Parking and Transportation Services is Now Transportation Services

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 30, 2017) — University of Kentucky Parking and Transportation Services is changing its name to Transportation Services.

The new name better represents the overall efforts and goals of the university and department to facilitate access to campus through an array of transportation options and commuting alternatives.

“While parking is an important component of transportation on our campus, the scope of Transportation Services extends far beyond just parking,” said Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Eric N. Monday. “The change reflects the breadth of services this unit provides, as well as its alignment with the Transportation Master Plan (TMP), which is aimed at improving access and mobility to, from and around campus — through various forms of transportation — for all members of the UK community.”

Over the past few years, Transportation Services has greatly expanded mobility options for the campus community. These efforts will continue for the 2017-18 academic year with a continued focus on increasing choice and predictability for students, employees and visitors traveling to, from and around campus. 

Some of the more significant initiatives include:

• In July 2015, Transportation Services entered into a partnership with Lextran, called BluPass, to provide free rides to all UK students, faculty and staff on any Lextran route. To date, the campus community has taken more than 1.3 million BluPass rides. Transportation Services has also expanded and improved existing campus shuttle routes, along with implementing bus tracking technology to improve the rider experience.
• Transportation Services continues to invest in campus bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and education. The department will soon announce the third year of their successful bike voucher program, which rewards students and employees who agree to not bring a motor vehicle to campus for two years.
• Transportation Services also funds the nationally-recognized Wildcat Wheels Bicycle Library, which offers free bicycle use and repair assistance to UK students and employees.
• The department has played a key role in the Big Blue Cycles program, which is entering its fourth year of providing an option for on-campus student residents to leave their car at home. The bicycles for the program were made possible by a funding partnership between the Office of the Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, the Student Sustainability Council and Transportation Services.
• Finally, announced today, the department introduced a new “cash out” program aimed at encouraging employees to use alternative transportation in exchange for financial incentives.

These efforts — geared toward meeting the needs of transit riders, bicyclists and pedestrians — combine to support the overarching transportation needs of thousands of faculty, staff, students and visitors as they travel to, from and around campus on a daily basis.

Information on the expanded menu of parking options for the 2017-18 academic year will be announced in the coming weeks.

Transportation Services’ website can now be found at www.uky.edu/transportation.