Bus suspensions and free parking: Lexington transit changes in response to COVID-19
Both drivers and bus riders were feeling the effects of coronavirus this week, as Lextran announced alterations and some suspensions of its bus routes. The Lexington Parking Authority gave two hours of free parking at metered spots.
Lextran will reduce service beginning Thursday. Three routes are being completely suspended until further notice:
- 16 Southland Drive
- 21 Airport/Keeneland
- 24 Old Frankfort Pike
Weekday service on 11 routes will be reduced:
- 1 Woodhill Drive
- 2 Georgetown Road
- 4 Newtown Pike
- 6 North Broadway
- 7 North Limestone
- 9 Eastland Drive
- 11 Richmond Road
- 12 Leestown Road
- 13 South Broadway
- 14 UK Blue/White
- 15 Red Mile
Details of the updated schedules can be found here.
And 11 route schedules won’t change:
- 3 Tates Creek Road
- 5 Nicholasville Road
- 8 Versailles Road
- 10 Hamburg Pavilion
- 17 Northside Connector
- 18 Centre Parkway Connector
- 22 Mercer Road
- 51 Night – Woodhill Drive
- 52 Night – Georgetown Road
- 58 Night – Versailles Road
- 59 Night – Eastland
“We are asking that customers avoid travel if they are feeling sick. If you are riding, please practice good hygiene and social distancing,” Carrie Butler, Lextran general manager, said in a statement. “This is for the safety of passengers and to protect our workforce, so we can provide service to the community as long as possible.”
Lextran also said it was following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Gov. Andy Beshear, and increasing cleaning frequency.
”In addition to the daily cleaning that the buses all have, we’re also doing some additional nighttime cleaning, as well as some additional daytime cleaning that’s happening in-between trips,” Jill Barnett, the assistant general manager of Lextran.
Street-side restaurants got some assistance from the Lexington Parking Authority’s decision to convert some of its meter spots into curbside pick-up spots. With sit-down restaurant service being suspended statewide, restaurants are emphasizing their takeout and delivery options. Now the authority has gone one step further by offering free parking at all meter spots – but a two-hour time limit is enforced.
“This is a community crisis and we are part of this community. We stand ready to assist if there is anything we can do to help the businesses affected by this crisis,” parking authority Chair James H. Frazier, III said in a statement.
“While supplies last, the LPA will make every effort to create these opportunities for some level of business to continue under these current circumstances,” said Gary A. Means, executive director.
This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 1:44 PM.