Bikers on John Nolen for Ride the Drive.
City of Madison

State Street Campus Garage Officially Open

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A major public-private redevelopment along Madison's State Street corridor has reached an important milestone with the opening of the new State Street Campus Garage on Lake Street.

This project represents a highly collaborative investment involving the City of Madison Parking Division, the Planning, Community and Economic Development Division, Engineering Division, and private partner Mortenson Development.

The new development replaces the former garage, originally constructed in 1964, which was approaching the end of its useful life. Increasing maintenance needs and costs made continued investment in the aging facility difficult to justify. Rather than simply replacing the garage, the City and its development partners looked at the broader needs of the area, including the demand for additional student housing, parking, and improved transportation connections.

“This project gave us an opportunity to think beyond simply replacing a parking garage and think about how we could better use this space. By bringing public parking and regional bus service together, we're providing more transportation options, improving access to downtown and campus, and creating better connections for Madison and the region," said Stefanie Cox, Parking Division Director

The new garage provides 410 public parking stalls and modern parking infrastructure is designed to serve residents, students, employees, visitors and businesses in the State Street area. Above the garage, a mixed-use development adds private housing and commercial space, bringing new activity to an important downtown corridor.

The future regional bus terminal will provide another important transportation connection, making it easier for people traveling between Madison and communities throughout the region to access downtown and the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus.

“I love projects that do more than one thing," said Christof Spieler, Transportation Department Director. “The City team found a way to make bus travel more comfortable, give more than 700 people a convenient place to live, and provide parking for people going to all the businesses on State Street, all on one site. We'll keep looking for opportunities like that."

  • Metro Transit bus and bicyclist pass by new State Street Campus Garage, Lake Street, facility.
  • Seating with decorative planter adjacent to public bicycle racks along the State Street Campus Lake street garage.
  • Fenced off regional transit driveway, opening soon at State Street Campus, Lake Street, Garage.
  • Bicycle lane along Lake Street.
  • State Street Campus Garage, Lake Street, entrance gate.
  • Elevator entrance and pay station at State Street Campus Garage, Lake Street,
  • Pay station at State Street Campus Garage, Lake Street,
  • Accessible space near elevator at State Street Campus Garage, Lake Street,
  • Pedestrian walkway at State Street Campus Garage, Lake Street
  • Bridge connections from each side of State Street Campus garage, from Frances to Lake Street facilities

State Street Campus Garage Redevelopment at a Glance

  • 15-story mixed-use project
  • 410 public parking stalls
  • 4 bridges connecting to adjacent city garage
  • Regional bus terminal, expected to open in fall 2026
  • Student housing development, 700 beds
  • Separate private parking area for housing development
  • Percent for Arts Project will provide Cheerio to be installed Spring 2027 
  • Collaborative investment between the City of Madison and Mortenson Development

The new public garage opening represents a major phase in the property's transformation. Additional elements of the mixed-use development will continue to open and become active as the project progresses.

Visit the Parking Division website for more details

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