LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lextran unveiled LexRide, a new seasonal downtown circulator service beginning April 2, designed to connect Lexington's popular entertainment districts and reduce the hassles of downtown travel.

LexRide connects key destinations including Downtown Lexington, the Distillery District, and the Warehouse Block/National Avenue area, offering riders a convenient alternative to driving and parking. The service operates Thursday through Saturday evenings from 4 p.m. to midnight through October, with buses arriving every 12 to 15 minutes.

The $1 per-ride service features distinctly branded accessible vehicles and tap-to-pay technology, allowing riders to pay with contactless cards or mobile wallets. Lextran operates 25 bus routes throughout Lexington, and LexRide can be tracked in real-time through the MyStop mobile app.

The partnership reflects years of community collaboration. The Downtown Lexington Partnership works to create a vibrant, economically powerful urban core, while the Fund for Greater Lexington identified reliable, affordable transportation as a high priority for residents. "Our board chose to financially support this pilot project in hopes that its success will lead to expanded transit options that enhance connectivity and access throughout Lexington," said Kristen Hoffman, Associate Director of the Fund for Greater Lexington.

City officials praised the initiative for reducing congestion and emissions while supporting local businesses. Urban County Councilmember James Brown stated that the service "keeps Lexington moving forward by cutting congestion, lowering emissions, and making transit a smarter choice." To celebrate the launch, LexRide rides were free through the opening weekend of April 2-4.

The new service is a seasonal pilot program made possible through collaboration among Lextran, the City of Lexington, the Fund for Greater Lexington, VisitLEX, LEXPARK, and the Downtown Lexington Partnership. Business leaders, including those in the Distillery District and Warehouse Block, have expressed enthusiasm about how the service could drive traffic to their establishments by making downtown more accessible.