Downtown Patton Avenue Corridor Feasibility Study

About the Project

The purpose of the Patton Avenue Corridor Study is to develop transportation, land use, and urban design recommendations for Patton Avenue from the Jeff Bowen Bridge to the easternmost terminus at Pack Square. The goals for the study are to:

Transform the area so that Patton Avenue and the Captain Jeff Bowen Bridges serves as a gateway to the Downtown;
Set the stage for Patton Avenue to develop as a mixed-use corridor;
Retrofit Patton Avenue into a complete street that is safe for all road users;
Improve connections at Hillcrest to integrate this community with Downtown and terminate at Pack Square;
Better connect Downtown to the river and other neighborhoods; and
Create a plan for a network of multi-use paths that connect people to nearby economic and recreational opportunities.

Other City projects within the Downtown Patton Avenue Study area

There are three other City projects within this same study area, as shown in the map below (click the map to expand it). To learn more about any of those projects, select the relevant hyperlink below.

Carter St/Ann St/Patton Ave Stormwater Project

College Patton Bike Lane Project

Patton Avenue Sidewalk Accessibility Improvements

Happening Now

On Wednesday, May 29, 2024, the City held the second public open house event at the Banquet Hall of Harrah’s Cherokee Center. The open house displayed analysis and concepts proposing changes to improve traffic circulation and support multimodal operations. The boards that were presented at that meeting can be viewed/downloaded here. The proposed preliminary concept for the corridor can be viewed/downloaded here.

If you weren’t able to attend the open house, you may still provide feedback. The best way to communicate your comments is to send an email to PattonAvenueStudy@publicinput.com.

Below: An image of the preliminary conceptual plan for the corridor. Click the image to view and/or download the file.

Background

For decades residents have been trying to create a vision for the western gateway to downtown Asheville. Concepts focused on transportation changes, such as realigning Patton Avenue, as well as land use ideas to extend the downtown westward to the Jeff Bowen bridge. In 2022, staff summarized these efforts in the East Patton Avenue Report.

Timeline

August 22, 2023 – City Council authorizes a professional contract with McAdams

August 28, 2023 – Internal Kickoff Meeting with McAdams, NCDOT, the MPO, and City staff

November 29, 2023 – Public Open House (5-7PM, Banquet Hall, Harrah’s Cherokee Center, 87 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801)

May 29, 2024 – Public Open House #2 (5-7PM, Banquet Hall, Harrah’s Cherokee Center, 87 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801)

The following chart summarizes the proposed timeline and milestones of the Downtown Patton Avenue Corridor & Feasibility study over the span of the next year.