Students Return Soon! What Employees Need to Know

The return of students to campus brings renewed energy and activity, along with an increase in demand for parking. Move-in for the fall academic semester is August 16-19, with classes set to start on Monday, August 24.

Below are some tips for employees to help navigate the first few weeks of the fall semester:

• Keep in mind that many new students are unfamiliar with campus. UK Transportation Services sends notices to students ahead of time explaining where they can park based upon their permit type, and our staff will be stationed in lots to direct students during the first week of classes. However, some students may inadvertently park in an incorrect lot until they become familiar with campus.
• Consider arriving on campus earlier than usual during the first two weeks of the semester to allow extra time for parking and commuting, as traffic will increase throughout campus.
• Use less popular lots if your permit allows and have a backup parking location in mind if your preferred lot is full.
• Lot allocations in the Kroger Field area have changed this year, with the North and South Red lots now reserved for employees. This was done to offset the closure of University Drive Garage and other surface parking lots associated with the Chandler Hospital expansion project.
• Construction in the vicinity of University Drive will slow both traffic and transit, so consider avoiding that area if possible.
• Take advantage of designated walking paths from the Kroger Field area to central campus. Learn more about those and see a map here.
• Take advantage of Transit, an app that allows you to track campus buses in real time.
• While driving, watch for additional pedestrians, cyclists, and individuals on scooters.

We all know that students are central to the university’s mission, and we look forward to their return.  We appreciate your patience and flexibility as parking and traffic demands increase during the first few weeks.

If you have questions or need more information, please email UK Transportation Services. To stay in the loop about parking, traffic, and transit updates, sign up to receive our notices and follow us on X @UKParking and Instagram.