Blacksburg Transit, or simply 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 53 fixed-route buses and 18 body-on-chassis vehicles. In FY 19, Ridership exceeded 4.6 million passenger trips per year; ridership is dominated by Virginia Tech students who account for approximately 90 percent of all riders, with the remaining percentage being split between Virginia Tech faculty and staff, and other Blacksburg citizens. Ridership decreased in FY20 and FY21 due to COVID-19, but began rebounding in FY21.[3] Blacksburg Transit serves the towns of Blacksburg, Christiansburg and limited portions of Montgomery County. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 3,638,800 or about 17,000 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024. In 2024 the agency claims to provide around 22,000 rides per day during school season.[4]
| Parent | Town of Blacksburg |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1983 |
| Headquarters | 2800 Commerce Street |
| Locale | Blacksburg, Virginia |
| Service type | Fixed-Route Bus Service, Demand Response & Paratransit |
| Routes | 19 |
| Fleet | 53 Transit Buses 18 Paratransit vans |
| Daily ridership | 13,700 (weekdays, Q3 2024)[1] |
| Annual ridership | 3,638,800 (2023)[2] |
| Director | Brian Booth |
| Website | ridebt.org |
System of the Year
editIn 2019, BT was named the American Public Transportation Association's Outstanding Public Transportation System for agencies carrying fewer than 4 million passenger trips per year. BT was singled out for their successful delivery of service to Virginia Tech, Blacksburg and Christiansburg based on performance on 24 quantitative and qualitative criteria, including ridership. In the three years evaluated (2016, 2017 and 2018), BT experienced an unprecedented 22 percent growth in ridership from 3.5 to 4.3 million passenger trips per year.
Employees
editThe 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
editBT Access[5] is Blacksburg Transit's complementary paratransit service. The service is available for persons with a temporary or permanent disability who meet the criteria established under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Once approved, riders can schedule one time or recurring trips with door-to-door service to any destination within Blacksburg. Riders wishing to go to Christiansburg can schedule a trip to meet the Two Town Trolley at its Squires Hall timecheck or at LewisGale Hospital Montgomery.
Routes
editRoute schedules and maps
edit- Blacksburg Service
- Carpenter Boulevard (CRB)
- Corporate Research Center Shuttle (CRC)
- Harding Avenue (HDG)
- Hethwood A & B (HWA / HWB)
- Hokie Express (HXP)
- South Main – Airport Rd (MSA)
- Main Street North & Givens Lane (MSG)
- Main Street North & South (MSN / MSS)
- Patrick Henry Drive (PHD)
- Patrick Henry B (PHB)
- Progress Street (PRO)
- Toms Creek (TOM)
- Two Town Trolley (TTT)
- University City Boulevard (UCB)
- Christiansburg Service
Fixed-Route Bus Fleet
edit| Vehicle(s) | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Fleet | ||||
| 7223, 7224 | 2022 | New Flyer | Xcelsior (XE60) | |
| 7211 - 7213 | Xcelsior (XE40) | |||
| 7021, 7022 | 2020 | Xcelsior (XE60) | Unit 7022 is wrapped in a full body “Charged Up” electric bus promotional livery. | |
| 7005, 7006, 7007 | Xcelsior (XE35) | Unit 7007 is wrapped in a full body “Charged Up” electric bus promotional livery. | ||
| 6931, 6932 | 2019 | Xcelsior (XD60) | First buses to be painted in the maroon and gray Blacksburg Transit livery. | |
| 6726 – 6729 | 2018 | Xcelsior (XD60) | ||
| 6425 | 2014 | Xcelsior (XD60) | ||
| 6411 – 6414 | Xcelsior (XD40) | Unit 6413 is wrapped in a full body Virginia Tech “Ring Bus” livery.
Unit 6414 is wrapped in a full body CMG Leasing advertisement. | ||
| 6401 – 6404 | Xcelsior (XD35) | |||
| 6323, 6324 | 2013 | Xcelsior (XD60) | ||
| 6305 – 6308 | Xcelsior (XD35) | Unit 6305 is wrapped in a full body Blacksburg “Love Where You Live” wrap.
Unit 6306 is wrapped in a full body New River Community College advertisement. | ||
| 6201 – 6204 | 2012 | Xcelsior (XD35) | Unit 6201 is wrapped in a full body “No Hokie Left Behind” promotional livery. | |
| 6021 – 6022 | 2010 | Low Floor (DE60LFR) | ||
| 6011 – 6017 | Low Floor (DE40LFR) |
Unit 6017 is wrapped in a Hybrid Electric Bus promotional livery and is affectionately known as the “Hippie Bus.” | ||
| 1911–1924 | 2009 | Low Floor (D40LFR) | ||
| Retired Fleet | ||||
| 2711, 2712 | 2007 | New Flyer | Low Floor (D40LF) | |
| 2701 | Low Floor (D35LF) | |||
| 2015, 2025 | 2002 | Low Floor (D60LF) |
| |
| 5211 – 5218 | 2002 | Low Floor (D40LF) |
| |
| 5201 – 5202 | Low Floor (D35LF) |
| ||
| 4201, 4202 | Low Floor (D30LF) |
| ||
| 3101 – 3106 | 2001 | Low Floor (D35LF) | ||
| 1811–1816 | 1998 | Low Floor (D40LF) | ||
| 1801–1809 | Low Floor (D35LF) | |||
| 3612, 3621, 3637, 3639 | 1976 | New Look |
| |
| 2614 – 2616 | 1987 | Flxible | Metro (40102-6N) |
|
| 2604 – 2606 | Metro (35102-6N) | |||
| 2611 – 2613 | 1986 | Metro (40102-6N) | ||
| 2601 – 2603 | Metro (35102-6N) | |||
| 1911–1912 | 1989 | TMC | RTS |
|
| 1901–1902 | RTS (T802) | |||
| 1701–1703 | 1977 | Flxible | New Look |
|
| 1611, 1613, 1616, 1618 | 1966 | GMC | New Look |
|
| 1603–1606 | New Look |
| ||
| 1508–1510 | 1965 | New Look |
| |
| 1501, 1502 | New Look |
| ||
| 1309 | 1984 | Blue Bird | City Bird | |
| 1302–1308 | 1983 | City Bird | ||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ "Reports". www.ridebt.org.
- ^ "New Campus Shuttle route set to transform transportation at Virginia Tech | Virginia Tech News | Virginia Tech". June 22, 2024. Archived from the original on June 22, 2024. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ "Overview". www.ridebt.org.