Madison Metro Transit provides bus service to, from and around UW–Madison including fare-free campus routes, new electric buses and the East-West BRT line.
Subsidized bus passes are available for students and employees.
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Campus bus
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.
All buses are kneeling buses and are capable of transporting wheelchairs and other mobility equipment.
Campus buses serve central campus, Eagle Heights and neighborhoods near campus. Service beyond campus is provided by Metro Transit city routes.
Find complete schedules for campus bus routes at mymetrobus.com:
- 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.
Solar powered shelters
A bright idea
Thanks to a student-led initiative, revolutionary solar technology powers safety lighting & real-time bus trackers for campus bus shelters.
The trackers show arrival times for all buses and shuttles traveling through campus.
Madison Metro Transit
- Metro Transit overview
- Metro stops and schedules
- Route planning & tracking
- Detours
- Material transport
Madison Metro Transit routes serve the city of Madison and nearby areas, including Fitchburg, Middleton, Monona and Sun Prairie. Several routes travel through or close to 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.
- Search for Metro Transit routes and schedules on Metro’s online ride guide.
- Download the Routes and Schedules booklet (PDF). Or pick up a printed copy on a Metro Transit bus.
- Find a route serving your area on Metro’s Service Chart.
- Call Metro Transit at (608) 266-4466 or email mymetrobus@cityofmadison.com.
Route planning
- Plan a trip in real time: enter your location and destination into Google Maps.
- Contact our Commuter Solutions team for custom route planning assistance.
Bus tracking
UW Transportation Services recommends these third-party apps to plan routes and track real-time bus arrival information. (Please note: Transportation Services does not provide support for recommended apps.)
- Google Maps (Available in mobile app stores)
- Transit (Available in mobile app stores)
- Metro Transit’s Bus Tracker App
Bus routes may detour, and stops may be temporarily relocated, due to construction, special events, and other factors. Check current detours and sign up for alerts at Metro Transit’s website.
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. Registration is required to use the service.
The paratransit service area, hours and days of service closely match fixed-route schedules. Learn more at Madison Metro’s website.
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.