Winter Break parking and transportation changes

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 6, 2023) — Campus parking and transportation changes considerably over Winter Break. This year, winter academic break begins on Saturday, Dec. 16, and runs through Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. Winter Break holiday for UK staff will span Monday, Dec. 25, through Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.

Please see below for details about parking, bus schedules and holiday parking passes.

UK employee parking lots and structures

In general, all employee lots remain on control for permits, with the exception of the following week:

• Monday, Dec. 25, through Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.

Employees should also be aware that the Charles E. Barnhart Building will be closed throughout Winter Break for security purposes. As a result, the pedway over Cooper Drive will be inaccessible beginning 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, through Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.

The normal schedule for the pedway will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. Employees who typically use the pedway can consider other options, such as riding Orange Route buses (see bus schedule information below), using the crosswalk at South Limestone and Cooper Drive, or using the Veterans Drive pedestrian pathway under Cooper Drive. 

Student parking lots and structures

Students with residential, periphery and remote permits will be able to leave their vehicles in place over Winter Break if they would like to do so.

All student residential (R) lots will remain on control for valid permits over Winter Break. Any valid UK permit will suffice for many residential areas. However, the following lots and structures require the specific permit for that area:

• Seminary residential lots (R29 and R30)
• Wildcat Coal Lodge lot (R17)
• Hilltop Avenue Garage (R2)
• Sports Center Garage (R7)
• German House area (R18)
• Shawneetown signed (R19) spaces 
• Greek Park (R11-R15) (R22)

Holiday parking passes
Students can also take advantage of a covered parking option to protect their vehicles from winter weather over break. UK Transportation Services is offering free holiday parking passes for students who have a valid UK permit and wish to move their vehicles to Cornerstone Garage (PS #5) — a covered parking structure. The passes authorize students to park on levels four and above of Cornerstone Garage.

These free passes are now available and can be picked up at the Transportation Services’ Customer Service Center in the Press Avenue Garage (PS #6). If you wish to use a holiday pass, please be prepared to show your student ID and to confirm the make, model and license plate number of your vehicle.

Holiday passes are valid starting Monday, Dec. 11. The passes must be displayed on the dashboard, and vehicles must be moved back to their authorized parking area by 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 8. Those that aren’t moved before that time will be assessed a $2 hourly parking fee, with a maximum fee of $16 per day.
  
UK HealthCare parking structures
With the exception of Monday, Dec. 25, and Monday, Jan. 1, there are no changes to UK HealthCare policy which restricts employee parking in UK HealthCare patient/visitor parking garages and lots.

Attendants will not be on duty on Monday, Dec. 25, or Monday, Jan. 1. To ensure adequate parking for patients and visitors, employees are encouraged to use the Kentucky Clinic Parking Garage (PS #3) on those days instead of the UK HealthCare Garage (PS #8).

Blue, White and Green Route bus service
The weekday campus Blue, White and Green bus routes will operate on a normal schedule through Friday, Dec. 15.

The buses will operate on a modified “limited” schedule of 6:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the following dates: 

• Monday, Dec. 18, through Friday, Dec. 22
• Tuesday, Jan. 2, through Friday, Jan. 5

The buses will not be in service on these dates:

• Monday, Dec. 25, through Monday, Jan. 1

Regular Blue, White and Green bus service schedules resume on Monday, Jan. 8.

Yellow Route bus service
The campus Yellow Route will run on Sunday, Dec. 10, but will not be in service again until Sunday, Jan. 7. Regular yellow route service will resume on Saturday, Jan. 13.

Orange Route campus buses
The Orange Route (UK HealthCare) will not operate on Monday, Dec. 25, or Monday, Jan. 1.

Buses will run from 5:30 a.m. to midnight Dec. 26-29, but will operate with a reduced fleet consisting of two to three buses in the morning and two to three in the afternoon and evening.

The Orange Route will return to its normal service schedule beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

On-Demand Night Bus
The On-Demand Night Bus will not be in service Monday, Dec. 25, through Monday, Jan. 1. Service will resume on the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 2.

Wildcab Vouchers
Wildcab Vouchers offers students a voucher for discounted Uber rides. The vouchers are available for use through the end of the fall semester. Service will resume again during the spring semester.

UK Transportation Services’ office hours
UK Transportation Services will be closed over Winter Break from Monday, Dec. 25, through Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Many online services will remain available during this time. The transportation services listserv will not be monitored over Winter Break.

Regular office hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

If you have questions or need more information, please visit the website or email UK Transportation Services.