With efforts to bring passenger rail service to Madison once again gaining momentum, the city has identified eight potential sites for a rail station, located along three corridors Downtown, near the coming Madison Public Market and by the former Oscar Mayer plant.
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One of eight possible sites for a passenger rail service station would be next to the Madison Public Market, 200 N. First St.
Madison appears on a lot of 'best of' lists. Here are 24 of them
Best place to live
Madison took the top prize for best place to live in 2021 and 2022 in a ranking by livability.com. It was also third in 2020. Madison was also listed as one of the best small cities in America by National Geographic in 2018.
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In 2022, the website 24/7 Wall St. ranked Wisconsin as the nation's “drunkest” state based on self-reporting, with 25.2% of Wisconsin residents indicating alcohol consumption that constituted drinking excessively.
Best biking
It's been reported that Madison has more bikes than cars. The city ranked second among best cities for bikes in 2020, though it dropped in the latest ranking.
Best city for the young and broke
In 2018, Madison was ranked as the best city if you're young and broke, citing a relatively low cost of living, a high number of young adults and short commute times.
Best state capitals
In 2020, Madison ranked 3rd among capital cities in which to live. Wallethub noted affordability and economic well-being as strengths.
Best naked bike ride
While it ranked Madison 11th in best biking cities, LawnStarter put the city at No. 8 for best naked bike ride in 2022. The list gave Madison high marks for bike friendliness, but the climate did not work in the city's favor.
Most caring city
Wallethub named Madison the nation's most caring city in 2021 (it previously had been ranked No. 2). The city was praised for the way it cares for its vulnerable populations.
Best remote work situation
As more people work remotely, they value internet coverage, cost of living and good weather. While winter works against this Wisconsin city, it still ranked first among best places to live and work remotely in 2022.
Best city for recent grads
In 2019, Madison was listed in the Top 10 best cities for recent college graduates.
Best city to rent with pets
In a very specific study, Madison was ranked 5th among best cities for renters who have pets.
Best School
U.S. News & World Reports named UW-Madison the 14th best public school in the country in 2022. Madison has also been ranked the most educated city in Wisconsin and
Best place for kids
The city was named the best place in the U.S. to raise children in 2020, and the best city to raise a family in a separate ranking in 2018. That's largely because there are so many great experiences for children, such as the Vilas Zoo.
Best food truck
MSN put Madison on the list of best food trucks in America in 2021. This is El Burrito Loco food truck.
Best college football
In 2019, Sports Illustrated named Madison college football's greatest college town.
Sportiest city
And in 2017, Madison was named the fourth sportiest city by Men's Health magazine, for many of the same reasons that it's the best college football town.
Best outdoor activities
As COVID-19 raged and indoor events were canceled, more people looked for outdoor pursuits -- and found Wisconsin. Madison was named the second best city in the country for outdoor enthusiasts in 2020.
Best work-life balance
The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art was one reason Madison was listed as the city with the best work-life balance in 2020.
Best city for runners
In 2021, Madison was ranked 9th among the best city for runners. The listing noted pedestrian safety and the number of gyms. Madison also ranked in the top five for fittest cities in two separate rankings.
Best scientists
It was also ranked 8th among best cities for STEM professionals.
Best place to walk
In 2018, Madison ranked 2nd among walkable cities.
Most successful women
Madison is a great place for women, according to a ranking that listed the city as the best place for successful women. Here, Jodie Jefferson is pictured at her Chicago-style fast food restaurant House of Flavas in Madison.
Greenest city
Madison has plenty of parks, and in 2020 it was ranked 4th among the country's greenest cities.
Best place to retire
Madison was listed as the best place to retire by Money Magazine in 2021. The ranking listed activities and outdoor opportunities such as the Arboretum and the Lakeshore Nature Preserve as reasons to spend your golden years here.
Heat relief
Syanne Morales and her son, Syncere Bowie, cool off in Madison's Cypress Splash Park on Tuesday, when the heat index reached 102 degrees. A coalition of federal, state and local officials is seeking new ways of forecasting and communicating the health risks of heat waves, the most deadly form of weather.
Most dog-friendly city
SmartAsset ranked Madison fifth in dog friendly cities, based largely on the fact that it has the most pet stores and vet officers per 10,000 establishments. It also has 4.1 dog parks for every 100,000 residents and plenty of dog-friendly shops.
