About
The Greater Roanoke Transit Company, known locally as Valley Metro, is a private, non-profit, public service organization wholly owned by the City of Roanoke. Operations began in 1975 when what had been a privately owned transit system, the Roanoke City Lines, went public.
Today, Valley Metro provides a comprehensive range of transportation services to the residents of the greater Roanoke Valley area. Offering bus service along fixed routes, special services for individuals with disabilities, commuter service to the New River Valley, and special event shuttle buses, Valley Metro is committed to meeting the needs of area commuters.
Valley Metro contracts with First Transit, Inc. to provide its dedicated team of transportation professionals. The General Manager and Assistant General Manger are employees of First Transit, Inc. and the remainder of the staff are employees of Southwestern Virginia Transit Management Company, Inc.
Funding sources include operating and capital grants from federal, state, and local agencies including the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, and the City of Roanoke. Additional sources of funding include fare box revenues, advertising revenues, and the sale of passes.
Valley Metro is headquartered in the Roy Z. Meador Operations, Maintenance and Administrative Facility, located at 1108 Campbell Avenue, S.E. The two-level facility houses management offices, and the transportation, administrative and maintenance departments. The 70,000 square foot facility features a shop and garage area on the second level, which is accessed by ramps on either side of the building. Our team of skilled mechanics in Valley Metro's "state-of-the-art" facility does all bus repair, paint and bodywork, and engine rebuilding in-house.
The Administrative, Transportation, and Maintenance offices are located on the second level, as are the Dispatch Center, conference rooms and employee lounge and recreation area. The first level of the building features a service area with automatic bus wash and indoor parking for the fleet of 42 buses. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and the telephone number is 982-2222. The office is closed on holidays.
The Third Street Station Transportation Center is situated in the heart of the downtown Roanoke business and shopping districts. Located at 325 Salem Avenue SW, Third Street Station is just a few blocks away from Roanoke's Historic City Market, where a variety of festivals and events take place throughout the year. Also nearby is Center in the Square, a cultural arts facility.
The Greater Roanoke Transit Company owns Third Street Station. The GRTC Board of Directors governs the policies and operational procedures of the facility, as well as approval of all tenants.