Parking and Transportation
The UW–Madison Health Sciences Transportation Unit manages parking applications for employees of the School of Medicine and Public Health, UW Health, School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy, University Health Services and the State Laboratory of Hygiene.
Important Updates: 2026-27 Parking Year
- Round 1 parking applications opened on May 11, 2026; the deadline to apply is May 29. We strongly encourage anyone interested in a parking permit to apply in Round 1.
- Offers will be emailed on July 2 and must be accepted by July 21.
- Park & ride lot 206 is relocating to 2230 Pennsylvania Avenue; just south of the current location at 2003 Aberg Avenue.
- New this year: Applicants must now select either a base or Flex permit before ranking their four lot options. It is not possible to apply for a mix of base and Flex options. Restricting application choices to one permit type is expected to result in more efficient use of campus parking space.
- There is a new free UW Health park & ride lot available to SMPH employees.
Essential Parking Application Pre-Steps
Our Parking Reality: Demand Greatly Exceeds Supply
On the west side of campus, there is not enough parking to accommodate every employee who needs it. Hundreds of employees who need parking do not receive a permit. In addition, inappropriate use of visitor parking by employees in lots, namely Lot 75, has serious impacts on patient care.
It is more important than ever to consider all possible commute options to minimize strain on the parking system on the west side of campus.
Before You Apply
- Explore all commute options or get free commute planning assistance from Transportation Services.
- You have to apply for parking every year. Even if you had a permit in a certain lot previously, you are not guaranteed a permit or the same lot each year.
- Put four lot selections in your permit application to maximize your chances of getting a permit. Putting only the lot you have had in the past could reduce your chances of receiving a parking assignment. This is because if you do not receive a permit in the one lot you selected, you will be placed on a waiting list and risk receiving no permit for the year.
- Make smart lot selections and apply in Round 1. Smaller or extremely convenient lots, such as Lots 95 and 74, are in high demand and difficult for most employees to obtain a permit for. Consider this when making your four selections.
Recommended lots on the west side of campus include:- Lot 76 (University Bay Drive Ramp)
- Lot 75 (UW Hospital Ramp)
- Nearby surface Lots 60, 82, and 131
- Lot 67 (Linden Drive Garage).
- Pay attention to application and purchase deadlines, even if on leave or sabbatical.
- Have an alternative commute plan.
- Transportation Services will contact you only if/when they can offer a permit. You will remain on the waitlist until you receive an emailed offer. Once permits are assigned, you can check your status in the Permit Application System to see whether you have a permit offer or are on the waitlist. Email healthsciencesparking@mailplus.wisc.edu with questions.
Apply for Parking from Transportation Services
Apply for a Permit That Fits Your Needs
- Annual permit: May be best for those with a standard work week schedule and who need to be on campus many days out of the week
- Park & ride: Same considerations as base lot, but also a good fit for those who want to save money on parking, avoid the hassle of parking on campus, and have flexibility to take the shuttle the rest of the way
- Flex parking: A Flex pass allows for pay-per-use parking that may be cheaper overall for hybrid employees
Popular Alternatives
- Employee Bus Pass: Subsidized bus pass that allows for unlimited rides on Madison Metro Transit
- UW Carpool Program: Carpools with 3-plus riders can skip the application line; get six daily parking passes each parking year for when you can’t ride with the carpool
- Most alternative parking options qualify an employee for the Emergency Ride Home Program (ERH).
Free UW Health Park & Ride available to SMPH Employees
Free park & ride from UW Health Administrative Services Building at 7974 UW Health Ct. in Middleton
- Door-to-door shuttle service to/from the parking lot and University Hospital
- Hang tag required: SMPH employees may stop by the Guest Depot, on the main floor of American Family Children’s Hospital, Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–3 p.m. to complete a UW Health Ct. parking permit registration form and pick up a hang tag
New Employees
Congratulations on accepting a position at UW–Madison or UW Health! This information will help you become familiar with the parking process and apply for a permit, if needed.
