Expand Accessibility
Improving Transit Equity
Network Redesign
In 2023, Metro implemented its biggest service change in more than 20 years.
With the region having grown beyond Metro’s long-standing transfer point system, the entire service was redrawn from scratch.
Redesign goals were to make the system run faster, more frequently, and make it easier to use overall especially for low-income riders and people color.
With the redesign, approximately 66% of those with low incomes are now within walking distance of 15-minute bus service compared to 32% using the old system. Nearly 41% of people of color now also have access to this 15-minute service compared to 15% using previous routes.
In addition, those with low income are now able to reach 28% more job opportunities than with the old system, and people of color now see a 120% increase in the number of jobs able to be reached.
Free Summer Youth Passes
To improve access throughout the community, Metro has teamed up with the Madison Metropolitan School District to distribute a summer bus pass to ALL middle and high school students.
This special program provides free rides to 6th grade through high school students to make it easier to get around to jobs, athletic camps, friends’ homes and other fun summer destinations.
