Hokie Express Gets Makeover

The two Hokie Express buses will receive a face-lift this February.

The Blacksburg Transit is holding the first Design Your Ride Contest to show Hokie Pride and help increase the ridership by 25 percent.

The average number of weekday riders on the Hokie Express is 924. The goal is to raise that by the end of spring 2008 to approximately 1,155 according to Jennifer Harris, Communications manager for the Office of Transportation for Virginia Tech.

“Let’s find a fun way to have people talk about bus routes, and educate where it goes, and how we can help them…we have freshman coming in all the time that aren’t familiar with Blacksburg Transit,” said Harris.

The winning design will be made into a bus wrap or cling, that encompasses the entire bus like a huge sticker. 

Both busses will cost approximately $16,000 or a little over $7000 for each bus. The clings will stay on the bus for a minimum of three years said Harris.

The contest is open to any member of the community with a University ID (PID). A Judges will choose five finalists, and then the community will choose first, second, and third place.

First place wins $200 in Town of Blacksburg merchant gift certificates and their design will be on the Hokie Express. Second place wins $150 in gift certificates, and third wins $100.

“[We’re] asking them to help us create a new look for the Hokie Express bus route and we’re excited to see what they come up with,” said Harris.

To enter the contest, all artwork must be submitted electronically by October 12. The winner will be unveiled in February.

The idea of bus wraps is not new. Last year the BT sported an ACC Orange Bowl on one of the busses.

For more information visit www.ot.vt.edu/hokiepride.