Workers are preparing to begin construction soon at the new Blacksburg Transit Multi-Modal Transit Facility, which will improve the long-term transit experience on the Virginia Tech Blacksburg campus.
The product of over a decade of planning led by the Town of Blacksburg in close coordination with Virginia Tech, the Blacksburg Transit Multi-Modal Transit Facility project will deliver a central transportation hub and alternative transportation facilities in the vicinity of Perry Street, embedded within the North Academic District.
The capstone of this expansive, 6+ acre project will be a 13,000-gross-square-foot, two-story transit center that will serve as a hub for multiple modes of alternative transportation, including Blacksburg Transit, the Smart Way bus, Virginia Breeze, and bike share. The first floor will provide an air-conditioned and heated rider waiting area and will house Virginia Tech’s Alternative Transportation Department and Hokie Bike Hub. On the second floor will be a break area for Blacksburg Transit operators and office and meeting space for Blacksburg Transit and the Alternative Transportation Department.
The new building will be located adjacent to the south side of the Perry Street Parking Garage.
The Perry Street area as it exists today will be reimagined. Seventeen bus loading and unloading slips will be grouped around two bus loops located east and west of the new transit center. Perry Street will be closed and transformed into a pedestrian-friendly plaza that doubles as a portion of the Infinite Loop, a two-mile accessible and multi-modal route identified in Beyond Boundaries 2047 and the Campus Master Plan, connecting additional future accessible routes.
Centralization of bus stops and routes throughout the region at the facility will help improve safety and convenience for riders and pedestrians, as well as efficiency of the Blacksburg Transit system. Currently, a large concentration of bus routes wait in front of Burruss Hall for pickups and drop-offs. Buses will continue to drop off and pick up at Burruss Hall, but will not wait there for extended periods of time.
“The Town of Blacksburg is excited to start construction of the Blacksburg Transit Multi-Modal Transit Facility on Virginia Tech’s campus,” said Blacksburg Town Manager Marc Verniel. “This project is another example of the outstanding partnership the town and the university have established. Because of this partnership, what was an idea 20 years ago is becoming a reality. When finished, the facility will provide a safe, efficient, and centralized location for passengers arriving on and departing from campus.”
“Undoubtedly, the project would not be breaking ground without the outstanding leadership from the Town of Blacksburg. We are grateful for our continued close collaboration with town leaders,” said Dwayne Pinkney, VT’s senior vice president and chief business officer.
The $36 million project is being funded by Blacksburg Transit using federal grants.
