Blacksburg Transit

Last updated

Blacksburg Transit
Blacksburg Transit logo.png
ParentTown of Blacksburg
Founded1983
Headquarters2800 Commerce Street
Locale Blacksburg, Virginia
Service type Fixed-Route Bus Service, Demand Response & Paratransit
Routes19
Fleet53 Transit Buses
18 Paratransit vans
Daily ridership17,000 (weekdays, Q1 2024) [1]
Annual ridership3,638,800 (2023) [2]
DirectorBrian Booth
Website ridebt.org

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 first quarter of 2024. In 2024 the agency claims to provide around 22,000 rides per day during school season. [4]

Contents

System of the Year

In 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

Blacksburg Transit sign Blacksburg Transit sign.jpg
Blacksburg Transit sign

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 [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

Inside a bus of Blacksburg Transit, Blacksburg, Virginia Inside a bus of Blacksburg Transit, Blacksburg, Virginia.jpg
Inside a bus of Blacksburg Transit, Blacksburg, Virginia

Route schedules and maps

Blacksburg Service
Christiansburg Service

Fixed-Route Bus Fleet

Vehicle(s)YearManufacturerModelNotes
Active Fleet
7223, 72242022 New Flyer Xcelsior (XE60)
7211 - 7213 Xcelsior (XE40)
7021, 70222020 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, 69322019 Xcelsior (XD60) First buses to be painted in the maroon and gray Blacksburg Transit livery.
6726 – 67292018 Xcelsior (XD60)
64252014 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, 63242013 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 – 62042012 Xcelsior (XD35) Unit 6201 is wrapped in a full body “No Hokie Left Behind” promotional livery.
6021 – 60222010 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.”

1911–19242009 Low Floor (D40LFR)
Retired Fleet
2711, 27122007 New Flyer Low Floor (D40LF)
2701 Low Floor (D35LF)
2015, 20252002 Low Floor (D60LF)
5211 – 52182002 Low Floor (D40LF)
  • 5217 remained in extended service
5201 – 5202 Low Floor (D35LF)
4201, 4202 Low Floor (D30LF)
3101 – 31062001 Low Floor (D35LF)
1811–18161998 Low Floor (D40LF)
1801–1809 Low Floor (D35LF)
3612, 3621, 3637, 36391976 New Look
2614 – 26161987 Flxible Metro (40102-6N)
2604 – 2606 Metro (35102-6N)
2611 – 26131986 Metro (40102-6N)
2601 – 2603 Metro (35102-6N)
1911–19121989 TMC RTS
1901–1902 RTS (T802)
1701–17031977 Flxible New Look
1611, 1613, 1616, 16181966 GMC New Look
  • EX-GRTC 411, 413, 416, 418
1603–1606 New Look
  • EX-Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA) 1603–1606
1508–15101965 New Look
  • EX-GRTC 401, 409, 410
1501, 1502 New Look
  • EX-Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA) 1601, 1602
13091984 Blue Bird City Bird
1302–13081983City Bird

See also

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References

  1. "Transit Ridership Report First Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. May 23, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  2. "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  3. "Reports". www.ridebt.org.
  4. "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.
  5. "Overview". www.ridebt.org.