Madison Launches Redesigned Transit System

Metro Transit in Madison, Wisconsin launched redesigned transit service on June 11—the city’s first transit system redesign in 20 years.

“The city says the changes are meant to shorten commutes and simplify routes,” reports Grace Ulch for WKOW. “The biggest changes riders should expect - many route numbers have changed to letters, new bus stops have been added and Metro's north, east and west transfer points are now closed,” ads Ulch.

A separate article by Allison Garfield for Cap Times, published in May, provides additional details about the system redesign.

“The new bus redesign promises more consistent service with direct routes to outlying areas and the elimination of transfer points and buses from lower State Street,” writes Garfield. “The expansion will include three new routes to Sun Prairie. Bus rapid transit — a completely separate project that is slated to start in the fall of 2024 — will serve as the backbone going east to west and north to south.”

According to both articles, transit users in Madison have expressed concerns about the changes, with officials and some riders disagreeing on the effects of the changes for low-income riders and those with disabilities. According to Garfield, “residents have raised concerns that the system puts a disproportionate burden on low-income riders, people with disabilities and marginalized communities.”

Metro Transit’s General Manager Justin Stuehrenberg claims the opposite is true, however. “On average, Black residents will see a 96% increase in access to jobs within a 45-minute ride, Stuehrenberg said at the Thursday press conference, and for Latinx residents, that number jumps to 120%. Low-income residents will see a 93% increase.”

Newly hired “Ride Guide” staff have been on hand to help the public navigate the redesigned system, according to a city press release.

The Madison City Council first approved the new transit system design in June 2022, but full approval, in December 2022, had to wait until the city completed a Title VI evaluation.