S.T.A.R. Paratransit

S.T.A.R.(Specialized Transit - Arranged Rides) is a service of Valley Metro that is operated by RADAR, to provide transportation to individuals with disabilities who are unable to ride a Valley Metro bus. The following are guidelines under which we operate the S.T.A.R. service:

  • Service Area: The entire City of Roanoke, the town of Vinton, and the city of Salem are service areas; within 3/4 of one mile on either side of a regular Valley Metro fixed route.
  • Qualification: To be qualified for S.T.A.R. service, you must first submit a completed application to Valley Metro.

    • To acquire an application, you may call Valley Metro at (540) 982-2222 and have one mailed or faxed to you.
    You may also click here to download an application.
    When you and your medical professional of choice have completed the application, you may mail it to us at:

    Valley Metro - STAR Service
    PO Box 13247
    Roanoke, VA 24032-3247

    Instead, you or your doctor's office may fax the completed application to (540) 982-2703 (Attention: STAR Service)

  • Service Hours: 5:45 a.m. - 8:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The last pickup time scheduled is 8:15 p.m. Please note that our service does not operate on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, or any day when Valley Metro is operating on snow routes. If the service is closed for any other reason, announcements will be made on local radio and television stations.
  • Cost: The cost per trip is $3.50. All clients must pay by cash, ticket or pass. If paying by cash, exact change is required. Drivers are not allowed to make change. Collection of the fare will be completed before the client boards the vehicle. Tickets or passes can be purchased in advance by calling (540)982-2222 for passengers who find this more convenient than carrying cash. Passengers who fail to pay in advance or at the time of boarding may be denied transportation.
  • Effective Communication: Valley Metro will upon request provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in Valley Metro's programs, services and activities, including qualified sign language interpreters, documents in Braille, and other ways of making information and communications accessible to people who have speech, hearing or vision impairments
  • Modifications to Policies and Procedures: Valley Metro will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services and activities.Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a Valley Metro program, service or activity, should contact Valley Metro at 540-982-0305 as soon as possible. The ADA does not require Valley Metro to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services, or impose any undue financial or administrative burden. Valley Metro will not place a surcharge on a particular individual with a disability or any group of individuals with disabilities to cover the cost of providing auxiliary aids/services or reasonable modifications of policy.
  • How To Arrange For Transportation: You will need to call (540)343-1721 (extension 3) to make reservations. Reservations are taken between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Sunday. After normal business hours, customers may leave a message for trip request. Requests are processed as received. Reservations must be made at least one day in advance of desired transport time.

    • Please have the following information ready to give to the dispatcher:

    1. Identification Number and Name
    2. Time of your Appointment
    3. Your Destination, Building Name and Address
    4. Your Return Timeand destination

  • Visitors: If you are eligible for ADA Paratransit through another transit system, and you are visiting within our service area, please call our office in advance regarding your needs to access the STAR service during your visit. If you are calling from out of the area, you may contact us toll free at 800-388-7005. If you are ADA Certified through the STAR service, and you will be visiting in another city, you should contact the public transportation provider in that city regarding their policies for visitors.
  • Return Trips: The S.T.A.R. passenger is required to schedule the return trip when making their reservation. The van will be scheduled, as per your request, and will wait five minutes past your scheduled time. Individuals missing their scheduled return time must call (540)343-1721 to arrange another pickup time. RADAR will dispatch a vehicle as soon as possible without affecting other scheduled pickups.
  • Cancellation: Any cancellations must be made at least one hour in advance of the trip.
  • General Information: RADAR may negotiate trip requests within an hour of the client's requested pick up time. If RADAR's offer of a trip pick up time is more than one hour before or after the client's desired trip time, the client is not obligated to accept the trip and it will be tracked as a trip denial, even if the client accepts the negotiated trip."
  • Personal Care Assistant: S.T.A.R. passengers may have a personal care assistant to travel free along with them if they require assistance to use the service.

For more information please call Valley Metro at (540) 982-2222, check the RADAR web site or call 711 for assistance!

Updated - 8/7/2024