Month: June 2023

Parks Alive, Air Quality, Comprehensive Plan Update and More! Parks Alive next week in Hammersley Park July 5 and Owl Creek Park July 6!  Parks Alive builds stronger neighborhoods and connects neighbors to their parks through fun, family-friendly activities, music and free food. Events are held in parks across the city and throughout the summer. Next week you can connect with your neighbors and engage with your community at Hammersley Park on July 5 from 5-8:00 p.m. and Owl Creek Park on July 6 from 5-8:00 p.m. The Owl Creek event will include a 6:30 p.m. showing of Spider Man: No Way Home! Checkout all of the Parks Alive events and other summer activities listed on the Parks calendar. Comprehensive Plan Interim Update: City of Madison Opens Process for Future Land Use Amendments.   The City of Madison is currently working on an Interim Update of its 2018 Comprehensive Plan, which is a broad-based plan that creates a vision for a future Madison. It guides decision-making and investment. It also guides private development through the Generalized Future Land Use (GFLU) map and Growth Priority Areas map. The Interim Update is focused on the Generalized Future Land Use (GFLU) map. Because land use decisions must be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan’s GFLU map, conducting an interim update will maintain the GFLU map as an expression of current land use policy. It is anticipated that the majority of revisions to the GFLU map will be changes recommended in City plans adopted or amended after the Comprehensive Plan was adopted in August 2018. In addition to these administrative updates, the public has an opportunity to propose amendments to the GFLU map through this online application (due August 6, 2023). While updating and revising the GFLU map is the most significant part of the Interim Update, staff will also be updating some of the other maps within the plan document to reflect changes over the past five years, such as the Town of Madison attachment to the City, implementation of bus rapid transit, and other major projects. It is anticipated that the Goals, Strategies, and Actions as adopted within the original six Elements of the Comprehensive Plan will not be revised. However, there are some edits that are being considered in the Growth Framework chapter including updates to the map notes associated with the GFLU map, as well as additional guidance on emerging issues such as guidance for consideration of residential development in employment areas and mixed-use areas near the Beltline/interstate, and redevelopment of Special Institutional uses, like former places of worship. A full list of the proposed edits will be made available in August. For more on the Interim Update, including an anticipated timeline, a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document, past meeting recordings, and to sign up to receive project updates via email, please visit the project website. A virtual public meeting regarding the Comprehensive Plan Interim Update will be held via Zoom on Thursday, July 14 at 6:00pm. Registration is required and can be completed on the project website. Madison Public Library’s summer We Read Campaign returns.  Kids can visit the library, the Dream Bus or a Parks Alive event to get their own free copy of the We Read Card Deck, a new activity that families can do at the library or from home. Pick up a card deck full of action cards that offer lots of different ways kids can connect with reading, form relationships and share what they’ve read with others. Each deck contains prize cards that families can enjoy once they’ve completed the action cards. Click HERE for more information. Air Quality Updates. Madison has had several air quality alerts recently. Check Public Health Madison & Dane County’s guidance, which includes visiting a website such as the EPA’s Air Now webpage.  Air Now allows you to type in your location and learn what the air quality level is, and instructions for what actions to take like staying indoors or choosing less strenuous outdoor activities. Air Now is a partnership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Park Service, NASA, Centers for Disease Control, and tribal, state, and local air quality agencies. Streets Division Updates Independence Day:  Make sure you check your collection schedule to see how the upcoming July 4 holiday affects your trash & recycling collection. Your calendar can be downloaded at www.cityofmadison.com/CollectionSchedule. Also – be mindful of the drop-off site schedule with the holiday. The drop-off sites will be closed on Tuesday, July 4. The Sycamore & South Point sites are also usually closed on Wednesdays, so that means they will also be closed on Wednesday, July 5, too. Special Olin Avenue Closure in Late July: Due to the All City Swim meet, the Olin Avenue facility will be completely closed to the public on July 27, 28, and 29. That means no drop-off site, no mulch pickup, and no brush processing during those three days. Recycle Better on July 12: Sustain Dane and the Streets Division are teaming up to offer one last Recycle Better class in 2023. The class starts on July 12. You can sign up and get more details here or by checking out Sustain Dane’s Recycle Better website, www.sustaindane.org/Better Avoid Battery Fires: Lithium battery fires have been in the news lately, so be sure you are handling your batteries correctly so you do not cause a fire. The correct recycling steps can be found on the Streets Division’s website. August Moving Days – Already?: Yeah, I know. It’s nearly July, so moving days will be around the corner. All the details you need are up on the Streets Division’s website, www.cityofmadison.com/MovingDays.