- You must apply for a parking permit if you need to park on campus to perform your duties.
- Understand the parking permit application cycle calendar.
- Apply for parking during the three main rounds from May through August. Shortly after each round, Transportation Services extends permit offers. You must accept your permit offer before the deadline.
- Permits are then valid from September 1 of the current year to August 31 of the next year.
- Employees who start outside of the summer application cycle must still apply for a permit and may do so at any time. Transportation Services reviews applications every two weeks and will email you if/when they can offer a permit. You will remain on the waitlist until you receive an offer.
- Read thoroughly and follow the Essential Parking Application Pre-Steps, listed on this page, to learn more about availability, transportation options, and how to apply for a permit if you need one. For example, putting four lot selections in your permit application will maximize your chances of getting a permit.
- If your start date is weeks or months away, fill out the Request for Application – Health Sciences Parking. This helps the health sciences parking coordinator know to contact you when you can start your permit application.
- UW Health employees may need to consider additional details about parking, which can be found on UW Health’s The Pulse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Visit the UW–Madison Transportation Services website for more detailed information.
Discounted or free Madison Metro bus passes are available to UW–Madison health sciences and UW Health employees. UW Medical Foundation (UWMF) employees are eligible for a free bus pass. Refer to The Pulse for more information.
Biking, walking, carpooling, commuter vanpools and remote park & ride lots are some alternatives available for all employees. Visit UW–Madison Commuter Solutions for more information.
Review the campus parking maps on the UW Transportation Services website. And the interactive campus map at map.wisc.edu.
Transportation Services has offices in the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) building, the UW–Madison Welcome Center and American Family Children’s Hospital. View Transportation Services location and office hours. Contact Transportation Services at 608-263-6667 or customerservice@fpm.wisc.edu.
Yes. university employees who do not drive to work and need to leave due to an emergency can use the Emergency Ride Home program.
Parking Application and Process
Employees apply for parking through UW–Madison Transportation Services. Follow the Essential Parking Application Pre-Steps to learn how to apply for parking.
Forgotten UW NetID
You can visit Recovering a Forgotten NetID page if you remember your recovery email address.
Forgotten Password
Option 1: You can reset your password on the NetID Account Modification page by clicking “Forgot password” — you will need your NetID, your date of birth, and (if applicable) Wiscard number.
Option 2: You can call the UW–Madison DoIT Help Desk at 608-264-4357. Select option 1 and inform customer service you need your NetID password reset in order to access the UW Transportation Services Parking Application System. Then, visit NetID and Password Modification to change your temporary password.
More parking application help is available on the Transportation Services website.
When you are within 10 days of your start date, email healthsciencesparking@mailplus.wisc.edu with “Need Campus ID” as the subject line. The Campus ID Number will be emailed to you.
After obtaining your Campus ID Number, visit the My NetID website to activate your NetID. Enter your Campus ID Number and your date of birth to complete this step.
Be sure to keep a record of your NetID login and password.
Assignments are made based on a priority number assigned by the School of Medicine and Public Health administration. The prioritization formula takes different factors into account, such as years of service and compensation levels. This process is run by the School of Medicine and Public Health administration, not individual departments or units.
Transportation Services combines the priorities assigned by all the parking units on campus and distributes assignments accordingly based on available space. For more information, review the Annual Parking Permit Application Process Policy.
View current rates.
Campus parking permits are valid from September 1 to August 31. All faculty, staff, UW Health and UW Medical Foundation (UWMF) employees who park on campus must reapply for parking every year. Payment options are:
- Most employees are eligible for monthly post-tax payroll deduction from the time they receive a permit through August; you only pay for the portion of the year you hold a permit
- Pay in full by either cash, check or credit card.
Agency staff, emeriti and individuals in a zero-dollar pay status are required to pay for their parking in full by either cash, check or credit card.
Monthly deductions start in September and run through August.
