Madison Municipal Building with native purple flowers in planter
Engineering

Travel Tips

To reduce congestion and improve the travel experience for everyone using John Nolen Drive, the City encourages drivers to explore options other than driving alone, including carpooling, bicycling, riding Metro Transit, telework, and flex scheduling. Shifting just one or two drive-alone trips each week would help ease congestion and improve the experience for everyone traveling in the corridor.

See below for tips and information on alternatives to driving alone and visit the RoundTrip program to access more resources for car-free commuters in Dane County. 

Biking, Walking, and Rolling

  • Use the Low-Stress Bike Route Finder to plan a connecting route that fits your comfort level.
  • Learn about BCycle pass options and view the BCycle station map to see stations closest to the project area.
    • All BCycle stations will remain open during construction.
    • BCycle is available annually March 15-December 15.
  • Register with the free RoundTrip program for Dane County commuters to find bike-to-work partners with similar routes. 

Capital City Trail

John Nolen Drive reconstruction will require closing the Capital City Trail, between E Lakeside St and S Broom St, from approximately July 2026 to June 2027. A 2.6-mile detour will be marked around Monona Bay during construction. The detour will use a combination of shared use paths and low-traffic bicycle boulevards.

The City is undertaking several improvements to the route around Monona Bay prior to the detour going into effect, including:

  • Installing wayfinding signs to guide people around Monona Bay and to nearby destinations.
  • Marking and signing Van Deusen St and Rowell St as Bike Boulevards.
  • Constructing a short two-way cycletrack on W Lakeside St to connect Rowell St to Gilson St.
  • Installing a BCycle station where the Wingra Creek Bike Path meets Sayle St.
  • Installing a path along North Shore Dr between the Southwest Path and S Bedford St; this path will be extended to S Broom St prior to the Capital City Trail closure along John Nolen Drive.

Metro Transit

  • Route 65 provides weekday, peak-hour service from Research Park Drive in Fitchburg, through downtown to the UW Hospital.
  • Route B offers weekday and weekend service from Caddis Bend in Fitchburg, through downtown, to Knutson Drive on Madison’s north side. Route B offers frequent service (every 15 minutes) Monday-Saturday.
  • Learn about Metro Transit payment options – payment is a breeze with contactless on-board payment via credit card or mobile wallets. These options, along with Metro’s Fast Fare card, include automatic transfers and fare capping for frequent riders.
  • Review Metro Transit routes and schedules to see what else could work for you.

Carpooling

  • Find carpool partners through RoundTrip, a free commute options program for Dane County commuters.
  • If coming from the southeast, use the Dutch Mill Park & Ride to carpool into downtown.

Telework & Flex Schedules

Telework and flex schedules are great ways to reduce peak-hour traffic congestion in major corridors like John Nolen Drive. If your employer offers these options, consider using them to avoid commuting during peak periods—generally, 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. 

Use the TeleWORKS Toolkit from the Greater Madison MPO to support a workplace conversation about how telework and flex scheduling can help you avoid peak-hour traffic congestion.

Emergency Ride Home Program for Car-Free Commuters

If you walk, bike, carpool, or ride the bus to work, join the free Emergency Ride Home (ERH) program to access Union Cab ride vouchers when the unexpected occurs. ERH is a safety net that provides peace of mind for car-free commuters in Dane County.

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