Madison's Bus Rapid Transit lines, launched in 2024, anchor station-area planning that allows higher density, reduced parking, and mixed-use development within walkable distances of stops along East Washington, University, and other corridors.
Working through Madison in Motion, the Comprehensive Plan, and the Transit-Oriented Development study, the Common Council updated Ch. 28 zoning to support reduced minimum parking, height-and-density bonuses, and form-based standards near BRT stations. The Bus Rapid Transit system, launched by Madison Metro in 2024, serves the East-West A line with stations on State, University, and East Washington. State law under Wis. Stat. ch. 62 supports the framework, while Wis. Act 16 of 2023 simplified procedures for some affordable-housing rezonings. Plan Commission approvals along these corridors prioritize ground-floor activation, sidewalk widths, and stormwater controls feeding the isthmus lakes.
Projects that fail to provide promised transit-oriented features such as bike parking, ground-floor uses, or pedestrian access can lose conditional-use approval and face $100-$1,000 daily forfeitures until corrected.
Madison, WI
Madison Zoning Code Ch. 28 offers density bonuses, height bonuses, and parking reductions to projects committing affordable units, supporting the Imagine Mad...
Madison, WI
Madison maintains an extensive network of bike lanes, paths, and protected facilities under the Madison in Motion plan, with rules governing motorist passing...
See how Madison's transit-oriented communities (toc) rules stack up against other locations.
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