History and Background Information

Blacksburg Transit began running bus service for Virginia Tech and Blacksburg residents in 1983 with six 30 foot buses, one van and seven full time staff. A transit management company was hired by the Town of Blacksburg to startup the service and manage the operation. Shortly after beginning service, the Town of Blacksburg took over the management responsibilities and has managed the service ever since.

We now have thirty-three fixed route 30ft., 35ft. and 40 ft. buses and eleven vans. Our service has grown to 2.4 million trips per year serving the citizens of the Town of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech, and the partnering communities within the New River Valley.

The Town of Blacksburg has approximately 17,000 permanent residents and 26,000 students. We provide both accessible fixed route bus service and door-to-door accessible van service for those needing it throughout Blacksburg.

Ninety percent of our ridership comes from Tech students, five percent from Tech faculty and staff, and the remaining five percent comes from Blacksburg citizens.

Public transportation reduces auto fuel consumption by approximately 1.5 billion gallons annually, lowering the nation's trade deficit and reducing dependence on foreign oil. (FTA, 1996).