Getting In, Getting Around Madison

Madison is served by the Dane County Regional Airport, which serves more than 100 commercial flights on an average day, and nearly 1.6 million passengers annually. Madison Metro operates bus routes throughout the city and to some surrounding towns. Madison has three taxicab companies, as well as several companies that provide specialized transit for individuals with disabilities.

A commuter light rail system has been proposed, particularly for a corridor passing through the isthmus and alongside the university campus, but has remained on paper for decades. A high-speed rail route from Chicago through Milwaukee and Madison to Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, has also been proposed as part of the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative. Though for a time, former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson was the chairman of Amtrak, the nearest train station is in Columbus, Wisconsin. Regional buses connect Madison to Milwaukee, Janesville, Beloit, LaCrosse, and in Illinois, Rockford, O'Hare Airport, and Chicago. Service is also available to St. Paul, Minnesota.

Interstates 39, 90, and 94 intersect at Madison, connecting the city to Milwaukee; Chicago; Rockford, Illinois; Minneapolis-St. Paul and Wausau. Highways 12, 14, 18, 51 and 151 connect the city with Dubuque, IA LaCrosse, WI Janesville, WI and Lake Michigan. The Beltline is a large 6 to 8 lane freeway on the south and west sides of Madison and is the main link from downtown to the southeast and west suburbs.

From Chicago the VanGalder Bus can take you from Downtown Union Station, O'Hare, or Midway Airports to Memorial Union on the campus of the University of Wisconsin. Tickets are about $25 for a one way trip and they can be bought from the bus drivers for exact change, or with credit cards, check or cash at the Memorial Union Travel Center. From Milwaukee the Badger Bus runs multiple trips per day between Madison and Milwaukee, as well as stops in between.

Parking in the center of Madison - the isthmus - tends to be scarce. Parking further from the center is plentiful and free. There are a variety of cab companies and when downtown there is never a taxi far from sight.

Madison has consistently been rated as among America's most bicycle-friendly cities.