This Friday, Christiansburg residents will see what appears to be more bus service. But it's only a test at this point.
Blacksburg Transit will be driving possible routes from 12:30 to 2:30 pm.
A survey, paid for by this region's Metropolitan Planning Organization, was sent to all Christiansburg residences last fall and received extraordinarily strong response rates. These results and possible options were presented to Christiansburg Town Council in April. Combined funding -- town, state and federal dollars -- made it financially feasible, especially when looking at retiring a very limited Two-Town-Trolley route.
Not all Council members appeared to be on board, yet funding the town's portion was included in the current budget. The Mayor recently made mention this initiative was proceeding and a legal notice for additional bus shelters was published by the Town of Blacksburg (which may include inventory for new stops in Christiansburg).
Want to know more? There's still time to learn why two distinct routes -- one around the downtown area and adjacent residential neighborhoods, and another circulating the mall area -- did not connect to each other. How will the call ahead or commuter services work? Contact Blacksburg Transit at 540-961-1185 to schedule a group presentation. Service is expected to begin by November, and this established and experienced public transportation system offers a wealth of advertising options, too.
Meanwhile, watch for buses in new places Friday to get an idea of where the routes may eventually go.
NOTE: Read related Roanoke Times article, published August 23.