The Virginia Breeze, the inter-city bus service operated by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), which has been serving the Interstate 81 and 66 corridors from Blacksburg to Washington, D.C. very successfully since 2017, introduced service to the West Piedmont Planning District in August 2020. The Breeze routes serve Martinsville and Danville, providing service from those cities to Richmond and Washington, D.C., respectively; the route originating in Martinsville serves Washington, D.C. as well.
The trips along both of these routes are affordable, will keep you from having to put wear-and-tear on your vehicle; will help maintain the integrity of the environment; reduce congestion by removing additional vehicles from the roads; and will enable you to use the time you would otherwise have used driving to engage in other tasks, such as relaxing or catching up on work or other activities.
The original Virginia Breeze route from Blacksburg to Washington, D.C. has been named the Valley Flyer. By contrast, the route originating in Martinsville and traveling to Richmond and Washington, D.C., is known as the Capital Connector, while the route from Danville to Washington, D.C. has been named the Piedmont Express.
Please see below the schedule of stops, times, and current fares for the Capital Connector:
Please see below the schedule of stops, times, and current fares for the Piedmont Express:
Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic
During this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, some may be a bit apprehensive to use transit or the Virginia Breeze intercity bus service. Be confident, however, that the Breeze has policies in place to minimize spread of the COVID-19 virus, and these steps include the following:
- All passengers age 2 and above are required to wear a mask, unless they have a medical condition which would prohibit them from wearing a mask.
- There is currently a 50 percent limit on passengers on each bus, which requires that each passenger have an empty seat next to them.
- Passengers are asked to read their reservation number to the driver, rather than handing the driver a ticket, as means to facilitate greater social distancing.
- Passengers are asked to leave baggage on the ground and maintain six feet from the driver as he or she loads the baggage onto the bus.
The Virginia Breeze buses also include a number of amenities to make your trip more enjoyable. These include free WiFi, as well as power outlets to charge and power your devices. Of course, spacious seating and restrooms are also part of the deal!
For additional information about the Virginia Breeze, please visit https://virginiabreeze.org/.
