BLACKSBURG, Va. – Update:
In Blacksburg, thousands of people use the public bus line, Blacksburg Transit, every week.
“Blacksburg Transit is a part of the town’s transportation system and part of our everyday life. If it didn’t exist, there would be gridlock on our streets,” Marc Verniel, Town Manager, said.
And for years, the central hub for the buses was in front of Burruss Hall.
“For 41 years, the Drillfield had been the center of activity and the hub for our transportation system,” Brian Booth, Transit Director, said.
But now—there is an official home and central location for Blacksburg Transit: the Transit Center.
A 26-million-dollar project, funded mostly through federal and state grants, over the past year, bus routes have changed so every route now ends at what’s known as the Loops and the Transit Center.
Transit Director Brian Booth says this has helped improve the overall efficiency of the bus service.
“We’ve actually seen huge increases in ridership as a result of the efficiencies that we were able to achieve by moving the buses here,” Booth said.
“Most of the operators now love it because they don’t have to fight the crosswalks, they don’t have to go through pedestrians and all the traffic on campus. They dip in here, drop off, pick up, and then they’re right back off campus.”
For the people who ride the bus, they say it has become significantly more reliable.
“Before, at Burruss, like, if I was to take UCB, sometimes it would leave a couple minutes early because they would have to factor in getting through traffic on University City Boulevard,” Kyle Evans, a Blacksburg Transit rider, said.
Inside the Transit Center, there is space for people to wait, offices, and even a place for people with bikes to get repairs.
Students and staff say it has been a long time coming, and they are just glad the day is finally here.
Original:
Blacksburg’s long-awaited transit center is now officially open, marking the realization of a 30-year dream for the town. The $26 million project, which includes the innovative feature known as The Loops, has become the central hub for Blacksburg Transit, the town’s public transportation service.
With the establishment of a central hub, both efficiency and ridership have seen noticeable improvements. This development is the final step in transforming Blacksburg’s public transportation system.
The transit center offers a variety of amenities for riders, including waiting areas, offices, a parking garage, and a bike repair area. Local leaders and bus riders share their thoughts on the impact of this new facility on 10 News at 5 and 6.