PTS Ride Home Express Service Ticket Sales Begin Friday

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 1, 2011) — UK Parking and Transportation Services (PTS) will begin selling tickets for the Thanksgiving and Winter Break editions of its Ride Home Express bus service on Friday, Sept. 2. The PTS Ride Home Express is an express bus service travelling to hometowns and break destinations during the major academic breaks. The service provides an economical and efficient alternative as compared to other means of travel.

The PTS Ride Home Express is starting its second year of operation this fall. Based on ridership from last year, PTS administration made changes to two of the routes. The former Paducah Route has been renamed the Western Kentucky Route, and the final stop was changed from Paducah to Hopkinsville; on the Chicago Route, PTS added stops in Lafayette, Indiana and Naperville, Illinois.

The program offers significantly cheaper fares than airlines, and faster travel times than other major bus companies. Ride Home Express is open to both students and employees.

According to Director of Parking and Transportation Services Lance Broeking, the PTS Ride Home Express provides valuable services to the campus community. “For students without cars on campus, it provides a lower cost travel alternative and eliminates the need for families to make repeated trips to and from Lexington. Those with vehicles on campus will also benefit, by avoiding driving during peak holiday travel times or putting wear and tear on their car or truck.”

For the 2011-12 edition of the Ride Home Express, PTS will operate five routes, with a total of 21 stops. The final destinations include the metropolitan areas of Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Cleveland, OH; Nashville, TN and the Western Kentucky area. For individual route maps, visit http://www.uky.edu/pts/buses-and-shuttles_ride-home-express.

UK students are able to register and pay for their trip via the web by logging on to the Parking Account Manager with their Link Blue ID. BCTC students are also able to pay for trip registration online using their KCTCS login. Ride Home Express registration will be available as an option under the "Purchase Permits" section once logged in. Riders utilizing the online option must pay using an American Express, Discover Card, MasterCard or Visa. All other riders must register and pay for their seats in person at the main PTS office, located in Parking Structure #6, at the corner of Press and Virginia Avenues.

Tickets will not be issued. All passengers will be added to a manifest and will need to bring a photo ID to board the bus. Round-trip fares for the PTS Ride Home Express range from $49-$149, with prices varying based on the final destination; a complete price list can be found here: http://www.uky.edu/pts/buses-and-shuttles_ride-home-express. Only round-trip fares are offered.

PTS recommends registering for the trip as soon as possible. Space is limited, and seats will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. The deadline for purchase for Thanksgiving is Friday, Nov. 4; the deadline for Winter Break is Tuesday, Nov. 29.

The motor coaches used for PTS Ride Home Express offer many amenities, including restrooms, televisions and Wi-Fi.

For more information on the Ride Home Express, including a list of fares, visit the Ride Home Express page or the Ride Home Express Frequently Asked Questions.