City of Madison Newsletter

Make Music Madison This Week! Make Music Madison is a free, citywide day of music held annually on June 21st, the longest day of the year. Initiated in Madison in 2013, Madison’s festival is part of the larger Make Music Day, an international summer solstice music celebration occurring in 1,000+ cities across the globe. Each year, coffee shops, restaurants, retail shops, centers of worship, front porches, parks, and other locations across Madison fill with music for everyone to enjoy! Summer Park Fun! Goodman Pool is the place to be this summer. See the website for recreation swim, lap swim, and tot swim hours, as well as special events!   Splash parks are free to use and open daily 10am to 8pm through Monday, September 4. Movies in the park are now showing, see the list of movies near you. Beach Water Quality Our local beaches are part of the summer fun, but at times beach water quality can close outdoor beaches. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Public Health tests water at City beaches. They test for E. coli bacteria and blue-green algae and their toxins to protect swimmers and other recreational water users. You can check beach water quality on the public health website.  Mayor’s Message  The City of Madison is taking a multifaceted approach to public safety and violence prevention in our community. Safety is a top priority for every City department, but Police, Fire, Public Health, and Traffic Engineering have been at the forefront of our work. We recently heard updates from leaders in these departments. They shared some important updates and progress: – Shots fired continue to trend downwards – they are down 14.5% compared to 2022, year-to-date. – Burglaries year-to-date are down 20% from the three-year average. – Violence Outreach and Intervention Specialists are now conducting outreach and providing case management and peer support services to those in our community who may be engaging in or affected by violence. – The Safer Bar program, a de-escalation and bystander intervention program for owners, managers, and staff, is now available for alcohol-serving establishments downtown.  – 27 Safe Streets projects, covering 53 locations, have been approved in 2023 so far.  – Fatality and serious injury crashes on Madison streets are down 29% from 2020 to 2022.  – CARES teams have responded to over 2600 9-1-1 calls for service so far. – CARES services will expand to the weekends, and a third team will come into service in October.  You can view the whole briefing here.  I want to thank these agencies for their hard work, not only for taking evidence-based approaches to public safety but also for being great partners to each other and with the many community-based organizations they’ve brought into this work along the way. And thank you to those in the community who participate through public meetings committee work, and community groups, which help make Madison a safer place. Building a culture of safety is something all of us can be a part of.  Be well,  Mayor Satya Transit Network Redesign is Here!  Metro has implemented its largest service change in more than 20 years – do you know how to navigate the new system? Plan new Metro trips by visiting mymetrobus.com or downloading Google Maps or the Transit app from your favorite app store.   Brush Collection Season Are you ready for brush collection season? You can check here to receive the dates when you should set out brush for collection. reminder that Brush is woody material you have cut (or have fallen) from trees, shrubs, or bushes while “Yard waste” is the plant material you rake or pull from your lawn or garden and is a separate collection that will resume in the fall. Calling All Native Artists, Storytellers, and Community Leaders The Teejop & Beyond: Celebrating Native Nations program will return to Madison Public Libraries this fall and they’re looking for presenters! Hosted in partnership with Ho Chunk Gaming Madison, this program welcomes a variety of Native artists, storytellers, and community leaders to lead events in our libraries throughout October, November and December. In the past, this series has included art workshops, youth storytimes, in-person or virtual presentations, outdoor guided activities, and more. The library welcomes any ideas that offer opportunities for participants to learn and connect with you as a presenter and with each other. What kinds of stories, art, and knowledge would you like to share with the communities of Teejop/Madison? This opportunity is open to Native persons living in Wisconsin, whether their homelands are in the Great Lakes region or elsewhere in the world. The deadline to apply is July 30 – learn more at madpl.org/teejopandbeyond. Learn Like an Alder The City of Madison wants to make it easier for elected officials to understand all of the work departments do so we’ve launched a video series where department heads help them do just that. Here you can find videos detailing agency budgets, giving overviews of services, and providing answers to frequently asked questions. Check it out for yourself and follow along as Madison creates the budget for 2024.  Don’t Let Construction Keep You from Your Favorite Businesses Madison is growing and with that comes a number of high-impact road construction projects underway in highly visible and traveled spaces in the community including Atwood Avenue, University Avenue, E. Washington Avenue & S. Blair Street, Pleasant View Road, W. Wilson Street, S. Broom Street, Stoughton Road north of East Washington Avenue and Hammersley Road. While we’re excited for the infrastructure improvements and development to come, we know that construction can be especially hard on business so we want to remind everyone to please come support your favorite businesses in the middle of these projects Here are a number of ways to support local businesses in the middle of construction: Specifically look for businesses in construction areas to visit, buy and dine from. Follow the businesses on social media channels to stay in touch with daily deals or special promotions they may offer. Look for alternate ways and “open” signage to get into the business if regular entrance is blocked by construction. Buy goods online if they offer digitally. Share with others that the business is open to remind them to visit, too. Wear business swag to share brand awareness if they sell apparel. Schedule your next small coffee, meeting or get-together at the business. You can stay up to date on all current projects here.  Keep Your Trees Leafy and Green If a tree has been planted on the terrace in front of your home by Urban Forestry within the last five years, or if you had a tree planted on your private property in that same window of time, this is a reminder that young trees need watering, especially during dry weather like we have been experiencing. Urban Forestry has deployed crews to water young trees on the terrace, but with thousands of terrace trees around Madison, residents are encouraged to help. Learn more about how you can keep our canopy healthy.  Troubling Overdose Numbers Remind Us to Stay Safe Public Health Madison & Dane County issued a public health alert Wednesday afternoon following an increase in drug overdoses in the greater Madison community. It is unknown exactly what is driving this spike. It is possible that the make-up of street drugs in our community changed and could include a different mixture of opiates, fentanyl, or other synthetic drugs. When we talk about overdose trends and statistics, it’s important to remember that every number represents a life. It represents someone’s brother, friend, daughter, or neighbor. It represents someone who urgently needs to know this information. Learn more about how to keep yourself and loved ones safe.  Libraries Have Free Covid Tests Covid is still with us! Remember you can pick up a free Covid test kit along with a good book at Madison Public Libraries!

