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. Blacksburg Transit serves the towns of Blacksburg, Christiansburg and limited portions of Montgomery County. Ridership in FY25 (July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025) exceeded 4.7 million passenger trips, an increase of 26% over the previous fiscal year.
Service in Blacksburg was overhauled in 2024, moving the hub of service from Virginia Tech's Drillfield to the Loops at the new Transit Center. This major change increased route efficiency and typically due to the shortened route length provided increased frequency without adding additional vehicles. A new route, the Campus Shuttle (CAS), provides high frequency service around central campus. CAS accounted for 20% of all passenger trips in FY25.
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
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 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 the Loops or at LewisGale Hospital Montgomery.
Routes
Route schedules and maps Blacksburg Service Beamer Way (BMR) Campus Shuttle (CAS) Carpenter Boulevard (CRB) Corporate Research Center Shuttle (CRC) Harding Avenue (HDG) Hethwood A (HWA) Hethwood B (HWB) Hethwood Combined (HWC) Hokie Express (HXP) Hokie Express via Stanger (HXS) North Main Givens (NMG) Patrick Henry B (PHB) Patrick Henry Drive (PHD) Progress Street (PRG) South Main Airport (SMA) South Main Ellett (SME) South Main Southpark (SMS) Toms Creek Progress (TCP) Toms Creek Road (TCR) Two Town Trolley Hospital (TTH) Two Town Trolley Spradlin Farms (TTS) University City Boulevard (UCB)
Christiansburg Service Explorer Blue (BLU) Explorer Green (GRN) Go Anywhere
Weekday route frequencies in minutes +Route Name Reduced Service Intermediate ServiceFull Service (school in session) CAS15157.5 (currently 15 due to bus shortage)CRBNo ServiceNo Service20CRC242424HDG303030, (15 between 8:30am and 2pm)HWANo ServiceNo Service15HWBNo ServiceNo Service15HWC151510, (15 after 6:30 pm)HXP303030, (15 between 8:30am and 2pm)NMG301515BMR303030, (15 between 6:30 and 9:30am and 3:30 and 6:40pm)PHBNo ServiceNo Service12PHD303015PRGNo ServiceNo Service12SMA303030SME3030 (after 9:45pm)30 (after 9:45pm)SMS303030TCP151510, (15 after 6:30 pm)TCRNo ServiceNo Service12TTT606060, (30 on weekends)UCB303015EXBLU606060EXGRN606060
Fixed-Route Bus Fleet Vehicle(s)YearManufacturerModelNotesActive Fleet8531-85342025New FlyerXcelsior (XE60)8511-8522Xcelsior (XE40)8501-8502Xcelsior (XE35)7223 – 72242022Xcelsior (XE60)7211 – 7213Xcelsior (XE40)Unit 7212 is wrapped in a full body Virginia Tech Well-Being promotional livery.7021 – 70222020Xcelsior (XE60)Unit 7022 is wrapped in a full body “Charged Up” electric bus promotional livery. 7005 – 7007Xcelsior (XE35)Unit 7007 is wrapped in a full body “Charged Up” electric bus promotional livery.6931 – 69322019Xcelsior (XD60)First buses to be painted in the maroon and gray Blacksburg Transit livery.6726 – 67292018Xcelsior (XD60)64252014Xcelsior (XD60)6411 – 6414Xcelsior (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 – 6404Xcelsior (XD35)6323 – 63242013Xcelsior (XD60)6305 – 6308Xcelsior (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.Retired Fleet6201 – 62042012Xcelsior (XD35) All units are still active in the contingency fleet Unit 6201 is wrapped in a full body “No Hokie Left Behind” promotional livery.6021 – 60222010Low Floor (DE60LFR) Unit 6021 is still active in the contingency fleet Unit 6022 was retired in 20236011 – 6017Low Floor (DE40LFR) Units 6011, 6012, 6014, 6015 and 6017 are still active in the contingency fleet Unit 6017 is wrapped in a Hybrid Electric Bus promotional livery and is affectionately known as the “Hippie Bus.”1911–19242009Low Floor (D40LFR) Retired in 20252711, 27122007New FlyerLow Floor (D40LF)2701Low Floor (D35LF)2015, 20252002Low Floor (D60LF) EX-Rutgers University (DOTS) 2015 & 20255211 – 52182002Low Floor (D40LF) 5217 remained in extended service5201 – 5202Low Floor (D35LF) 5201 & 5202 sold to Radford Transit4201, 4202Low Floor (D30LF) 4201 & 4202 sold to Radford Transit3101 – 31062001Low Floor (D35LF)1811–18161998Low Floor (D40LF)1801–1809Low Floor (D35LF)3612, 3621, 3637, 36391976New Look EX-PENTRAN 612, 621, 637, 639 3612 & 3621 donated to Commonwealth Coach and Trolley Museum2614 – 26161987FlxibleMetro (40102-6N) 2616 donated to Commonwealth Coach and Trolley Museum2604 – 2606Metro (35102-6N)2611 – 26131986Metro (40102-6N)2601 – 2603Metro (35102-6N)1911–19121989TMCRTSSold to WATA as JC250901 – JC250904 JC250902(1902) donated to Commonwealth Coach and Trolley Museum1901–1902RTS (T802)1701–17031977FlxibleNew LookEX-Gateway Regional Transit Authority (Bluefield, VA) 7701 – 77031611, 1613, 1616, 16181966GMCNew LookEX-GRTC 411, 413, 416, 4181603–1606New LookEX-Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA) 1603–16061508–15101965New LookEX-GRTC 401, 409, 4101501, 1502New LookEX-Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA) 1601, 160213091984Blue BirdCity Bird1302–13081983City Bird
See also Transportation in Virginia
References
External links Official website