Rate updates
Parking rates for the 2025-26 parking year (Sept. 1, 2025 – Aug. 31, 2026) have been approved and released.
There will be no rate increases for parking permits, employee bus passes, or Flex parking.
The gross hourly pay rate at which UW employees and graduate students are eligible to be considered for the reduced cost parking program will continue at $21.63 per hour. The reduced cost program will also continue for UW Hospital and Clinics employees, and the hourly pay rate to be considered for the program will remain $30 per hour.
Policy updates
There are no significant changes to Transportation Services policies for the upcoming year. Policy updates will be posted to the UW-Madison Policy Library and the Transportation Services website before the upcoming parking year begins on September 1.
Program updates
New restrictions and guidelines for base lot and Flex permit applications
Beginning with the 2025-26 permit application period, those interested in base lot or Flex parking permits must select either the base lot permit or the Flex permit type in their application. Applicants are still encouraged to select and rank four parking lot choices when applying.
Restricting application choices to one permit type is expected to result in more efficient use of campus parking space. When this program change is implemented, Transportation Services will closely monitor parking lot occupancy levels to determine if additional permits can be allocated in certain lots.
This program change only applies to base lot and Flex permits.
Flex permits now available in park and ride, remote lots
Employees may now apply for Flex permits in remote lot 204 and park and ride lot 206. These are off-campus surface lots where ParkMobile will be used for Flex parking payments.
New process to renew employee bus passes
Beginning with the 2025-26 year, there is a change in the bus pass renewal process for UW and UW Health employees. Employees will be able to renew and continue using the same durable, tap-fare card instead of receiving a new bus pass every year.
Current employee bus pass holders will be emailed a renewal notification around August 1, with a renewal period of August 1–31. After renewing, continue using your existing card to board Metro Transit vehicles; no new card will be issued. Passes not renewed by August 31 will expire and the card should be returned to a Transportation Services office.
Employees without a pass can purchase a 2024-25 pass now, or a 2025-26 pass starting August 1. When you initially purchase a pass, a Metro Transit card will be mailed to you. This same card will be used if the pass is renewed for the following year.
What isn’t changing about employee bus passes:
- The annual cost is $48 and is prorated based on purchase date. The eBusiness portal will still be used for online purchases and renewals. Employees may pay online with payroll deduction or credit card. Cash or check purchases can be made in person at a Transportation Services office.
- UW Health and UW Medical Foundation pay for their employees’ bus passes.
- Employees of UW-affiliated organization must obtain their bus passes directly from the respective organization.
- Rides on Metro Transit buses, paratransit vehicles, and BRT routes are unlimited with use of the pass.
About Transportation Services
As an auxiliary enterprise of UW-Madison, Transportation Services – a division of Facilities Planning & Management – receives no state funding and must generate revenue to fund programs and activities. Revenue funds parking lots and facilities, campus bus service, and alternate transportation activities. Rates are set in accordance with UW campus policies and are approved by the Campus Transportation Committee to cover only the cost of operating the department, including infrastructure improvements such as new lots and garages.