Transit

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Covid-19 Update: We’re Working for You! 

All departments within the City of Asheville are operating. In the Transit Division, some staff are working remotely, while ART Operations are working at the ART Center and Maintenance facility. ART buses are currently operating and normal capacity and scheduled times. There are reduced customer service hours at the Transit Station (see service alerts here). All public meetings will continue to be virtual for the time being.

Covid-19 is an evolving situation. Our partners in Buncombe County are a great resource for the latest information on our community’s Covid-19 response.  To receive emergency texts directly from Buncombe County for breaking health and safety news text BCALERT on your smartphone to 888-777. Sign up for AVL Alerts online for information from the City of Asheville.

AVL ! ALERT

 

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ART Overview

• ART (Asheville Rides Transit) provides bus service throughout the City of Asheville and to the Town of Black Mountain (see individual route schedules for exact times) from around 5:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Monday – Saturday and from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Sunday and Holidays.
  • Holiday Schedule (English)
  • Holiday Schedule (Spanish)
  • Holiday Schedule (Russian)
• All routes originate from the ART Transit Station, located at 49 Coxe Avenue in downtown Asheville (next to the U.S. Post Office). The ART Transit Station provides restrooms, indoor and outdoor seating and an on-duty information assistant until 9:30 p.m. The assistant can provide you with the latest maps and schedules; help you purchase single, monthly or annual passes; and answer questions that you may have about riding the bus in Asheville.
• Stay up to date on any service changes that may affect your travel plans by checking the Service Alerts page. To get notices via text or email about changes, sign up for iRide email alerts, or text “NextART” followed by the bus stop ID to 41411.
• Click here for information on Paratransit/ADA.
• The routes that serve UNC Asheville (N1, N2) operate late service Friday and Saturday when UNCA is in session.
• Need to get to/from the Asheville Regional Airport? The S3 route can get you there.

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Recent Schedule Improvements

Effective October 31, 2021, riders can expect schedule changes to eight ART routes. See more information on the Service Improvements page. The following routes will have schedule changes: 

• N1
• N2
• N4
• S1
• S3
• W2
• W5
• WE1

These will be minor schedule changes, aimed to improve reliability for riders by continuing to reduce early and late trips.

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Recent Service Changes to the WE2

Asheville Rides Transit (ART) made changes to the WE2 route schedule and its service to the Social Security Administration at Centre Park Drive. Beginning September 19th, 2021, the WE2 will no longer service the Social Security bus stops after 4:30 pm outbound, 5:00 pm inbound, and on weekends. This applies to the following stops: Stop ID #256 Centre Park Drive at Social Security Administration, Stop ID #670 Centre Park Drive at Exit, Stop ID #671 Piney Mountain Drive at Chunns Cove Road, and Stop ID #669 Piney Mountain Drive at Chunns Cove Road.

Additionally, changes to the timetable were made. Furthermore, the times for stops after Tunnel Rd at Ingles (going Outbound from the ART Station), and for stops after Tunnel Rd at Chunns Cove (going Inbound to the ART Station) will be on an alternate schedule after 5:00 pm and on weekends. Full schedule linked here.

Staff proposes making these changes in order to address issues with the WE2 continually running late after 5:00 pm and to improve reliability for riders. The Social Security Administration, along with the majority of businesses on Centre Park Drive, does not serve the public after 4:00 pm on weekdays, or on weekends.

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Regional Transit Study in Western North Carolina!

The French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization (FBRMPO) works throughout Buncombe County, Haywood County, Henderson County, Madison County, and a small part of Transylvania County to meet the transportation needs of residents by coordinating with the public, NCDOT, Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), public transit agencies, and local governments to bring the regional vision and goals for transportation to fruition.

Public transportation via bus/van services provides millions of trips per year for residents to access jobs, healthcare, and shopping as well as other services and destinations throughout Western North Carolina. These services are especially critical for residents with limited or no access to personal vehicles. Public transportation services are presently provided by different agencies within county lines but have limited options for cross-county trips. To help study the potential for providing cross-county public transportation in Western North Carolina, the FBRMPO recently completed a Regional Transit Feasibility Study with Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, and Madison counties.

In a growing region, access to employment and services across county boundaries will be critical for individuals, businesses, and the region as a whole. This study aims to develop recommendations for cross-county public transportation in the FBRMPO planning area by identifying potential routes and opportunities for coordination, developing funding strategies, and creating an implementation plan. 

Additional general information on the study can be found here. The completed study is found here. If you have any questions, please contact Emily Scott-Cruz with the FBRMPO (emily@landofsky.org).

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Get Involved

Transit Committee 

The Transit Committee functions as an advisory board to the Multimodal Transportation Commission and to City staff on matters affecting the transit system and its operation. The Transit Committee meets the third Tuesday of every month from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The meetings are held on the first floor of City Hall at 70 Court Plaza in the North Conference Room. All meetings are open to the public to attend and provide comments. Past meeting agendas can be found here. 

UPDATE: The September Transit Committe

The Transit Committee consists of at least seven members and up to eleven members. All are appointed by the Multimodal Transportation Commission. The term of office is three years. Benefits include a free annual transit pass. Interested persons can apply here. For more information, please contact elovi@ashevillenc.gov. 

Drive with ART

The City contracts with RATPDev to operate the transit system. RATPDev is currently accepting applications for bus drivers. You can apply to be a bus operator here.

Benefits include:

• $18.06/hr pay during training
• Starting pay after training up to $23.08
• $2,000 sign-on bonus 
• Training to obtain Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) 
• Excellent benefits package

For more information, contact LaShawn Abraham by email or at 828-782-3966. 

Bus Shelter Donations

Different community groups have donated funds to pay for bus shelters and other transit amenities at high-ridership stops. Staff and riders greatly appreciate these partnerships! Recent partners include:

• Montford Neighborhood Association
  • Montford & Bulldog shelter
• Rotary Club of Biltmore-Asheville
  • Hendersonville Rd shelters
• Rotary Club of Arden
  • Hendersonville Rd shelters
• Oasis Recovery Center
  • CVS @ Merrimon shelter
• Asheville Recovery Center
  • CVS @ Merrimon shelter
• Asheville Housing Authority 
  • Livingston & Gaston shelter (in process)

If you or an organization you work with are interested in helping improve transit amenities in the City of Asheville, please contact Hayley Burton for more information.

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For real-time information on your next bus, download Moovit, or dial 828-253-5691 and press 1. You can use your touch-tone telephone, mobile device (standard cell phone or smartphone), or web-enabled computer to see exactly where the bus is and when it will arrive at your stop.

 

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