University finalizes park-and-ride program

Transportation Services has finalized a plan to offer a second park-and-ride lot to commuters at a much lower price than what it costs to park on campus at UW–Madison.

Beginning this fall, Villager Mall, 2300 S. Park St., will provide 100 spaces to campus employees who choose to become UW park-and-ride customers. UW–Madison will continue to make available a park-and-ride lot at the University Research Park. Both lots will cost $162 a year.

Shuttles between the lots and campus will run from approximately 6-9 a.m. and 3-5:30 p.m. Madison Metro serves both lots.

Employees wishing to use one of the park-and-ride lots can sign up through their unit parking coordinators.

“This is an option that employees can use to save themselves some money,” says Lance Lunsway, Transportation Services director. “The park-and-ride plan also eases the burden on the already short supply of on-campus parking.”

The city of Madison is finalizing a second transportation alternative negotiated by the university and Madison Metro earlier this year. The two sides have worked out a plan to provide free Metro bus passes to all university faculty and staff. Under the plan, faculty and staff could show the pass along with a valid UW–Madison photo ID card to board any Madison Metro bus.

The agreement will cost UW–Madison $557,375 for the first year, an amount which could be increased to $600,000 if bus pass use exceedsexpectations. The Madison City Council must give final approval to the bus pass agreement before it can move forward.

The university’s share of the costs of these new programs is being paid for using increased revenues from higher parking fees. The higher fees and transportation alternatives are being developed to combat a parking shortage on campus partly caused by widespread construction.