Everything You Need To Know
We can’t wait to welcome you back to Rocky Top for another great academic year!
In an effort to make your on-campus transportation experience more predictable and convenient, Parking & Transportation has undergone a major transformation over the summer. We’ve compiled a list of changes and improvements to help you efficiently navigate campus this semester.
- New T Buses and Routes – The T transit system has expanded its fleet with seven new buses, including five that are fully electric and two hybrids. Additionally, several campus routes have been reconsidered. The new Cross Campus route combines the old Ag Express and Hill routes to provide a single service that covers the entire campus efficiently. With transfer points at Gate 21 and on Joe Johnson, you can easily connect to off campus routes or use the new Cross Campus route to travel between classes.
- Parking Zones and Increased Predictability – Student parking has been divided into zones to help reduce competition for parking spaces and improve overall predictability when looking for parking. Core areas are closest to primary campus destinations, Intermediate areas require a short walk, and Remote areas are linked by transit routes connecting to campus. Permits have been sold and allocated on a tiered basis with priority given to upper-level students, and sales have been capped to reduce competition for parking spaces.
- Free KAT Rides – Thanks to a partnership with Knoxville Area Transit (KAT), transportation on all KAT buses will be provided free of charge to UT students. Staff and faculty will receive free fares when traveling to and from campus, providing a convenient and sustainable commuting solution. Simply show your VolCard when boarding, and you’re on your way!
- New Park-and-Ride Permits – A new Park-and-Ride option at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum provides a more affordable option for faculty, staff and commuters. It’s connected to campus by reliable and consistent T service that takes around 10 minutes from stop to stop, picking up and dropping off at the Gate 21 transfer point. The Park-and-Ride lot operates from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Those with Park-and-Ride permits who need access to campus after hours may park in any unreserved faculty/staff or commuter space beginning at 5 p.m., with the exception of special events.
- Flexible Parking Options – There are more than 1,000 new hourly parking spaces located throughout campus that are intended to provide flexible access on days when you need to drive to campus or park closer than your permit allows. These spaces use a scan-to-pay function and/or mobile app to register vehicles and define how long you need to park on campus. These spaces are in operation 24 hours a day at the rate of $1 per half hour.
- Technology For Commuters – Parking & Transportation has expanded parking availability counting systems and existing parking applications to help you make better decisions about where to park and how to plan your commute. The new VolPark app provides a comprehensive parking guidance system to assist students in finding parking on a day-to-day basis, and is now available for download on Google Play and the App Store. For the T transit system, Parking & Transportation has improved information about bus locations and schedules with route information and live T bus tracking available in the University of Tennessee app.
- Walk, Bike, Ride – With a fleet of 31 T buses serving campus seven days a week, free KAT bus transportation available, and bicycles and e-scooters available for rent on campus, getting around UT has never been easier. In an effort to simplify daily interactions with campus and ease congestion, commuting students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to park once and walk, bike, or ride between campus destinations.
For more information about Parking & Transportation options on campus, visit parking.utk.edu.
