Valerie Kramer (’25M), alternative transportation manager at JMU, often receives messages from parents with a simple yet important question: “How do I get my student home?”

“Usually, if a parent emails me, they would like to know how to get their Duke to their hometown without a car. I look up where the town is and transit options for how to get there, and then email the parent back with a short how-to guide,” she said.

Kramer also shares available alternative transportation options with new JMU students and families during summer orientation and CHOICES. 

Two of the most popular services are Virginia Breeze Bus Lines and the Adventures-N-Travel agency, both of which make long-distance travel more accessible to students.

Virginia Breeze is a Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation service that stops at Godwin Hall on campus. Its two routes — the Valley Flyer, which heads north to Washington, D.C., or south to Blacksburg, Virginia, and the Highlands Rhythm, which also travels north to Washington or south to Bristol, Virginia — serve students twice a day, every day.

“When I attended JMU, there were not many options to travel long distances,” shared Avery Daugherty (’07, ’09M), statewide programs manager for Virginia DRPT. “The Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation bus system was amazing but could not take me back to Hampton Roads during breaks or whenever I needed to leave campus. You would have to rely on someone to come and pick you up.” 

Soon, he said, students will be able “to connect as far southwest as Bristol and soon as far east as Virginia Beach ... without having to rely on others to travel potentially long distances to come pick them up.”

Virginia Breeze Bus Lines is also introducing a new route next year that will stretch along Interstate 64, with stops in Charlottesville, New Kent County, Newport News, Richmond International Airport, Richmond Main Street Station, Norfolk, Staunton, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg.

Virginia Breeze monitors ticket sales daily to ensure it has seats available for students who need them. It often adds buses to accommodate the high demand for students to travel home safely and timely during the holiday season.

Adventures-N-Travel provides services to students and employees on university breaks, offering shuttles to nearby airports, including Baltimore/Washington International, Charlottesville-Albemarle, Dulles International, Shenandoah Valley Regional, Reagan National and Richmond International. It also provides private car services and public shuttles around Christmas and Thanksgiving breaks for students without cars who are looking to get home.

“We have professional drivers who are safe and on time. As for the major breaks, we offer group transfers that are more affordable for the students on a budget,” said owner Mike Packett.

The airport transfer services started about five years ago to fill a gap that Packett noticed in service. “No one was doing this service to give students more options to go to different airports and locations. What started as a part-time operation has now gone into a full-time process.”

Parents and students can reserve tickets by phone or through an online booking system. “We give our clients personalized care, not just the transportation,” Packett said. Adventures-N-Travel also offers transportation to weekend events, conferences, sporting events and concerts, as well as group shuttles around town.

“Transportation is something we all depend on,” Daugherty said. “Whatever the case, we all need access. With more transportation options, we gain greater freedom and access to opportunities such as jobs and visiting loved ones. When reliable and convenient options are available, everyone benefits. We are able to move through life with greater ease, connection and independence.”