Ryan Funeral Homes proposes to develop the vacant property at the corner of McKee Road and Golden Copper Lane. The proposal is for a 9,000 square foot, one-story building with a two-story component that would be a funeral home with chapel, social room, and office space. The site provides 68 automobile parking spaces. The proposal would need approval from the Urban Design Commission, Plan Commission, and Common Council.

A virtual neighborhood meeting to hear more about this proposal is scheduled for Thursday, June 22, at 6:30pm. You can join the meeting using your computer, smartphone, or tablet, or you can listen in via telephone. You will receive login information after registering at www.cityofmadison.com/MeetingJune22RyanFuneralHome .

Juneteenth Celebration this Sunday at Penn Park

Come celebrate Juneteenth on June 17 at Penn Park, 2101 Fisher Street from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  This is a time to honor and celebrate African/Black American emancipation, history, and accomplishments. Now a City holiday, Juneteenth Day is actually June 19, and City offices will be closed that day.

Parks Alive June 20 – Spider Man- No Way Home at Aldo Leopold Park

Beginning June 20 at Aldo Leopold Park, 2901 Traceway Drive, area neighborhoods, City Parks and City Neighborhood Resource Teams will kickoff Parks Alive! Come out to see Spider Man-No Way Home and enjoy free food, music, games and more from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Checkout all of the Parks Alive events and other summer activities listed on the Parks calendar.

Make Music Madison

Join us this Wednesday, June 21^st for an extraordinary musical celebration as part of Make Music Madison. There will be over 600 live performances all throughout the city from talented local artists to emerging musicians. The diverse lineup promises to offer something for everyone’s musical taste!

Madison Public Library’s summer We Read campaign returns

Kids can visit the library, the Dream Bus or a Parks Alive event to get their own free copy of the We Read Card Deck, a new activity that families can do at the library or from home. Pick up a card deck full of action cards that offer lots of different ways kids can connect with reading, form relationships and share what they’ve read with others. Each deck contains prize cards that families can enjoy once they’ve completed the action cards. Click HERE for more information.

