50 Years of Valley Metro
This year, Valley Metro is celebrating 50 years of public transit service in the Roanoke Valley! Since 1975, our buses have been rolling through the city, helping riders get to work, school, shopping, and beyond. For half a century, we've been proud to serve this community, growing alongside it to meet the needs of our riders.
A Look Back
Valley Metro has come a long way since our first buses hit the streets. Over the years, we've expanded routes, improved accessibility, and introduced new services to better serve the region. Our history is a testament to the power of public transit - providing people with mobility, independence, and reliable transportation options.
The past few years have been especially transformative for Valley Metro. As we approached our 50th anniversary, we worked hard to enhance service and embrace modern transit solutions. Some of our biggest recent accomplishments include:
- Opening a new transit center, providing a modern hub for riders
- Launching our mobile app, VMGO, making it easier than ever to plan trips and track buses in real time
- Introducing MetroFLX, a microtransit service that offers flexible on-demand rides for late nights and Sundays
These changes have set the stage for even bigger advancements ahead.
Looking Forward
As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we're also looking toward the future of transit in Roanoke. This year, we're taking a major step forward with the arrival of our first battery-electric buses! These new vehicles will help us reduce emissions, improve service reliability, and contribute to a more sustainable transit system.
Valley Metro's success over the past 50 years wouldn't be possible without our riders, our dedicated staff, our local partners, and the operators who keep our buses running every day.
We're proud of what we've accomplished together, and we're excited for the next chapter of public transit in Roanoke. Thank you for riding with us. Here's to the next 50 years!