PTS Offers Alternative Way Home With Thanksgiving Ride Home Express

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 5, 2016) — Starting at noon today, UK Parking and Transportation Services (PTS) will sell tickets for the Thanksgiving editions of its Ride Home Express bus service. Established in 2010, the Ride Home Express offers an alternative way for students to travel to their hometowns and other destinations during the major academic breaks.

For the 2016-17 edition of the Ride Home Express, PTS will operate three routes, with a total of 15 stops. The final destinations include the metropolitan areas of Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; and Cleveland, Ohio. Fares for the PTS Ride Home Express range from $55-$155 for round-trip rates; one-way fares begin at $30.

In a change from previous years, PTS will offer two departure dates for the Ride Home Express. Riders on the Chicago route will be able to choose from buses departing on Tuesday, Nov. 22, or Wednesday, Nov. 23. The Atlanta and Chicago routes will depart campus on Tuesday, Nov. 22. All buses will return to campus on Sunday, Nov. 27.

Ride Home Express is open to both students and employees. UK students and employees 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. Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) students are also able to pay for trip registration online using their Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) login. Ride Home Express registration will be available as an option under the "Purchase Permits" section once logged in. All other riders must register and pay for their seats in person at the main PTS office, located in the Press Avenue Garage, at the corner of Press and Virginia Avenues. One-way fares may be purchased in person only. The office is open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

PTS recommends registering for the trip as soon as possible. Space is limited, and seats will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

PTS can provide transportation for Ride Home Express riders to and from Commonwealth Stadium. Riders interested in this option simply need to submit the Ride Home Express Shuttle to Commonwealth Stadium request form at least two business days in advance of the shuttle’s departure.

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

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