As the new transportation hub nears completion, Blacksburg transportation is changing its routes

Blacksburg, Virginia – Significant route adjustments are being made by Blacksburg Transit in advance of the 2019 Virginia Tech academic year.

For almost 41 years, the Drill Field has served as the primary center for instructors and students to board and disembark from buses. That will not be the case starting on June 24.

”We’re not changing schedule departure times or locations in the town, off campus. It’s just where you get to campus; it’s really the location that it goes on-campus changes,” said Brian Booth, transit director.

The new transportation hub, which is being built close to the Perry Street Garage and has been under construction since 2021, is anticipated to be finished this fall.
Riders can continue inside campus and their residence halls by boarding the campus shuttle, a new route that departs from the center.

”There’s still stops that will be on that central campus Drill Field, especially at Newman Library and Torgerson Hall, and then we’re going to have stops on the other side on West Campus, where we enter the Drill Field. It’s just we won’t be traveling around the Drill Field anymore,” said Booth.

Every fifteen minutes, buses from the transit center will leave, and every fifteen minutes, buses on off-campus routes will arrive at the center.

The move was made, among other things, to give passengers more frequent service and to ensure public safety by avoiding crowded places like the Drill Field loop.

“It’s been a major concern for stakeholders at Virginia Tech and they’re thankful, but they’re really surprised that we have not had a major incident with just how many conflicts we experience on a daily basis with students and other pedestrians in crosswalks,” said Booth.

Among the modifications are the addition of new stations by BT to West Campus Drive, McBryde Hall, and Washington Street next to the residence halls.

There will be plenty of signage to help students find their way once classes resume in the autumn and the new transportation center opens.