Bus

About Employee Bus Passes

Learn more about eligibility and how to purchase.

Program Information

Get Employee Bus Pass

Valid NetID or UW Health credentials required.

Purchase Bus Pass

Student Bus Passes

Provided by the Associated Students of Madison (ASM).

Student Bus Pass Info

Campus Bus

Campus bus route 80 travels down Linden Drive as the sun sets.

UW campus bus routes are fare-free for students, faculty, employees, and visitors.

Routes 80, 81, 82, and 84 operate daily, including late nights, weekends, and UW recess.

Campus buses serve central campus, Eagle Heights, and neighborhoods near campus. Service beyond campus is provided by Metro Transit city routes.

All buses are kneeling buses and are capable of transporting wheelchairs and other mobility equipment.

Campus bus route 80 travels down Linden Drive as the sun sets.Complete schedules for campus bus routes are at mymetrobus.com:

Route 80

Route 81

Route 82

Route 84

Go to the interactive campus map to a find bus stop:

Interactive Campus Map

Campus bus route 80 travels down Linden Drive as the sun sets.

  • Stand behind stand behind the yellow line at the front of the bus.
  • Save front seats for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
  • Disembark at the rear exit whenever possible.
  • More rider rules at mymetrobus.com.
Photo of curved solar panels installed on top of the bus shelter at Randall and Engineering Drive.
Photo of curved solar panels installed on top of the bus shelter at Randall and Engineering Drive. (Lauren Graves | Office of Sustainability)

In summer 2023, solar panels were installed at 20 campus bus shelters to power real-time bus trackers and lights. The trackers provide live arrival times for:

  • Campus buses
  • Metro Transit city buses
  • Park and ride shuttles

The bus trackers also link to other campus transportation resources, such as SAFEwalk and bus pass information, to help you complete your journey.

Emergency messaging will be displayed if service is disrupted due to inclement weather or other emergencies.

About. The solar bus shelters are the result of a collaboration facilitated by the Green Fund between Transportation Services, the student organizations: Helios and Enactus, and faculty from the Engineering Department. Additional bus shelters will be outfitted with solar powered bus trackers and lights by late 2024. Learn more about the project

Madison Metro Transit

Photo of a person ready to board Madison Metro Transit route D1.
A passenger gets ready to board Madison Metro Transit route D1. (Lauren Graves | Office of Sustainability)

Madison Metro Transit routes serve the city of Madison and nearby areas, including Fitchburg, Middleton, Monona, and Sun Prairie. Several routes travel through or nearby campus.

All buses are kneeling buses and are capable of transporting wheelchairs and other mobility equipment.

With an employee or student bus pass, riding the bus is a low-cost and sustainable commute option.

Multi-modal and active commutes. Metro Transit can complement multi-modal commutes where you combine other transportation modes such as biking, walking, carpooling, and/or vanpooling in one trip. Learn more about multi-modal and active commute options and how to use bike racks on Metro buses.

Photo of a person ready to board Madison Metro Transit route D1.
A passenger gets ready to board Madison Metro Transit route D1. (Lauren Graves | Office of Sustainability)
Photo of a person ready to board Madison Metro Transit route D1.
A passenger gets ready to board Madison Metro Transit route D1. (Lauren Graves | Office of Sustainability)

Route Planning

Bus Tracking

UW Transportation Services recommends these third-party apps to plan routes and track real-time bus arrival information. All are available in Google Play for Android Devices, and App Store for Apple devices. (Please note: Transportation Services does not provide support for recommended apps.)

  • Google Maps 
  • Moovit
  • Transit
Photo of a person ready to board Madison Metro Transit route D1.
A passenger gets ready to board Madison Metro Transit route D1. (Lauren Graves | Office of Sustainability)

Bus routes may detour, and stops may be temporarily relocated, due to construction, special events, and other factors. For up-to-date Metro detours, go to the detours page.

Check Current Detours

The research and medical functions of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the UW Hospital require occasional material transport across campus. Madison Metro restricts, and may deny, the transport of any item on its buses. Materials Metro generally restricts includes, but is not limited to: flammable liquids; dangerous, toxic or poisonous substances; storage batteries; vessels containing caustic materials, chemicals, acids or alkalis; fishing rods which are not broken down or have unsecured or exposed hooks or lures; ski poles unless secured to skis or have tip covers; sheet glass and sharp objects. Metro may also deny transport of any other item the driver perceives as hazardous. To reduce the likelihood of UW research materials that are not infectious or do not otherwise present a safety threat being rejected for transport on Metro buses, Transportation Services has implemented the Metro bus material transport policy.

Please use the Metro Bus Material Transport Label (PDF) when transporting such materials.

Madison Metro Paratransit

Madison Metro paratransit is a shared-ride service that uses a variety of companies and vehicles to respond to individual ride requests.

Employee and student bus passes can be used for regular and paratransit Metro service.

This Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit service is for individuals with disabilities who cannot use Metro’s accessible fixed-route bus service. The paratransit service area, hours, and days of service closely match fixed-route schedules. Learn more at Madison Metro’s website:

Madison Metro Paratransit

Learn more about options for accessible campus access.

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Accessible Circulator Shuttle

Photo of the UW campus accessible circulator shuttle vehicle. The shuttle is a black van with the UW-Madison logo in white and black and the vendor's logo on the vehicle's doors.

The Accessible Circulator Shuttle provides on-call and pre-scheduled service between campus buildings for UW employees, students, and visitors with mobility disabilities, whether temporary or permanent. Rides are available on a pre-scheduled and on-call basis. There is no fixed shuttle route or an hourly schedule.

For pickup, call (608) 890-1352 or email uwshuttle@goriteway.com

For details go to the Accessible Circulator Shuttle page.

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UW Health Shuttle

UWHC provides shuttle service to UW Hospital (Clinical Science Center) from parking lots in the west campus area. Learn more at the SMPH intranet site:

UW Health Shuttle

Monona Express

Monona Express is a contracted commuter service which makes four loops each morning and afternoon to take riders to downtown Madison, UW Campus, and UW, VA, Meriter, and St. Mary’s Hospitals. Learn more at the City of Monona website:

Monona Express

 

Campus bus and accessible transportation study

In 2018 and 2013, transportation consultants completed studies of the UW-Madison on-campus accessible transportation and campus bus services.

Transportation Services will reference the recommendations and may use for future implementation, as appropriate.

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