 

Streets Division Updates

• In observance of the Juneteenth holiday, the Streets Division will be closed on Monday, June 19.  This means no trash & recycling collection and the drop-off sites will be closed as well.
• The drop-off site at 1501 W. Badger Rd is permanently closed.  The resident services office remains open at Badger, but the drop-off site is gone.  For more details about which sites are open and their hours, go to www.cityofmadison.com/DropOffSites. 
• Badger Road has been closed for over a year now, and we’re still seeing a lot of people show up looking to drop off items.  If you could please help spread the work to your friends and neighbors, it would be appreciated – especially by your friends and neighbors who you could save a unnecessary trip to the Badger Rd site.
• Food scraps drop-off continues at the Eastside and South Madison farmers’ markets on Tuesday evenings.  We are over 2,000 pounds of food scraps collected for the year already!  Check out what you can bring to our sites and more details at www.cityofmadison.com/FoodScraps.
• On June 24 there will be a free electronics recycling event at Warner Park from 8:00am to 1:00pm.  This is not a City event.  Since it is not an official City event, you do not need to be a City resident to participate. This free electronics recycling event is being put on by Universal Recycling Technologies, Samsung, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.  More details about the event can be found on URT’s website here or by calling 1-877-278-0799.
• Curious about the City’s electronics recycling?  Go to www.cityofmadison.com/eCycle.  All electronics, including televisions & computers, are accepted without a charge in 2023 at the drop-off sites.  You just need to be a city resident, and the electronics have to come from your home.  We cannot accept material from businesses.

Ryan Funeral Homes proposes to develop the vacant property at the corner of McKee Road and Golden Copper Lane. The proposal is for a 9,000 square foot, one-story building with a two-story component that would be a funeral home with chapel, social room, and office space. The site provides 68 automobile parking spaces. The proposal would need approval from the Urban Design Commission, Plan Commission, and Common Council.

A virtual neighborhood meeting to hear more about this proposal is scheduled for Thursday, June 22, at 6:30pm. You can join the meeting using your computer, smartphone, or tablet, or you can listen in via telephone. You will receive login information after registering at www.cityofmadison.com/MeetingJune22RyanFuneralHome .

**Metro’s complete route redesign is coming up fast on Sunday, June 11, 2023**

Starting Saturday, June 10, the Metro Customer Service Center is open extended hours to help early morning and late night commuters with the new service beginning on June 11.

For two weeks, representatives are available from 5:30a to 10p. We can help plan your trip, find your bus stop, see live arrival times and answer any questions you have!

Call 608-266-4466.

Meetings

Board of Park Commissioners: The Board of Park Commissioners will take place on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 in in-person format at 6:30 PM. Agenda items includes declaring July 2023 as “Parks and Recreation Month” in the City of Madison; adoption of Park Development Plan for Kestrel Park, request from Olbrich Botanical Gardens to Close Bolz Conservatory August 9-11, 2023 for Installation of GLEAM Exhibit; request by Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, Inc. to extend Madison Park hours for Fete de Marquette; Dog Park Designation status update; and more!

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Written Comments

Education Committee: The Education Committee will take place on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 in virtual format at 5:30 PM. Agenda items includes County Youth in Governance Presentation, discussion on draft policy regarding Driver’s Education and more!

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for public comment
• Watch Online

Events

• Become a Homeowner Webinar, Monday, June 12, 2023: Learn about programs available to bring you one step closer to your goal of homeownership! Learn about:
  • Down Payment and closing costs assistance
  • Financial literacy and homebuyer education
  • Other avenues for homeownership
• Artist Austen Brantley Shaved Ice Social, Monday, June 12, 2023: Join Artist Austen Brantley for shaved ice at the Worthington Park, on June 12 (rain date 13th), and learn about his upcoming art project in the Darbo-Worthington Neighborhood.
• Lakeside Kids: James the Magician, Tuesday, June 13, 2023: Since 1986, James Ember has been creating and performing magic. He has performed his award winning, interactive, comedy magic show throughout the world. Performing magic with a wild passion since he won his first talent show at the age of six, his exceptional magical talent has been showcased at school programs, on stages, on the street and everywhere in between. There’s one thing that drives every single one of his performances – he knows joy is contagious!

