Passport Program

As of May 1, 2025 businesses with any amount of employees, from 1 to 100, are now able to join the ART Passport Program. The only thing you will need to provide your employees is an ID to show the bus operators that will serve as their ticket, and allow us to track rides. 

Benefits to Employers:

  • Easily integrates into existing carpool incentive programs
  • Free up parking
  • Communting cost tax-free benefits through federal tax code section 132(f).

Benefits to Employees:

  • Eliveate travel frustrations by providing alternative transit options
  • Support transit-dependent employees
  • Reduces commuting costs

Want to learn more about this program? Watch our latest webinar on the program and check out our informational pamphlet.


Support your employees who rely on public transportation and avoid parking fees by encouraging your employees to hop on the bus. The ART Passport Program allows businesses, private organizations, and public agencies to contract with the City of Asheville, allowing their employees to ride ART for free with their employee ID.  Businesses will be billed quarterly at a discounted rate of 52 cents per trip. 

ART operates from around 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., seven days a week, covering popular routes including Black Mountain and Asheville Regional Airport. Check to see how far your business is from our existing transit lines by searching your location on Google Maps and clicking the transit icon at the top of the screen.

To get the process started, contact us at iRide@ashevillenc.gov or 828-232-4522.


Participating Organizations 

All employees for the participating organizations below ride free with a valid employer I.D.

Biltmore Company

Biltmore Farms 

Buncombe County 

City of Asheville 

Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community

Grove Park Inn

New Belgium Brewing Company 

UNCA Asheville students, staff, and faculty

Discounted ART Transit pass for A.B. Tech students

AB Tech offers discounted bus passes for currently enrolled students (Curriculum, Continuing Education, and GED). Purchase a one-month ART Transit pass for $10 at the Roberson building, located at 93 Victoria Road on the main Asheville campus.