Radford Transit offers free fares through January

As Radford Transit buses roll into the new year, the bus system hopes to increase awareness and ridership on its Cross City Route with a contest. Over the past year, Radford Transit has seen success serving more than 187,000 riders. Photo courtesy of Sheri Lewis.

RADFORD – Since 2011, transit buses have been rolling around Radford, transporting both residents and students to-and-from their destinations around the New River Valley.

Nine Radford Transit buses carried over 187,000 passengers from Aug. 2011, when the service began, to Aug. 2012, according to Transportation Marketing Specialist Sheri Lewis.

That’s an average of about 17,000 riders per month.

Since then, Lewis said, Radford Transit has nearly doubled ridership year-to-date during its second year of service. Radford Transit transported nearly 50,000 passengers in Oct. alone, Lewis added.

During 2012, Radford’s transit system was the third largest provider of transit services in the Salem District and the 17th largest provider in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Lewis added.

Entering 2013, Radford Transit is hoping to raise awareness and increase ridership throughout the year, but specifically on the Cross City Route via Routes 30 and 31.

Throughout the rest of January, transit riders will be able to ride buses on all routes for free, Lewis said.

“It’s to increase awareness of just how far-reaching the Radford Transit system is,” Lewis said. “They may be in the west end of Radford but they can transfer onto a bus and shop at Wal-Mart in Fairlawn.”

The Cross City Route, Lewis said, reaches into the neighborhoods of Radford. Lewis hopes the added awareness to the route will let Radford residents know the bus system is for them, too.

“We’re trying to get the word out that it is for the citizens of Radford, it’s not just for the students,” Lewis said. “This is for them. This is for their needs.”

In addition to free fare, transit patrons are given the opportunity to fill out a form on the Cross City Route for a drawing. Each week, a rider will be selected to win a $25 gift card to Wal-Mart along with an additional month of free fare on Radford Transit.

Lewis said the number of passenger Radford Transit carried last year shows the Department of Rail and Transportation why the system was a necessary need for the area.

Radford Transit, Lewis said, has added five connections to allow patrons to travel beyond the New River Valley area including connections with Blacksburg Transit, The Smart Way and Megabus.

“We are a vital need for Radford to be able to travel to go anywhere,” Lewis said. “You can even get on a Radford bus and travel all the way to Canada.”

Radford Transit bus fare is $1. The fare is free for adults 65-years and older, and children 12 and under. It’s also free for Radford University students and faculty with valid university ID.

For more information about Radford Transit, visit www.radfordtransit.com.

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