Metro Lex News

Winter Break to impact parking, transportation

Campus parking and transportation will change considerably over the upcoming winter break. This year, winter academic break begins on Saturday, Dec. 17, and runs through Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. The winter break holiday for University of Kentucky staff will span Monday, Dec. 26, through Monday, Jan. 2, 2023.

Please see below for more 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 dates:

•    Monday, Dec. 26, through Monday, Jan. 2, 2023.

Student parking lots and structures

Students with residential or periphery permits will be able to leave their vehicles in place over winter break if they would like to do so.

All student residential 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)

•    Rose Street Garage (R2)

•    Sports Center Garage (R7)

•    German House area (R18) 

Holiday parking passes

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

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) or the satellite office in Cornerstone Garage (PS #5). If you wish to use a holiday pass, please be prepared to show your student ID and tell staff the make, model and license plate number of your vehicle.

Holiday passes are valid starting Monday, Dec. 12. Vehicles must be moved back to their authorized parking area by 5:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 9. 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. 26, and Monday, Jan. 2, 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. 26, or Monday, Jan. 2. 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).

Additional parking options

In an effort to provide increased convenience during the winter semester break, UK Transportation Services is also authorizing permit holders with any valid UK parking permit to park on the upper floors of the Rose Street Garage (PS #2) and the Sports Center Garage (PS #7).

These changes are effective beginning Saturday, Dec. 17, through Sunday, Jan. 8. Additional details are below:

Rose Street Garage (PS #2)

•    Levels 1-2 are restricted to E2/R2 core permits.

•    Levels 3-5 are open to any valid UK permit, as space allows.

 Sports Center Drive Garage (PS #7)

•    Level 1 is restricted to E7/R7/C7 core permits.

•    Levels 2 and above are open to any valid UK permit, as space allows.

Please note that the top level of both garages may be unavailable during a winter weather event.

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. 16.

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

•    Monday, Dec. 19, through Friday, Dec. 23

•    Tuesday, Jan. 3, through Friday, Jan. 6

The buses will not be in service on these dates:

•    Monday, Dec. 26, through Monday, Jan. 2

Regular Blue, White, and Green bus service schedules resume on Monday, Jan. 9.

Yellow Route Bus Service

The campus Yellow Route will run on Sunday, Dec. 11, but will not be in service again until Sunday, Jan. 8. On Jan. 8, it will have extended hours from 9 a.m. to midnight, with regular service resuming on Saturday, Jan. 14.

Orange Route Campus Buses

The Orange Route (UK HealthCare) will not operate on Monday, Dec. 26, or Monday, Jan. 2.

It will run from 5:30 a.m. to midnight Dec. 27-30, but will operate with a reduced fleet consisting of two buses in the morning and two in the afternoon and evening.

The Orange Route will return to its normal service schedule beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

On-Demand Night Bus

The On-Demand Night Bus will not be in service Monday, Dec. 26, through Monday, Jan. 2. Service will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

Kentucky Wildcab

The last day of Kentucky Wildcab service for the fall semester is Saturday, Dec. 10. Kentucky Wildcab will resume its normal Thursday through Saturday schedule beginning on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023.

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

The University of Kentucky is increasingly the first choice for students, faculty and staff to pursue their passions and their professional goals. In the last two years, Forbes has named UK among the best employers for diversity, and INSIGHT into Diversity recognized us as a Diversity Champion four years running. UK is ranked among the top 30 campuses in the nation for LGBTQ* inclusion and safety. UK has been judged a “Great College to Work for" three years in a row, and UK is among only 22 universities in the country on Forbes' list of "America's Best Employers."  We are ranked among the top 10 percent of public institutions for research expenditures — a tangible symbol of our breadth and depth as a university focused on discovery that changes lives and communities. And our patients know and appreciate the fact that UK HealthCare has been named the state’s top hospital for five straight years. Accolades and honors are great. But they are more important for what they represent: the idea that creating a community of belonging and commitment to excellence is how we honor our mission to be not simply the University of Kentucky, but the University for Kentucky.

Original source can be found here.