New garage spaces opening to help offset anticipated loss of Orange Lot spaces

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 30, 2026) — In an effort to provide employees with more convenient parking options, University of Kentucky Transportation Services will add approximately 500 new employee core parking spaces in December due to the planned early completion of the Cancer and Advanced Ambulatory Garage (PS #9).  

As construction continues across campus, parking areas are also being impacted, adding stress and uncertainty to employees’ daily routines. The early opening of PS #9 is one of several efforts to improve parking availability, particularly for employees who work on the healthcare side of campus.  

Employee core (E9) permits for the new garage will be offered to interested employees through a formal permit upgrade application process with applications accepted through 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16. Submit your application through the UK Transportation Services’ website.

Core permits provide a predictable parking option at a higher price point than a traditional employee intermediate or employee periphery permit. Transportation Services manages the number of permits issued for designated core parking areas to ensure that core permit holders will be able to find parking within their assigned lot, garage or area, in most instances.  

Although the Cancer and Advanced Ambulatory Building has a projected 2028 completion date, the parking garage is being finished earlier and will allow sequencing to accommodate parking for both employees and construction crews beginning later this year. Parking for these two groups will be segmented, with construction parking accessible from the construction site off Elizabeth Street and employee parking accessible from Conn Terrace. 

 Permit overview

• Location: Approximately 500 spaces are available on the lower three levels of the garage, offering proximity to the healthcare campus. 

• Rate: Permits are available at the core parking tier rate of $63/month. 

• Availability: Parking access is expected to begin in December, or by Jan. 4, 2027, at the latest.  

• Access: Vehicular and pedestrian access via Conn Terrace. 

How permits will be awarded

There is no need to rush to apply: selection is not first-come, first-served, so every application submitted during the application window will receive the same consideration. Applications will be reviewed based on several factors, including seniority, work location and shift.

• Primary consideration: Seniority (length of UK service), as defined by the university’s official regular service date. This is the same date used by the university to determine service awards and retirement eligibility. 

• Additional considerations: Congestion is another pain point for employees. To help reduce traffic and pedestrian conflicts on Conn Terrace, South Limestone and surrounding roadways, additional consideration will be given to employees whose primary work location is on the west side of South Limestone (Shriners, Leader Building, College of Pharmacy, HKRB, etc.) and to employees whose regular shifts end during lower-traffic commuting periods – for example, after 6 p.m. 

• Waitlist: If more employees apply for this permit upgrade than available space, seniority will be the primary basis used for a subsequent waitlist.   

Accepting a permit upgrade

Individuals who currently hold permits for other areas, such as Hilltop Avenue Garage or the UK HealthCare Garage, are also eligible to apply for permits in this new structure. 

• Employees selected for an E9 permit upgrade will be contacted by email and will have until Friday, Dec. 4, to return their existing permit and accept the upgrade. 

• Employees will not be charged the upgraded core parking rate for December. New permit fees will begin in January 2027. 

These new spaces will help offset parking to be affected by anticipated construction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forage Animal Production Research Lab (FAPRU) which is expected to begin late this year or in early 2027. This research facility will be located on South Campus, and its footprint will affect approximately 500 parking spaces in the Kroger Field Orange Lot. UK Transportation Services has been carefully monitoring the project’s progress and is working closely with campus leaders to ensure that parking infrastructure continues to meet the commuting needs of the campus community. 

Important considerations when applying

Until the Cancer and Advanced Ambulatory Building is complete, please note the following: 

• No ADA-accessible accommodations or elevator access will be available. However, additional ADA-accessible parking was recently added in the nearby 138 Leader Ave. Lot and the Ag North Temporary Lot. 

• A pedway connection over South Limestone between the Cancer and Advanced Ambulatory Building and Chandler Hospital will not be available. 

• Pedestrians needing to cross South Limestone will be asked to cross Conn Terrace at Elizabeth Street, enter the UK HealthCare Hospital Garage and utilize the existing pedestrian bridge to Chandler Hospital Pavilion A to reduce pedestrian-vehicle conflicts at the intersection of Conn Terrace and South Limestone.