Matt Gentry | The Roanoke Times

Jennifer Eldridge and her husband, James (right), of Christiansburg ride the Blacksburg Transit system's Two Town Trolley Loop with their three sons, (from left) Mikal, Aydian and Jaice, on Franklin Street in Christiansburg. The Eldridges say they depend on the bus for transportation and would like to have additional Christiansburg service. Rider Anthony Gannello of Christiansburg is also pictured.

Blacksburg Transit's planned route extension throughout Christiansburg will be tailored to the way residents say the system would best serve them.

A survey administered by the Virginia Tech Center for Survey Research is scheduled to reach every home in Christiansburg later this month to gauge residents' transportation needs.

"We're identifying destinations that people travel to for work, school and shopping, so that we can do our best to meet their travel needs," said Blacksburg's transportation planner, Erik Olsen.

According to Susan Willis-Walton, director of the Center for Survey Research, the 22-question survey, in addition to identifying destinations, also addresses bus stop locations, the kinds of routes used to get to various destinations and the time of day participants would most like to see the bus run.

Other issues, such as bus stop structure and accommodations for riders with disabilities, will also be addressed.

The demand for Blacksburg Transit is rising, Olsen said. Ridership increased by about 8 percent from fiscal years 2007 to 2008, jumping from about 2.4 million riders to a little more than 2.6 million.

Olsen said he wants to get an idea of Christiansburg's needs now, so that once Blacksburg Transit is prepared to expand farther into the town, new routes can be implemented more efficiently. He said new routes are set to begin in late 2009.

Blacksburg Transit currently provides 11 bus routes in Blacksburg, compared with one in Christiansburg that loops from the New River Valley Mall to the Montgomery County Government Center on Roanoke Street.

While Blacksburg routes begin as early as 7 a.m. and end at 12:15 a.m. during the week, and as late as 2:30 a.m. on weekends, Christiansburg's lone Two Town Trolley Loop runs from 12:45 p.m. to 6:08 p.m. during the week and Sundays and from 10:45 a.m. to 6:08 p.m. Saturday.

The survey, which will cost $88,000 after postage and printing, has been in planning phases for three to four months.

The Montgomery Area Metropolitan Planning Organization is funding the survey. Executive Director Dan Brugh said the organization spared no expenses with the survey, because a cheaper, less efficient one would not have given the results needed to best serve the town.

"I just hope that we get lots of participation," Willis-Walton said.

She said because participation will determine how the town's needs will be addressed, residents should take the survey seriously.

In an effort to increase participation, all respondents will be entered into a drawing to win prizes offered by local businesses. In addition, the organization will be following up with reminder cards and packages to those that haven't responded.

"Generally, it's about a six-week open process," Willis-Walton said, including the tabulation of data, waiting for responses and sending responder reminders based on when the first wave begins to dwindle.

"It really just depends on when people send back their surveys," she said.

Some Christiansburg residents who depend on the bus service are looking forward to the prospect of having extended service.

"I think it'd be great having it extended; it'd really help me out a lot," said Justin Belcher, an employee at the Red Robin restaurant outside the New River Valley Mall.

Belcher said he has difficulty getting to work on time because the buses don't run in Christiansburg during the week until nearly 1 p.m.

That makes it necessary for Belcher to plan his schedule around Blacksburg Transit's pickup times. He said his employer "isn't really happy about it," but he has no other choice since his transportation is limited.

"I think there's a lot of families that would really appreciate it," said Jennifer Schaefer, also a Christiansburg resident.

She said her family depends on the bus service to get around. Because service is limited in Christiansburg, she said, Blacksburg Transit's stops are too far apart to adequately serve their needs.