Campus News

Ride Any Lextran Bus for Free With BluPass

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 17, 2015) — Did you know that you can travel all around Lexington for free with just your Wildcat ID card? A recent partnership allows University of Kentucky students, faculty and staff to ride all Lextran buses at no cost using BluPass.

With 21 Lextran bus routes that reach from Blue Grass Airport to the Hamburg Pavilion, anyone with a Wildcat ID card can travel anywhere in Lexington by simply showing their ID to the driver upon boarding.

Click here to view a map of Lextran routes.

"We applaud the university’s efforts to help improve traffic around campus," Mayor Jim Gray said. "Like the university, our city is growing, and responsible growth is good. It also means we will have some growing pains, like increased traffic congestion. We’re working on answers through mass transit, encouraging ride sharing, adding bike lanes, continuing to improve traffic signal timing and making our city, especially the urban core, more walkable."

As the City of Lexington works to improve traffic and transportation, the University of Kentucky also wants to ensure that students are able to travel safely. BluPass ensures that students have an affordable, safe way to commute around Lexington.

"The BluPass program, in partnership with Lextran, will provide safe, affordable and sustainable transportation options, while strengthening UK’s important relationship with the city," said Dr. Eli Capilouto, President of the University of Kentucky.

In addition to the immediate personal savings associated with reduced vehicle operating and parking costs, participation in the BluPass program also contributes to reduced road congestion and environmental impact. All buses are 100 percent wheelchair accessible, and are equipped with a bike rack. UK Parking and Transportation Services funds the BluPass program as a proactive effort to decrease single occupancy vehicle use and ultimately reduce campus-parking demand.

If you have already purchased a Lextran 2015-2016 Class Pass, you can receive a full refund at www.lextran.com/UKrefund. If you would like to use BluPass for your commute and cancel your parking permit for a prorated cost you will need to return the permit either in person or by mail to Parking and Transportation Services in the Press Avenue Garage (721 Press Avenue). If you choose to return your permit in person, the office is open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Click here for frequently asked questions about BluPass.

The BluPass program is just one part of the Transportation Master Plan (TMP), which aims to improve access and mobility to, from, and around campus for all members of the UK community.

The TMP will align with our Campus Master Plan — the blueprint for a campus transformation that‘s allowing UK to become a national model for a thriving, public residential research campus. And, it is also a time when campus engagement is crucial. Community members are encouraged to provide input and feedback on the challenges facing the university in terms of transportation, parking, and mobility, by visiting the TMP website.

MEDIA CONTACT: Blair Hoover, (859) 257-6398; blair.hoover@uky.edu; or  Sarah Geegan, 859-257-5365; sarah.geegan@uky.edu