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Draft transit network shifts Asheville toward higher-frequency corridors; council raises equity concerns
Summary
Transportation staff and a consultant presented a draft network that reallocates service toward ridership (roughly 60/40 ridership/coverage), adds 15-minute segments and timed transfers, and removes low-ridership coverage in several neighborhoods; council members pressed for ridership data, raised equity and paratransit implications, and staff announced six weeks of neighborhood engagement.
Transportation Director Ashley Hare and consultant Ricky Anguiera presented the third-phase draft of a comprehensive operational analysis for Asheville's transit system at the May 21 agenda briefing.
The draft network shifts resources toward ridership (a proposed 60% allocation) and reduces coverage in lower-ridership areas to increase frequency on stronger corridors. Consultant Ricky said the result is fewer total routes but expanded 15-minute segments on key inner corridors, increased 30-minute segments on selected routes, and timed transfers at ArtStation to cut transfer wait times.
Ricky listed areas where coverage would be reduced or removed in the draft (examples cited by the consultant included Beaver Dam, Kenilworth, the Grove Park Inn area, the Social Security office, Mahek, the outlets, and an outer Haywood segment); he said removals targeted places with relatively low ridership while preserving service where there are higher concentrations of low-income residents.
Council members raised multiple equity and operational concerns. One council member noted voucher-holding tenants and limited sidewalks in Kenilworth and asked where the closest stops would be; transit staff and the transit-division manager (Chris Whitlock) acknowledged Kenilworth is a low-ridership corridor but said engagement and additional data would inform final decisions. Council members also asked how changes could affect recent housing approvals tied to transit on Charlotte Street and urged staff to provide route-level ridership counts for proposed removals.
On paratransit, Councilmember Shanika Smith asked whether removing fixed routes would automatically remove ADA paratransit service. The consultant said the federal paratransit requirement applies within three-quarters of a mile of fixed routes; removing fixed-route segments would reduce the federal obligation, though the city could choose to continue service beyond federal minimums or grandfather existing users.
Staff outlined an engagement plan starting that evening with 12 neighborhood meetings, tabling at the Transit Center, stakeholder workshops, and demographic questions for outreach; a status update to council is planned for late July and a final report in late August. Staff said implementation, if approved, could start in FY28 and would require logistical work including stop relocations, map revisions and public communications.
Staff committed to provide route-specific ridership numbers for the routes highlighted as proposed removals and to share the engagement plan with council ahead of outreach.