• East Side Farmers’ Market, Tuesday, June 13, 2023 : The Eastside Farmers’ Market is Madison Wisconsin’s finest weekday farmers’ market. Our goal is to bring the freshest Wisconsin grown food direct to the heart of the East side. Our vendor members are agricultural producers and food artisans who make value added products from Wisconsin’s agricultural bounty.
• Mobile Madison | Movies with Madison Parks – Minions: The Rise of the Gru, Tuesday, June 13, 2023: The City of Madison Parks Division developed Movies with Madison Parks in harmony with the City’s Neighborhood Resource Teams (NRTs). Sina Davis, from the Allied Drive Neighborhood, provided the spark and served as the main community driver behind the creation and development of the program. This popular program was named in her honor, just prior to her passing in July 2019.
• Dane County Farmers’ Market – Wednesday Market, Wednesday, June 14, 2023 : The Wednesday Dane County Farmers’ Market is located on the 200 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, in between the Madison Municipal Building and the City County Building. While more intimate than the Saturday Market, you will still find many of your favorite Dane County Farmers’ Market members, as well as a full array of fruits and vegetables, eggs, cheeses, honey, maple syrup, bakery items, cut flowers, plants, and many specialty items.
• The Capitol View Farmers’ Market, Wednesday, June 14, 2023: The Capitol View Farmers Market is returning to the North Star Neighborhood! Join us each Wednesday (May 31-October 11, 2023) from 3:00-7:00pm to support local farmers and vendors, enjoy live music and food carts, and make the most of summer in Madison!
• Madison Jazz Fest, Wednesday, June 14, 2023: The Madison Music Collective presents a Madison Jazz Festival concert in Penn Park by Madison’s Rick Flowers and Amalgam X, featuring Kevin Carnes on drums, Chris Moseley on guitar, Adam Czerepinski on bass, and Flowers on keyboards and vocals on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 from 6:00 to 8:00pm. This concert is part of the Collective’s popular DIG JAZZ concert series. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy live jazz in the park. You can also purchase food from the Sista’s Chicken & Fish food trunk.
• Maintain Homeownership Webinar, Thursday, June 15, 2023: If you are currently a homeowner, come learn about programs to ensure you stay in your home! Learn about:
  • Home repair and accessibility modifications
  • Post purchase counseling and programs (i.e. foreclosure prevention, tax credits, maintenance)
  • Mobile Home Assistance
  • Ways to reduce your utility bills
  • Property tax assistance for older adults
• Mobile Madison | Movies with Madison Parks – Encanto, Thursday, June 15, 2023:Grab a blanket or bring a lawn chair and enjoy the FREE show! All are welcome!
• 2023-24 Youth Poet Laureate Ceremony, Thursday, June 15, 2023: Applicants for the 2023-2024 Youth Poet Laureate will give a reading at Pinney Library. There will be a ceremony after to announce the 2023-2024 Youth Poet Laureate.
• Concerts on the Rooftop: Sixteen Candles, Thursday, June 15, 2023:Experience the nostalgia and energy of the greatest decade of music – the 1980’s! Entertaining audiences since 2003, Sixteen Candles travels the country to bring 80’s music to life in full force for a memorable and exciting concert experience that you won’t soon forget.
• Community Garden Summit, Friday, June 16, 2023: We foster community, equity, and food production by connecting people in Dane County with the space, education and resources to create and sustain community gardens.
• The Sessions at McPike Park, Friday, June 16, 2023: The Sessions at McPike Park is in its 10th year and will have great music all seven days and dance and comedy interspersed.
  This is a free all-volunteer run event that helps raise funds for 6 non-profit partners. Great food and drink for sale.
• WPCRC Family Fun Night – June 16 (Juneteenth Celebration), Friday, June 16, 2023: WPCRC Family Fun Nights are in partnership with Madison School Community Recreation.
• Loop The Lake, Saturday, June 17, 2023: Support clean, healthy lakes with Clean Lakes Alliance’s 10th Annual Loop the Lake Bike Ride. Join in person on the official Monona Lake Loop by starting and ending at Olbrich Park on Saturday, June 18th, 2022. Or, choose to ride, walk, run, or paddle virtually, from anywhere Saturday, June 11th – Sunday, June 19th.
• Volunteer Day at The Glen, Saturday, June 17, 2023: The Glen Golf Park is establishing an ongoing volunteer program that helps volunteers learn, grow personally and gain professional experience.
• HUD-Approved Homebuyer Education, Saturday, June 17, 2023: Take the first step to owning a home, and join us in this Home Buyer Education Workshop. This FREE HUD-Approved homebuyer educationworkshop takes place in person and lunch is provided.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Starkweather Creek Area, Saturday, June 17, 2023: Edible Plants ~ Outings in the Starkweather Creek area vary each month – be sure to check the starting location. Adventures typically at 10:00am on the 3rd Saturday of the month, year-round, and frequently start at the Goodman Community Center, unless noted otherwise. Outings include nature walks, canoe/kayak adventures, bicycling tours, and more, and are sponsored by the Madison Friends of Urban Nature , Madison Parks, Goodman Community Center , Madison Audubon Society , and Friends of Starkweather Creek . No registration is required. Pets are not allowed.
• Madison Juneteenth Celebration, Saturday, June 17, 2023 : Historical celebration of African/Black American emancipation, history, accomplishments and influence on American history and culture.
• The Sessions at McPike Park, Saturday, June 17 and Sunday, June 18 : The Sessions at McPike Park is in its 10th year and will have great music all seven days and dance and comedy interspersed.
  This is a free all-volunteer run event that helps raise funds for 6 non-profit partners. Great food and drink for sale.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Warner Park, Sunday, June 18, 2023: Enjoy an informal family and kid-friendly nature walk around the scenic Warner Pond lagoon and across Castle Creek to discover the wetlands, woods, and prairie in the Wild Side of Warner Park and the birds and other creatures that call it home! Walks at Warner Park held on the 3rd Sunday every month are co-sponsored by Madison Bird City FUN partners Wild Warner  and Madison Audubon . Meet at the colorful Warner Park shelter by the lagoon. Parking is available nearby. No registration is required. No pets are allowed.
• Live at The Glen & Movie | WYSO & Vivo, Sunday, June 18, 2023: Grab a blanket or bring a lawn chair and join us at The Glen for a free movie! All are welcome! Starting at 3pm enjoy the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra performing along the trees of The Glen House and 9th hole

