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Metro Transit
City of Madison
Bus turning from State Street onto Capital Square

North-South BRT Line

Updated November 2025

Project Overview

Initial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project planning began in 2012, following the opening of the East–West service for Rapid Route A in September 2024. The next phase of the project brings BRT enhancements to the North-South corridor. Elevating Route B to a Rapid Route, offering faster service, better connections, and upgraded features such as: 

  • 9.1 Miles of new bus lanes for more reliable service
  • 23 New raised stations for easy boarding
  • Accessibility features for riders with disabilities
  • Safe and accessible pedestrian crossings 
  • Traffic signal priority to keep buses on schedule

The project included an environmental review and a public involvement process to inform preliminary and final designs prior to construction.

Rapid Route B map and bus stops.

Click to expand the map.

Project Timeline

  1. System Planning

  2. Project Development & Environmental Review

  3. Final Design & Engineering

  4. Construction

  5. North-South BRT Service Begins

Project Funding

The final design and construction costs will be primarily funded through a federal grant, with additional funding to support project completion. Project staff are coordinating with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for project readiness.

  • 79% Federal Grant Funding

    Up to 80%

  • 10% City of Madison
  • 8% State & Other
  • 3% Tax Increment Financing

Public Involvement

The new Rapid Route B project aims to deliver fast, reliable, affordable service with improved features and safety enhancements that will benefit everyone on the road on Madison's North-South corridor. Public information and involvement are a central element of the planning process for this project. The public involvement process utilizes a wide range of tools, including public meetings, surveys, outreach event tabling, and other effective methods proven to ensure the final designs are informed by the community.

  • Upcoming Meetings

    No additional meetings are scheduled at this time.
    Please check back for updates.

Several public meetings have been held to share updates and provide additional details about the project:

Watch Previously Held Meetings

Presentations

Questions & Feedback

Share your questions or feedback at brt@cityofmadison.com

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Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

Articulated electric bus charging at a bus station.

Questions & Feedback