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Transit study weighs ridership vs. coverage; draft maps expected in mid‑June
Summary
The city’s transit division presented a comprehensive operational analysis that tests two network concepts (ridership and coverage), plans public engagement in May, and expects draft maps by mid‑June and final reports by August.
Chris Whitlock, transit division manager for Asheville City, told the committee the comprehensive operational analysis (COA) will evaluate service needs, ridership demand, demographic change and how the network can grow over 10 years.
"The purpose of this ... is to evaluate transit service needs, ridership demand demographic changes and future growth over the next 10 years," Whitlock said, describing Phase 1 and Phase 2 outreach and two design priorities: a ridership‑oriented network that concentrates service on main corridors and a coverage‑oriented network that maintains service across more of the city but at lower frequency.
Whitlock said the draft network leans slightly toward ridership while maintaining coverage, and that Jarrett Walker Associates is preparing an impact report that will examine job access, coverage and frequency. Staff plan a six‑week engagement round beginning in May, multi‑stakeholder tables at the transit center, presentations to the multimodal commission and a council update in May; staff expect to present draft maps in mid‑June and final reports in August.
Council members asked how the COA links to housing and land‑use. Councilwoman Kim Rooney noted that the city’s missing‑middle housing analysis and approved developments were tied to transit corridors and asked whether the COA considers where the city intends higher density. Whitlock said land‑use and housing units were already incorporated into the analysis and that the growth concept will address how the network can expand if additional funding becomes available.
Several council members requested adequate time to review draft maps before making budget or policy decisions. Whitlock said the council will have multiple engagement opportunities and that staff will return with summaries of public feedback in July.
The committee did not vote on COA actions at the meeting; staff will proceed with the May engagement round and return with draft maps and subsequent updates.