Announcements

• Goodman Pool Opens Friday, June 9: Goodman Pool opens for the 2023 season on Friday, June 9 and thanks to the generosity of Goodman’s Jewelers, the first 500 kids receive FREE ADMISSION starting at 12pm!
• 2023-24 Youth Poet Laureate to be announced at celebratory reading June 15 at 6:00 pm at Pinney library: The City of Madison, the Madison Arts Commission, and Madison Poet Laureate Angela Trudell Vasquez invite you to a reading of the 2023-24 Madison Youth Poet Laureate applicants.
• Artist Austin Brantley returns to Madison to create a sculpture for Madison’s Darbo-Worthington Neighborhood: Madison, WI – In an exciting collaboration between the Madison Arts Commission and Madison College, artist Austen Brantley has returned to Madison to begin designing a commissioned sculpture.
• Help Your Trees: Urban Forestry Reminds Residents to Water Newly Planted Trees: If a tree has been planted on the terrace in front of your home by Urban Forestry within the last five years, or if you had a tree planted on your private property in that same window of time, residents are reminded to water the tree as needed to increase its chance of survival.
• Metro Transit Redesigned Routes Start Sunday, June 11: Starting Sunday, June 11, Metro is implementing its largest service change in more than 20 years. This complete revamp of service is geared towards addressing a number of long-standing customer concerns including:
  • rides on Metro’s current service take too long
  • routes are too confusing
  • Frequent transfers are necessary, sometimes with the need to ride in the opposite direction of your destination to get the right bus at a transfer point.
  • This new set of routes and schedules has also been designed to integrate with Metro’s new bus rapid transit system that will go into effect next year.
  • Planning New Trips
    • Plan new Metro trips by visiting mymetrobus.com or downloading Google Maps or the Transit app from your favorite app store.
    • Printed schedule information is now available on Metro buses or through the mail by contacting Metro’s customer service center at (608) 266-4466 or mymetrobus@cityofmadison.com.
  • Route Numbers to Letters
    • The majority of Metro’s new routes will be noted as letters rather than numbers A few routes will still be represented as numbers.
  • Bus Stops
    • New Locations – A number of new bus stops with lettered route information have already been installed. These new locations will open on Sunday, June 11.
    • Existing Stops – A majority of Metro stop locations will remain the same. Route numbers on these signs will be updated to letters in the coming weeks.
    • Four-digit bus ID numbers will remain the same. ID numbers can be used to plan trips this week as well as after the new service launch. ID numbers can also continue to be used when contacting Metro’s call center with specific bus stop questions.
    • Look for temporary laminated signs with new route letter information at stops until new permanent steel sign versions are installed.
  • Transfer Points
    • Metro’s north, east, and west transfer points will close on Sunday, June 11. The North Transfer Point park and ride will also close with the start of new service. A complete list of available park and rides are available at mymetrobus.com/parkandride.
  • Look for Ride Guides Out on the Street!
    • Metro Ride Guide staff are now visiting transfer points, stop locations and are out riding buses to answer questions and help plan trips. Look for Ride Guides in bright yellow vests. Ride Guides will be out on the street first thing on June 11 and the following week to help passengers get where they need to go on Metro’s newly designed routes.
  • Customer Service Center Extended Hours
    • Metro’s customer service phone center is open through Monday through Friday from 6:00 am until 6:00 pm. Starting on Saturday, June 10, representatives will be available starting at 5:30 am through 10:00 pm. These extended hours will be available through Saturday, June 24 or as phone traffic warrants.
  • Plan Your Trip with Metro Staff
    • Metro staff will be available at a number of upcoming community events to answer questions and help plan new trips. A complete list of events is available at: https://bit.ly/45ybIYQ
    • For more information, contact Metro’s customer service center at (608) 2266-4466 or mymetrobus@cityofmadison.com.
    • Complete information is also available at mymetrobus.com.
    • Contacts
    • Metro Customer Service, 608-266-4466

