pandemic.
Please join us in thanking our Service Lane department for all the great work that they do! ๐๐ง
As part of Mayor Satya's MetroForward>> initiative,
@CityofMadison
&
@MMSDschools
are teaming up to distribute Metro summer passes for ALL middle and high school students!
From 6/2 - 6/16, students can pick up their pass at their school.
Please expect delays throughout the service area - E. Washington is at a standstill and buses are trying to make their way through. Passengers are encouraged not to travel if possible. Track your bus:
Making plans for your New Year's Eve celebration? Don't forget to include us!
Metro in partnership with the
@TavernLeagueWIS
are offering free, extended service on New Year's Eve from 7p to 3:30a. No surge prices, no hassles... just free, safe rides!
The 2020 Bus Lines Poetry Contest is now open for submissions! This year's theme is "How riding the bus is good for us and the planet." Share with your fellow citizens why riding the bus is beneficial. Deadline is Friday, 3/6.
Submit your poems at:
Transit Driver Appreciation Day is on Friday, March 18. Do you want to give a shout out to a driver who is awesome at their job? Fill out a compliment form online or comment below!
To clean our air and protect our planet, Metro plans to pilot the use of all-electric buses by 2020, with anticipated full fleet conversion beginning in 2023.
#MetroForward
#climateaction
#FridaysforFuture
In honor of
#InternationalWomensDay
, weโd like to give a shout out to all of the hardworking women at Metro Transit. From operators, mechanics, administration and more, these women help keep Metro running every day!
#ThrowbackThursday
Check out one of our older system maps! Can you guess what year this was printed?
Hint: bus fare for adults was .65 cents
Stay tunedโฆ Weโll reveal the year later this afternoon! ๐
UPDATE: The impacts of this morning's fire and power outages will continue to create congestion. Please consider avoiding the Isthmus if possible. Visit for updates and resource information.
#CityOfMadison
#MadisonOutage
Happy Transit Driver Appreciation Day to all of our Metro operators! Thank you for keeping the community moving every day!
#thankyourdriver
#TDAD
#mymetrobus
For everyoneโs health and safety, we request that passengers wear a mask or other face covering when riding. Remember to try and keep your distance from drivers and other riders on the bus.
Check out more information on our current service:
Four out of 9 land use and transportation strategies in Imagine Madison focus on transit, with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) playing a key role. These strategies are Madisonโs transportation blueprint for the next 30 years.
Madison Bike Week is almost here and over 70 events will take place throughout Madison on June 1-8. If you get tired, donโt forget that all Metro buses are equipped with bike racks to help you out! Check out the full schedule of Bike Week:
#madisonbikeweek
Metro has experienced great success during the past several years. In September, Madison was ranked
#5
in the country by Wallethub in its Cities with the Best Public Transportation list. Metro looks forward to making its system even better in future years.
If your student lives in Madison and attends a school district thatโs not MMSD, they can still receive a free summer youth pass! Just stop by our main office and pick one up! Proof of residency is required.
A public hearing is scheduled on Monday, August 2 at 6pm. Metro is looking at replacing its current system of magnetic stripe card passes with smartcards, mobile phone payments, online account payments and fare purchase kiosks located at transfer points and BRT stations.
Metro is exploring news ways to collect fares. What type of collection system would you like to see? What priorities do you have? How can we make paying your fare easy?
Share your thoughts w/ staff at a virtual meeting on Wed., July 21.