Details on President Obama’s Library Mall event: If you live, work or study around Library Mall
If you live, work or study in the Library Mall area:
The visit of a president is a rare event, and carries with it a focus on safety and security. However, to the extent possible, the university is attempting to minimize disruption of a normal school and workday for students, faculty and staff.
Please note, all details listed below are subject to change ahead of Tuesday’s event.
If you are faculty or staff: All UW–Madison offices are to remain open as regularly scheduled on the day of the event.
However, if you work in Memorial Union, Red Gym, Memorial Library, the University Club or 432 East Campus Mall, the event logistics will include full and partial building and road closures to ensure proper security. Consult with your supervisor about your unit’s operations.
If you work outside the event area and you wish to leave work early, you should use paid leave time in accordance with university policy and in consultation with your supervisor.
Employees should also be aware of the policies prohibiting political activity in the workplace (pdf).
Academic activities: Classes, exams, discussion sessions, and other normal meetings will be held as usual, unless students and participants are informed otherwise. In the case of Humanities, 432 East Campus Mall, Science Hall and Helen C. White, access to the building will be limited to entrances away from the event area.
If you are attending an unrelated event on campus, check the sponsoring department’s website for additional information on possible cancellations, changes to parking or other details.
For safety and security reasons, Bascom Hill will be opened as a site for overflow spectators who can not fit into the event area. To accommodate spectators, there will be amplification of the event and music up Bascom Hill, beginning at 4:30 p.m. As a result of the noise, there could be potential impacts on classroom meetings, academic activities or other events scheduled after this time.
The Wisconsin Union: The Union will be open before, during and after the event, though access to the building will be limited to the entrances facing Lake Mendota and the southwest doors facing Park Street.
Roof access: Roof access to all buildings in and around the event area is completely and totally restricted.
Parking: Daytime parking is extremely limited around Library Mall and attendees from the campus and Madison community are encouraged to walk or use public transportation. A limited number of spaces are available in the City’s Lake Street Ramp. UW Lots 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 9 will be closed beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, September 28.
Traffic: Downtown traffic will be affected by street closings beginning at noon on Tuesday. Langdon Street will be closed between Park and Lake, and Lake will be closed north of the Lake Street Parking Ramp. Park will be closed from Lake Mendota to University Avenue. Observatory Drive remains closed due to construction. All those traveling in the campus area should be prepared for delays.
Madison Metro: Routes 80, 81, 82 and 85 will be affected. Buses will be detoured from Langdon Street and Memorial Union to University Avenue. Buses travelling north on Lake Street will turn west (left) on University Avenue and then continue on University to resume their current routes on Charter Street and beyond.
Metro will be adding additional buses to enhance service after
the event on Routes 2, 3, 4, and 6.
Regional buses: The Badger Bus will pick up at Kelley’s Market, 636 W. Washington Ave. Van Galder and MegaBus will be picking up at the Kohl Center instead of the Memorial Union.
Visitor parking: Visitor parking will be sold on a space available basis in Lots 7, 29, 44, 46, 51, 83, and 88. Accessible parking will be available in all parking lots; however, Lot 3 will be reserved exclusively for this use.
Transportation Services updates: Whenever possible, persons coming to campus on the day of the visit, whether attending the event or not, are encouraged to take alternatives to driving.
Be advised that pedestrian and bicycle routes may be detoured around the site. Where possible, detours will be marked with signs. Pedestrians use extra caution while navigating the vehicle congestion on campus.