Blacksburg Transit

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 2024, the system had a ridership of 3,638,800 or about 17,000 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2025. In 2024 the agency claims to provide around 22,000 rides per day during school season.^[4]

Blacksburg Transit

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	20,800 (weekdays, Q1 2025)[1]
Annual ridership	4,299,700 (2024)[2]
Director	Brian Booth
Website	ridebt.org

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

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

Route schedules and maps

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 RD (TCR)
• Two Town Trolley (TTT)
• University City Boulevard (UCB)

Christiansburg Service

• Explorer Blue & Gold (BLU / GLD)
• Go Anywhere

Fixed-Route Bus Fleet

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 – 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.
Retired Fleet
6021 – 6022	2010		Low Floor (DE60LFR)	Unit 6021 is still active in the contingency fleet Unit 6022 was retired in 2023
6011 – 6017			Low Floor (DE40LFR)	Units 6011 - 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.”
1911–1924	2009		Low Floor (D40LFR)	Retired in 2025
2711, 2712	2007	New Flyer	Low Floor (D40LF)
2701			Low Floor (D35LF)
2015, 2025	2002		Low Floor (D60LF)	EX-Rutgers University (DOTS) 2015 & 2025
5211 – 5218	2002		Low Floor (D40LF)	5217 remained in extended service
5201 – 5202			Low Floor (D35LF)	5201 & 5202 sold to Radford Transit
4201, 4202			Low Floor (D30LF)	4201 & 4202 sold to Radford Transit
3101 – 3106	2001		Low Floor (D35LF)
1811–1816	1998		Low Floor (D40LF)
1801–1809			Low Floor (D35LF)
3612, 3621, 3637, 3639	1976		New Look	EX-PENTRAN 612, 621, 637, 639 3612 & 3621 donated to Commonwealth Coach and Trolley Museum
2614 – 2616	1987	Flxible	Metro (40102-6N)	2616 donated to Commonwealth Coach and Trolley Museum
2604 – 2606			Metro (35102-6N)
2611 – 2613	1986		Metro (40102-6N)
2601 – 2603			Metro (35102-6N)
1911–1912	1989	TMC	RTS	Sold to WATA as JC250901 – JC250904 JC250902(1902) donated to Commonwealth Coach and Trolley Museum
1901–1902			RTS (T802)
1701–1703	1977	Flxible	New Look	EX-Gateway Regional Transit Authority (Bluefield, VA) 7701 – 7703
1611, 1613, 1616, 1618	1966	GMC	New Look	EX-GRTC 411, 413, 416, 418
1603–1606			New Look	EX-Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA) 1603–1606
1508–1510	1965		New Look	EX-GRTC 401, 409, 410
1501, 1502			New Look	EX-Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA) 1601, 1602
1309	1984	Blue Bird	City Bird
1302–1308	1983		City Bird

See also

• Transportation in Virginia