Commuter Alternatives Program
The Commuter Alternatives Program offers two permit options to meet employee and student commuting needs. All participants must register in person with Parking Services at 505 Beamer Way.
Carpooling saves money on parking and fuel, and it's the closest option to reserved parking on campus. This program is only available to the Blacksburg campus.
- Two or more commuter/graduate students who choose to ride together may register to be in a carpool. Carpoolers must register together. Each person in the carpool must complete the Commuter Alternatives Program form with the carpool box checked and present a Hokie Passport.
- Each carpool applicant must provide proof of separate vehicle ownership.
- Graduate students with carpool permits will receive a special parking permit allowing them to park on the Drillfield Monday through Friday from 5-8 p.m.
- Carpool permits may take up to two business days to process.
- Students must have the majority of their classes held at an on–campus building. On–campus buildings have parking facilities that require a Virginia Tech parking permit.
If approved for a Carpool permit, participants receive:
- One Carpool permit (not valid in the Perry St. area) to be used at reserved carpool spaces in the front student areas of most of the large parking lots.
- Five free daily permits per participant per semester (for days carpooling is not feasible). Daily permits will not be valid in the Perry St. area.
- The Emergency Ride Home Program is available to registered ConnectingVA members. Registration is free but must be processed in advance of a request. Register for ConnectingVA here.
Carpool participants are not eligible for any other parking permits, but may purchase extra daily permits. The Carpool permit may be used to park in a regular commuter parking space if it is more convenient or if all student carpool spaces are taken. Student Carpool permits are not valid for parking in F/S carpool spaces.
Current permit prices are available.
Faculty/Staff Carpool Permit
- Two or more faculty/staff employees who choose to ride together and share one permit may register for the Carpool permit. Carpools must register together. Each person in the carpool must complete a Commuter Alternatives Program form with the carpool box checked and present a Faculty/Staff Virginia Tech ID.
- Each registrant must provide proof of separate vehicle ownership.
- Each carpool participant must have a primary office address in Blacksburg.
If approved for a Faculty/Staff Carpool permit, participants will receive:
- One Faculty/Staff Carpool permit to be used to park in identified F/S carpool spaces near the front of the following faculty/staff parking areas:
- Architecture Annex
- Coliseum
- Drillfield
- Engel
- Litton-Reaves Extension
- Pamplin
- Price
- Southgate Center
- Substation
- Upper Stanger
- Five free daily permits per participant per semester (for days carpooling is not feasible)
- The Emergency Ride Home Program is available to registered ConnectingVA members. Registration is free but must be processed in advance of a request. Register for ConnectingVA here.
Carpool participants are not eligible for any other parking permit, but may purchase daily permits. The aforementioned parking areas are subject to change. The F/S Carpool permit may also be used to park in the regular F/S spaces or the student carpool spaces if it is more convenient or if all F/S carpool spaces are taken.
| Semester | Registration Begins | Registration Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | July 15 | September 24 |
| Spring | December 15 | February 25 |
| Summer Session I | May 9 |
June 10 |
| Summer Session II | July 1 | July 29 |
The BB&W permit is available to faculty, staff, and students who use alternative transportation modes as their primary means of commuting to campus. This includes riding Blacksburg Transit or the Smart Way bus, bicycling, walking, etc. BB&W semester permits are $40 and annual permits are $80. There are no replacements for lost or stolen permits. It is important to note that student BB&W and Daily permits are no longer valid for the Perry St. Area.
- To register for a BB&W permit, complete the Commuter Alternatives Program form.
- BB&W permits are available for the first and second summer sessions. There will be five daily permits per summer session. All rules and regulations apply to the summer BB&W permit.
- BB&W participants are not eligible for any other parking permits except additional daily parking permits for $6/day.
- Faculty and staff members must have an on–campus office address to register for the BB&W permit. Students living in Oak Lane do not qualify.
BB&W participants will receive:
- 16 discounted daily parking permits per semester, or 32 discounted daily parking permits per year.
- Access to RIDE Solutions' Guaranteed Ride Home Program
- The Guaranteed Ride Home Program will reimburse any registered commuter the cost of their ride home, should an emergency disrupt their usual commute schedule. Registration is free but must be processed in advance of a request. To register for RIDE Solutions click here.
- This commuting “insurance policy” is your assurance you will not get stranded at work. There are terms and conditions to access the service; you must have used a non-drive-alone transportation mode and have a qualifying emergency. Additional details can be found here. Be sure to read through them before scheduling your emergency ride home. When you complete your ride, you can submit your receipt for reimbursement at the same link. RIDE Solutions will not reimburse the trip if they cannot verify the trip meets the terms and conditions.