Winter Break parking and transportation update

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 6, 2024) – Are you ready for Winter Break? Please be aware that there are several parking and transportation-related changes on campus during the break.

This year, winter academic break begins on Dec. 21, and runs through Jan. 12. Winter break holiday for UK employees is Dec. 25-Jan. 1.

UK employee parking lots and structures

In general, all employee lots remain on control for permits over the break, with the exception of the week of Dec. 25-Jan. 1.

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 remain on control for valid UK permits over the break. However, any valid UK permit will suffice for many residential areas.

There are some exceptions which continue to require the specific permit type. These include:

• Seminary residential lots (R29 & 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 take advantage of a covered parking option to protect their vehicles from winter weather over the break. UK Transportation Services is offering free holiday parking passes for students who have a valid UK permit and would like to park and store their vehicle on campus while they're away on break.

Students can keep their vehicles under cover by moving them to Cornerstone Garage (PS #5) with a free holiday pass. These passes authorize parking on levels four and above and are valid for a one-time exit. If you need to come and go from the garage throughout the break, you may have to pay for your parking time.
 
Holiday parking passes are now available and can be picked up at the Transportation Services’ Customer Service Center, located 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.
 
The passes are valid starting Dec. 9, through 11:59 p.m. Jan. 12. They must be displayed on the dashboard, and vehicles must be moved back to their authorized parking area prior to 5 a.m. Jan. 13. Those that aren’t moved before that date and time will be assessed a $2 hourly parking fee, with a maximum fee of $16 per day.

UK Transportation Services office hours

UK Transportation Services’ office will be closed during Winter Break, from Dec. 25-Jan. 1. Many online services will remain available during this time, but emails to transportation-related listservs and telephone calls to the office will not be monitored. The customer service center will reopen at 7:30 a.m. Jan. 2.

UK HealthCare parking structures

With the exception of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, 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 Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. 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).

Campus bus service

The weekday campus Blue, White and Green bus routes will operate on a normal schedule through Dec. 20.

The Purple route only runs on days that classes are in session.

The Blue, White and Green route buses will operate on a modified “limited” schedule of 6:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the following dates: 

• Dec. 23 and Dec. 24
• Jan. 2 and Jan. 3
• Jan. 6-Jan. 10

These buses will not be in service Dec. 25 through Jan. 1.

Yellow Route bus service

The weekend Yellow Route will not be in service starting Dec. 21-Jan. 11. Weekend service will begin again on Jan. 12.

Orange Route campus buses

The Orange Route (UK HealthCare) will not operate on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.

Buses will run from 5:30 a.m. to midnight Dec. 26-27, 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. They will also have a reduced fleet on Dec. 30-31.

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

On-Demand Night Bus

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

Additional items of note:

• Wildcat Wheels Bicycle Library will be closed over Winter Break.
• Motorist assistance services remain available over the break through UK’s contractor, Roberts Heavy Duty Towing & Recovery. Please see this page for details about the motorist assistance program, which provides free on-campus battery jumpstarts, among other services.
• Please continue to email UK Transportation Services with any nonemergency transportation-related questions. These emails will be answered as quickly as possible beginning Jan, 2.