The City of Asheville has launched a community-wide survey to gather feedback on potential changes to the Asheville Rides Transit (ART) network. The survey is part of the Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA), which aims to improve public transit services in response to current and future needs.
All residents, workers, and visitors are encouraged to participate in the survey, regardless of how frequently they use transit. According to city officials, completing the survey takes less than 10 minutes and will help inform draft network designs.
“As Asheville continues to grow, a strong and accessible transit system is more important than ever,” city representatives stated. The COA seeks to identify ways to improve service reliability and frequency, address barriers for underserved populations, support growth and climate resilience, incorporate lessons from Tropical Storm Helene, and ensure that ART resources align with community needs.
To involve the public in this process, city staff and consultants will attend events throughout October to engage directly with community members. Updates about the project will be shared via social media, newsletters, and partner organizations.
Earlier engagement efforts included surveys for both riders and non-riders as well as participation at local events. A summary of these previous activities is available for review.
Once the current survey period ends, responses will be analyzed along with other public input collected through meetings and stakeholder discussions. The project team will then develop a draft recommended network based on this feedback. This proposal will be presented publicly in a subsequent phase so that additional comments can be gathered before finalizing the plan.
Further information about the project and opportunities for involvement can be found on the ART COA project webpage.
