UK’s Popular BluPass Partnership with Lextran Extended Through 2019

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 19, 2016) – The University of Kentucky and Lextran are extending their successful BluPass program through June 2019. The partnership, which began July 1, 2015, allows UK students, faculty and staff to ride any Lextran route free of charge, simply by showing their valid Wildcard ID.  The BluPass program is funded by UK Parking and Transportation Services as a proactive effort to decrease single occupancy vehicle use, give members of the UK community more choices in transportation options and to ultimately reduce campus parking demand.

UK riders have made more than 650,000 trips through the first nine months of BluPass service. During this time period, Lextran ridership increased by a monthly average of 6 percent across all routes.

“Given the positive feedback following last summer’s BluPass announcement, we knew the program would be popular,” said Lance Broeking, director of UK Parking and Transportation Services. “However, the continued interest and increased ridership have demonstrated the ongoing value of this initiative to the campus community.”

BluPass has a number of benefits for UK students and employees. Those who were already riding Lextran prior to the introduction of BluPass experienced an immediate cost savings with a fare-free commute. Students and employees who switched to mass transit after the introduction of BluPass also saw reduced vehicle operating and parking costs, along with a lowered carbon footprint.

Lextran operates 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.

“BluPass is a valuable piece of our mobility strategy,” said Broeking. “This program is not just a great cost-saving transportation alternative benefiting our campus community, but it also helps reduce campus parking demand and traffic congestion.”

All Lextran buses are equipped with a bike rack, so combining bicycle and bus commuting is easier than ever.

The BluPass program was one of the first major initiatives launched through the UK Transportation Master Plan (TMP) process. The TMP aims to improve access and mobility to, from, and around campus for all members of the UK community.

Frequently asked questions about BluPass can be found here.

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, go to: uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky #seeblue

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