If you need to cancel a permit, know that refunds or payroll deduction cancellations will not be processed until the product and the completed cancellation form (PDF) are returned to one of the Transportation Services offices.
Yes.
A parking year runs from September 1 through August 31. You can apply for a current-year permit any time throughout a parking year. You can also apply for a permit for the upcoming year between May and August 31, before the upcoming parking year begins.
Most employees apply for parking in the summer before a new parking year begins. There are three opportunities to apply for and potentially receive a parking assignment before September 1.
Between September 1 and May, new parking applications for the current year are processed every two weeks.
Between May and August, current-year permits may be available on a first-come, first-served basis for direct purchase without the need for an application through the Transportation Services Office.
Yes. It is highly recommended that applicants apply for the maximum of four lots. This is because many campus lots are highly requested, and are therefore difficult to get into.
If you receive a parking permit in one of the lots you requested on your application, you will be removed from the waiting lists for any other lots you chose on your application.
If you are unsatisfied with the permit assignment you receive, you may submit a new application for a different lot and keep your current assignment in the meantime. If space opens in the new lot, you can exchange your unwanted parking permit. There is an exchange fee.
There are not enough parking spots available on the west side of campus to accommodate all employees. These are some options that can help navigate the situation.
- Explore all Commuter Solutions from Transportation Service, such as carpooling.
- Get free commute planning assistance from Transportation Services.
- Alert your supervisor and ask them to consider a Remote Work Agreement that provides flexibility to your parking needs.
- You are highly discouraged from parking as a visitor in lots, particularly Lot 75, because it has serious impacts on patient care.
Cancelling or Changing a Permit
It is your responsibility to return all permits and notify UW Transportation Services if you terminate employment or no longer want your assignment.
Refunds or payroll deduction cancellations will not be processed until the product and the completed cancellation form (PDF) are returned to one of the Transportation Services offices.
Cancellation is based on the date the products (permit, bus pass or bike locker key) are received by one of the UW Transportation Services locations.
Note: Payroll deductions are not eligible for refund.
Employees switching from evening/night shift to day shift:
Contact the health sciences unit transportation coordinator at healthsciencesparking@mailplus.wisc.edu. They will let you know that you will need to go through the application process.
If you no longer need your afternoon or night permit, you may return it to one of the Transportation Services locations.
Refunds or payroll deduction cancellations are not processed until the permit is returned to one of the Transportation Services offices.
Note: Payroll deductions are not eligible for refund.
Employees switching from day shift to evening/night shift:
Afternoon and night permits are available; more specific permit information can be found on the Transportation Services permit page. You can purchase one of these permits through the Transportation Services e-Business Portal or by visiting one of the Transportation Services offices.
You must bring in your base lot, Flex, or park & ride permit to one of the Transportation Services locations to exchange it for an afternoon or night permit.
Issues with Permits or Parking
If you have problems parking in your assigned lot, you should park in the next closest non-gated parking lot. To avoid a citation, you must report the problem to Transportation Services as soon as possible through the lot full form. You will need this information:
- Your license plate number
- Your assigned lot number
- Lot number where you parked
- Reason for relocation
Annual permit holders are eligible to receive a maximum of three temporary (daily) parking permits per parking year. Each temporary permit may not exceed one day. You can pick these temporary permits up at any of the Transportation Services offices.
Lost or stolen permits must be reported through the UW Transportation Services lost or stolen permit report form (PDF). Replacement costs apply.
You have two options when you receive a parking citation on the UW–Madison campus:
- Pay the citation, or
- Appeal the citation if you believe you received it in error.
You can pay or appeal citations online through UW Transportation Services.
Contact us
The Health Sciences Parking Team can address many questions or problems relating to parking applications: healthsciencesparking@mailplus.wisc.edu.
Questions specifically about billing are best directed to Transportation Service Customer Service at 608-263-6667 or customerservice@fpm.wisc.edu.