Most of Blacksburg
Transit’s college-student customers would sooner check the Internet for the bus
schedule than hunt down a paper timetable. To keep this computer-savvy group informed of
everything from schedule changes to football shuttles, BT Access Manager Tim Witten would
like to make changes available quickly on the website without having to call a programmer
each time.
Using the new Content Management Tools for websites designed
by Anderson & Associates, any of Blacksburg Transit’s full-time employees can
use a password to makes changes in minutes. A built-in review system can ensure changes
are accurate, and a time-sensitive feature will remove dated information.
With the new website, "We’ll be able to keep our
site current and fresh-looking by ourselves," says Witten, Blacksburg Transit’s
main computer devotee. Witten also is involved with the department’s Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), which will
inform consumers of situations affecting traffic flow and may eventually be able to
pinpoint a bus’ location on its route.
During the school year, the system averages 12,500 passenger
trips a day; 65 of these daily trips are by people with disabilities who travel in BT
Access’ specially equipped vans. The town maintains a fleet of 41 buses and 7 vans.
"Blacksburg has the most handicapped accessible transit
system in the state," Witten says. "People with disabilities move here because
of VT Access services."
In addition, town and college officials agree that Blacksburg
would be much more congested and need many more parking lots if not for the 21-year-old
bus system. Approximately 90 percent of BT’s passengers are Virginia Tech students, who subsidize the system through a
portion of their student fees.
Blacksburg Transit has 27 full-time employees and 162
part-time drivers, mostly students. Witten started working for the Blacksburg Transit
while studying for a history degree at Virginia Tech and concurrently working toward his
ordination as a Primitive Baptist Minister and was also employed as a chef at Holiday Inn.
When a supervisor job opened up, he applied.
"This is a fun place to work; the computer is my love, and I
like working with BT Access helping people with disabilities to get out," he says.
When he’s not in front of the computer or on the bus,
Witten is at home with his wife, playing with their three-year-old or out in Floyd County pastoring at his church.
The new website is expected to launch mid-August at www.btransit.org.
