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Employee bus pass distribution under way

August 13, 2002

University employees can pick up free Madison Metro bus passes this week as part of an effort to curb demand on campus parking lots and reduce congestion on campus and in surrounding neighborhoods.

The pilot program finalized by UW–Madison Transportation Services and the City of Madison is similar to one already available to UW–Madison students. Beginning Sunday, Aug. 25, UW–Madison and UW Hospital and Clinics employees may use Madison Metro services anywhere in the city by showing the pass and a faculty/staff or hospital identification card.

With about 11,000 parking spots campuswide, UW-Madison has the fewest stalls per capita in the Big Ten. At any one time, about 200 employees are on waiting lists for annual parking assignments, a problem that is expected to worsen as new building projects and ramp construction temporarily eliminate parking stalls over the next five years.

The bus passes are one of several changes instituted by the university to encourage commuters to find alternatives to driving to campus. Madison Metro will charge the university $687,667 for the passes; much of the total will be paid using increased campus parking revenue from higher parking permit fees. UW Hospital will pay the portion of costs attributed to its staff.

Bus passes will be distributed as follows:

  • Aug. 13- 15: Memorial Union Annex Room, Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 16, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Aug. 19-22: Union South lobby, Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Friday, Aug. 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Starting Monday, Aug. 26, passes will be available at the Transportation Information Place at the west end of the Memorial Union or at Transportation Service’s main office, 124 WARF.
  • UW Hospital employees can pick up passes Wednesday, Aug. 21 through Friday, Aug. 23 , 10 a.m.-4 p.m. near the cafeteria. Starting Aug. 26, UW Hospital employees can pick up their bus passes in the Transportation Services office at G5/140 Clinical Science Center.

Retired faculty and staff with emeritus status are also eligible for the passes. The university is looking into the possibility of extending bus pass eligibility to all retirees.