Blacksburg Transit
 | |
|---|---|
| Slogan | Safety, Courtesy, Reliability, and the Environment. |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Headquarters | 2800 Commerce Street |
| Locale | Blacksburg, Virginia |
| Service type | bus service, paratransit |
| Routes | 30+ |
| Fleet |
50 transit buses 11 paratransit vans |
| Website | btransit.org |
Blacksburg Transit, or simply the BT, is a local government-owned urban-suburban bus line based in Blacksburg, Virginia. The system originated in 1983 with six buses, but has since expanded its operation to 50 buses and 11 vans. Ridership has grown to 3.3 million trips per year by 2011.[1] Its ridership is dominated by Virginia Tech students who account for 90 percent of all riders, with the remaining 10 percent being split evenly between Tech faculty and staff, and other Blacksburg citizens.[1] Blacksburg Transit serves the towns of Blacksburg, Christiansburg and limited unincorporated portions of Montgomery County.
A new service offered to its riders in the mid-2000s was WiFi internet access. Offered only on select buses until 2009 when the service provider ceased operation of their mobile WiFi service.[2]
Employees
The majority of BT's drivers are part-time employees, making BT a popular employer with Virginia Tech students as well as retirees. The majority of the service's full-time staff consists of administrative and supervisory positions.
BT ACCESS
BT ACCESS is Blacksburg Transit's ADA-compliant paratransit service. Riders must first qualify to use this service by filling out an application with the BT ACCESS office. Once approved, riders can schedule one time or recurring trips with door-through-door service to any destination within Blacksburg and areas outside Blacksburg serviced by BT's main-line fixed route bus service. (The Two Town Trolley is considered an Express route. Riders wishing to go to Christiansburg can schedule a trip to meet the Blacksburg Two Town Trolley at its Squires Hall timecheck.)
Routes
Route Schedules & Maps
Blacksburg Service
- Corporate Research Center Shuttle / Hospital Connector
- Harding Avenue
- Hethwood A & B (combined during certain service times)
- Hokie Express
- Main Street
- Patrick Henry
- Toms Creek A & B
- Progress Street
- Two Town Trolley
- University City Boulevard
- University Mall Shuttle
Christiansburg Service
- The Explorer
- Go Anywhere!
Gameday and Shuttle Service
- During Virginia Tech football game days, Blacksburg Transit offers shuttles to and from major areas of the town and various parking lots on and around Virginia Tech's campus; including a parking lot coordinating with Blacksburg Transit's ACCESS service for special needs passengers wishing to attend the games.
- During Virginia Tech basketball game days, shuttles are offered only to and from several on-campus parking lots (Similar service is occasionally offered for other sporting events on Virginia Tech's campus).
- Blacksburg Transit offers parking shuttle services throughout the year for various events held in its residing town, the Town of Blacksburg. Such events include, but are not limited to, "Steppin' Out" and "Fork and Cork."
Bus Fleet
- New Flyer D35LF & D40LF (All but one currently being retired), D40LFR, DE40LFR, DE60LFR, XD35, XD40, and XD60
- Flxible Metro (Six 35' and Six 40' buses, retired and sold in stages starting in 2002)
- RTS-TMC (Two 35' and Two 40' buses, retired and sold in 2003)
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Blacksburg Transit. "History and Background". Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ↑ "Wi-Fi on Blacksburg Transit to End". Retrieved 4 April 2013.
External links
- Blacksburg Transit official website