Parking and Transportation is pleased to announce the addition of the Downtown Loop T bus route. The route will operate on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., making stops on the west side of the Student Union, Neyland Stadium Gate 21, World’s Fair Park, Knoxville Convention Center, UT Conference Center, and UT Tower/Market Square.

“We are very excited to be able to offer this service connecting campus with downtown Knoxville,” said Executive Director of Parking and Transportation Tanara Teal-Tate. “In addition to providing current students, faculty, and staff direct access to the UT Conference Center, the UT Tower, and other downtown attractions, this will also be a convenient option for prospective students and visitors experiencing Rocky Top for the first time.”

This new route was made possible through the addition of nine new T buses, all of which are hybrid models. The hybrid buses get nearly twice the fuel economy as the older T bus models and reduce CO2 emissions by 30 percent.

As part of the 2024 Parking Transformation Initiative, this marks the second straight year that Parking and Transportation has increased its fleet size and added new routes. The investment is already paying dividends, with T buses transporting more than 900,000 passengers during the 2024-25 academic year, representing a 64 percent increase in ridership compared to the previous year.

The T serves campus seven days a week with a fleet of 34 buses, 11 fixed routes, and on-demand accessible transportation via the T: Access and T: Link. More information on the T bus system, as well as live routes and bus locations, can be viewed online.