Metro, Vaccine, Element Lab, Airport & Upcoming Meetings and Events

Metro Transit is now hiring for permanent part-time AND full-time transit operators.  NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! Metro will train you on how to drive a bus.  Be part of a team that provides one of the basic needs that keep our communities safe and healthy.  Transit plays a large role in our lives, connects us to work, school, medical services, family, special events, provides the means for safer streets and the protection of our environment.   Metro keeps the heart of our city pumping!  Be part of making Madison a safe and healthy community by joining the Metro team. Help us spread the word.

What You Need to Know About the Delta Variant

"While our community has done an excellent job getting vaccinated, there are still people who remain unprotected. Because Delta can spread so easily, we will likely see more COVID cases in groups of unvaccinated people in Dane County.  Places outside of Dane County with low vaccination coverage (like Missouri and Arkansas) will likely see even more COVID cases because Delta can spread so easily. When there are surges in COVID cases, hospitalizations tend to follow. This is why it is so important to keep up our vaccination efforts--the more vaccinated our communities, the more we'll be able to stop the spread of the Delta variant, and any other variants to emerge in the future."  Click here for more information

• COVID-19 Vaccine - Book an appointment 
• Data Dashboard

Element Lab

Element Lab Virtual Neighbor Meeting took place Tuesday in collaboration with Alder Furman and Alder Martin.  The purpose of the meeting was for the leadership of University Research Park to present their proposal for the construction of a new lab facility at the southwest corner of Mineral Point Road and S. Whitney Way.  The proposed five-story, 145,000 square foot facility would require Conditional Use approval from the Plan Commission under the new "Traditional Employment" zoning being pursued.  The conditional uses include a restaurant with outdoor seating and the building's height.  Click here for the recording of the meeting.

Clean water impacts all of us - take this opportunity to learn more about the pfas remediation plan

The Dane County Regional Airport (DCRA) Commission will host a community information session on August 4th at 5:30 PM regarding the PFAS remediation process at the airport. Staff from the airport, the county, and the 115th Fighter Wing will present plans and discuss the progress of the remediation effort. Presentations will include an update from the 115th Fighter Wing about the Remedial Investigation (RI) awarded to Truax Field by the National Guard Bureau. A previously scheduled in-person public meeting had been canceled last year due to the pandemic. Additional community information sessions will be scheduled in the future as the remediation process continues to progress.

The August 4th meeting is being held virtually. The public can access the meeting with the Zoom application or by telephone.

Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of August 2, 2021

Metro Fare Study

The Transportation Policy and Planning Board will be hearing public comments on the Metro fare study at its meeting on Monday.

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for Public Comment

Reindahl Park and Men's Shelter Updates

The City-County Homeless Issues Committee will be receiving staff updates on the Reindahl Park encampment and the men's shelter at its meeting on Monday.

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for Public Comment

Truth and Reconciliation and Housing

The Equal Opportunities Commission Executive Committee is discussing truth and reconciliation processes and housing issues at its meeting on Monday.

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for Public Comment

Recycling and Large Item Pick-Up and Alternative Emergency Sheltering

The Common Council Executive Committee will be receiving an update on recycling and large item pick-up and discussing an alternative emergency sheltering proposal at its meeting on Tuesday.

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for Public Comment

For additional information about additional meetings scheduled for this week, please consult the City Meeting Schedule online here

Events, activities, seminars, etc.

• Friends of Madison Public Library will host a warehouse clearance book sale on August 7.  Learn more here.
• Don't miss Mercadito de las Americas, a multicultural farmers market, at Penn Park, 2101 Fisher Street.  The market will feature food carts, fun activities, music, and much more.  The market takes place from 4pm-7pm on August 12, August 26, and September 9; and from 10am-3pm every Sunday until September 5.
• Dane Dances! kicks off the 2021 season on Friday, August 6, at 5:30pm. This free, family-friendly event takes place on the Monona Terrace rooftop every Friday evening in August.  Learn more here.
• Upcoming, public-facing COVID-19 mobile vaccine clinics, as organized by Public Health Madison & Dane County:

• Today: MFD by Holy Redeemer Church, 9 am-1 pm
• Today: Cambridge Winery, CamRock/Glacial Drumlin Trail Groundbreaking, 2:30pm-4:30 pm
• Monday, August 2: Mercado Merimar, 11am-1 pm
• Thursday, August 5: Lussier Community Center, 2pm-4 pm (with African American Health Network)
• Thursday, August 5: BYAYA Teen Nights at Aldo Leopold Park, 4pm-8 pm

You can find details and see a map of all upcoming public clinics on the Public Health website. Public Health also has regular vaccine hours at their South Madison and East Washington offices.  Public Health Madison & Dane County's COVID-19 Data Snapshot is released every Thursday. You can read their weekly blog post for a summary of the week's data. For a weekly summary of talking points around COVID-19 in Dane County, please check out their hot topics document in their Google Drive.

Announcements, press releases, press conferences, etc.

• Public Health Madison & Dane County is issuing new recommendations regarding the use of masks, in light of new guidance from the CDC.  Read the news release here.
• Metro is holding a public hearing on Monday, August 2, at 6:00 pm in front of the Transportation Policy and Planning Board to discuss replacing their current fare collection system in the coming years.  Learn more and register to speak here.
• It has been just over a year since the Vision Zero initiative officially launched, and there has been growth and setbacks when it comes to driving behaviors and safety on our roadways. There is an active survey for the Let's Talk Streets program, designed as a data gathering initiative to inform change in a variety of programs including Vision Zero, Complete Green Streets and our traffic calming and pedestrian/bicycle improvements.  Please check out the links and participate in the survey.
• The Airport Commission will host a community information session about the airport remediation process on Wednesday, August 4, at 5:30 pm via Zoom. Dane County residents can hear presentations from the airport director, Dane County Corporation Counsel, and staff from the Wisconsin 115th Fighter Wing. The commission will then take public comment after the presentations.  Find the agenda and more information about the meeting here.  Register to give public comment here.  The press release sent out by the airport is here.  You may submit questions in advance that you hope will be addressed during the presentations to airinfo@msnairport.com by Monday, August 2.
• Urban Forestry reminds residents to water newly-planted trees.  Right now, Madison remains below our normal precipitation, and these young trees need our help.  Read more here.

Save the Date

• The 6th Annual Madison Black Restaurant Week is coming up August 8-15, featuring 40 participating vendors.  Learn more here.
• The Wisconsin Science Festival is seeking partners throughout Wisconsin to host fun, unique science events October 21-24.  Anything from a brewpub demonstrating how beer is fermented to a nature center showing how bees make honey.  Learn more here.

Visit to William G Lunney Lake Farm First time here, a beautiful day for a walk