Transit Master Plan Last updated or reviewed on May 15, 2023 Happening Now Staff is working to implement the recommendations in the 2018 Transit Master Plan. To stay up-to-date on recent progress, visit the “Service Improvements” webpage. Background The goal of the 2018 Transit Master Plan is to establish a mobility vision and program of investments that have community consensus, support and approval for more effective and efficient ART public transportation services to meet the needs of Asheville and support our continued growth. The original Transit Master Plan was developed in 2009 and adopted in 2010. Since that time, Asheville has experienced significant growth which has impacted the operations of the transit system. An update to the plan provided short-term recommendations to the existing system to address issues like route timing and reliability, and also long-term recommendations for how to expand service in the future. The project team, led by Tindale-Oliver & Associates, worked with the City’s Transit Planning Division to collect data and public input to help determine what enhancements may be recommended. Information was collected through an on-board survey of riders, an online survey of the general public, stakeholder interviews and public workshops that focused on the public’s opinion about Asheville’s future transit growth. Final Plan Adopted on July 24, 2018 The Final Transit Master Plan was unanimously adopted by the Asheville City Council on July 24, 2018. The full plan is available at the link below. The Staff Report listed below provides a summary of the key points of the plan. You may send questions or comments to staff via email or phone. If you cannot access the documents or need help interpreting them, staff are happy to provide additional assistance and reasonable accommodations. Supporting Documents 2018 Transit Master Plan Final Appendix A: Schedules Appendix B: Ridership Maps Staff Report City Council Resolution Final Public Meeting Presentation 2009 Transit Master Plan Additional Plans & Studies 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. To help study the potential for providing cross-county public transportation in Western North Carolina, in 2021 the FBRMPO completed a Regional Transit Feasibility Study (summary here) 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 develops 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. If you have any questions, please contact Scott Adams with the FBRMPO (scott@landofsky.org). Contact Information Amber Wagner, Transit Planning Manager