Campus News

BluPass Provides Safe, Affordable and Sustainable Transportation

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 5, 2015) — Four months ago, University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto, along with Lexington Mayor Jim Gray and Lextran Board Chair Jeff Fugate, announced a major new partnership between UK and Lexington public transportation system, Lextran.

The partnership — dubbed BluPass  allows UK students, faculty and staff to ride any Lextran bus route free of charge simply by showing their valid Wildcard ID.

Lextran travels throughout 21 different city routes, which extend throughout and beyond the UK campus into the Lexington community. BluPass includes all Lextran routes, both on- and off-campus, allowing UK students, faculty and staff to travel to, from and around campus while also accessing the city.

A map of Lextran routes can be found here.

In its infancy, the BluPass program has already proved successful in providing safe, affordable and sustainable transportation options to all members of the UK community.

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. The BluPass program is funded by UK Parking and Transportation Services as a proactive effort to decrease single occupancy vehicle use and ultimately reduce campus parking demand.

UK senior lecturer Kim Woodrum described what she believes to be the major benefits of BluPass.

"At the end of the day when I am exhausted, someone else faces the rush hour traffic, and I just close my eyes and chill out," said Woodrum.

Vicki Knox, a lab staff member in the immunomolecular lab at UK Chandler Hospital and frequent BluPass user, also noted the positive impacts of the program.

"I arrive at work much happier. There is no stress from searching for a parking spot, or the grind of the daily commute," said Knox. "Just jump on the bus, drink your coffee, read your paper and before you know it you are at your destination."

For Knox, the physical benefits of utilizing BluPass are just as valuable as the emotional benefits.

"I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. The walking or bike riding to the bus stop has improved my heart function," said Knox.

Members of the campus community are encouraged to combine mass transit and biking. All Lextran buses are equipped with a bike rack.

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.

UK Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Eric Monday said BluPass represents the first of several initiatives which directly ties back to these early findings and feedback received from the community, related to the TMP.

"Investing in transportation alternatives is an important way to manage demand and allow the transportation system to work better for our entire community," Monday said.

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.

Frequently asked questions about BluPass can be found here.

MEDIA CONTACT: Blair Hoover, (859) 257-6398; blair.hoover@uky.edu