Valley Metro, the operational name for the Greater Roanoke Transit Company, is a local government-owned
urban-suburban bus line based in
Roanoke,
Virginia with
First Transit providing the general and assistant general managers.[1] The staff is employed by Southwest Virginia Transit Management Company, a First Transit subsidiary. Valley Metro serves the
independent cities of Roanoke and
Salem, the town of
Vinton, and limited unincorporated portions of
Roanoke County.[2] Valley Metro has a fleet of 42 buses and 7
paratransit vehicles, and many lines originate and/or terminate at Campbell Court, a central
bus station in
downtown Roanoke which is also served by
Greyhound.[1]
Services offered
Bus
Effective June 1, 2010, Valley Metro buses only stop at designated bus stops. Before as previous to this buses would stop at every corner.[citation needed] Many passengers have expressed disapproval of this new policy. Valley Metro officials state that the changes are necessary to keep buses on schedule as ridership has increased.
As of January 1, 2018, Valley Metro operates the following bus routes:[2]
91&92: Goodwill Industries in Salem to Campbell Court via
LewisGale Hospital, Veterans Hospital, and Melrose Avenue[12]
Smart Way Bus
Valley Metro operates the Smart Way Bus, which serves Roanoke,
Christiansburg,
Blacksburg, and
Virginia Tech. Its service to Roanoke includes connections to the Amtrak station, which opened on October 31, 2017.[13][14]
Star Line Trolley
The Star Line Trolley is a free service along Jefferson Street between downtown Roanoke and the Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Service is from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday through Friday.[15]
Civic Center Shuttles
Free shuttles run from the Elmwood Garage in downtown Roanoke to the Roanoke Civic Center during events.[16]
Paratransit (S.T.A.R.)
Valley Metro offers a paratransit service called Specialized Transit - Arranged Rides (S.T.A.R.), operated by RADAR Transit, for individuals with disabilities who are unable to ride a traditional Valley Metro bus. It serves the entire city of Roanoke, the town of Salem, and the city of Salem. Applications must be submitted in order to ride. Customers call at least one day in advance to reserve a ride.[17]
References
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ab"About Us". Valley Metro. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
^
ab"Schedules". Valley Metro. Retrieved January 5, 2018.