Permit Free Days June 3 and 4 in Madison Parks

Enjoy permit-free days in Madison’s parks, Saturday and Sunday, June 3 and 4, 2023. This includes disc golf at Elver Park, 1250 McKenna Blvd. and Hiestand, 4302 Milwaukee St. For more information, see Disc Golf Courses  Also, no permit needed for Off-Leash Dog Parks, and no Lake Access Permit is needed for many City Boat Launches. For further information, contact Madison Parks, (608) 266-4711, parks@cityofmadison.com

Do you want your poem to be in a Metro bus?

The Madison Poet Laureate is seeking short poems from Madison residents to be considered for the annual Bus Lines poetry project. Bus Lines is made possible by a partnership between the Madison Poet Laureate and Metro Transit, with support from the Madison Arts Commission. Selected poems will be placed on Madison buses and the poets will be honored at a celebratory reading and exhibition of their work at Pinney Library, Thursday, November 9th at 6:30 pm. APPLY before June 9th

Madison Public Library’s summer We Read campaign returns!

Starting June 8, kids can visit the library, the Dream Bus or a Parks Alive event to get their own free copy of the We Read Card Deck, a new activity that families can do at the library or from home. Pick up a card deck full of action cards that offer lots of different ways kids can connect with reading, form relationships and share what they’ve read with others. Each deck contains prize cards that families can enjoy once they’ve completed the action cards. Click HERE for more information.

Streets Division Updates

With warmer weather comes an increase in large item pickup. Here’s a review of how large item pickup works now.

• You have to submit a work order to get on the pickup schedule.  Work orders can filled out at www.cityofmadison.com/LargeItemWorkOrder
• Put the items out on the set-out Sunday you chose on the work order.  Do not set them out early – crews will not arrive before your set-out date.
• Collection of large items occurs sometime during the work week following the set-out Sunday you choose.  It could be as early as 6:30am on Monday, so get the items out anytime on the Sunday you selected.
• What about that neighbor with a pile of stuff out for a long time?  You have two options if speaking with the neighbor is not possible:
  • Contact Building Inspection at 608-266-4551. Building Inspection is the code enforcement agency. They can see if a property has a work order or not. They can require property owners to get a work order, and fine those who choose not to follow their guidance.
  • Create a work order for your neighbor.  While this means your neighbor may not learn about the work order system, it does guarantee that they would be on the schedule for pickup.
• Large items can also be taken to a drop-off site.  Drop-off sites are different, so check the drop-off page before loading your car.
• Some items have fees that must be paid before dropping them off.  More about the fees can be found on the Streets large item website.
• When in doubt, contact the Streets Division and we’ll help.