Michelle Obama to campaign in Asheville tomorrow ***UPDATED AT 7 p.m.***

***UPDATE: The city of Asheville has announced it will expand bus service to and from UNCA before and after Obama’s appearance. See details in the news release below.***

The UNCA campus quad will be the scene of a Get Out the Vote Rally tomorrow, May 2, with headliner Michelle Obama—wife of presidential hopeful Sen. Barrack Obama— accompanied by special guest Gladys Knight.  The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, according to the press release, but RSVPs are encouraged.

Organizers request that for security reasons, attendees not bring bags, signs or banners (the latter two are prohibited). Assembly opens at 4:30 p.m.; Obama and Knight are expected at 6 p.m.

– Nelda Holder, associate editor

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CITY OF ASHEVILLE NEWS RELEASE
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2008

City of Asheville
Transportation and Engineering Department
Contact:      Mariate Echeverry
                (828) 232-4528
MEcheverry@ashevillenc.gov

ASHEVILLE TRANSIT SYSTEM TO RUN EXTRA BUSES TO UNC-ASHEVILLE FOR OBAMA VISIT

In anticipation of heightened traffic on Friday night due to Michelle Obama’s visit to UNC-Asheville, Asheville Transit System will run a bus every 15 minutes from downtown Asheville to the university’s campus, from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

University and City of Asheville officials have urged people to use Asheville Transit in order to avoid backing up traffic along Merrimon Avenue and Weaver Boulevard.

“The extra route is on top of the regular bus service UNC-Asheville receives,” said Mariate Echeverry, interim transit manager. “We want to reduce traffic congestion, decrease the chance of accidents, and make parking at the University more available for people with disabilities.”

The route will start at the main transit station on Coxe Avenue. Fare will be $1.00 each way.

For additional information about bus routes to UNC-Asheville, call 253-5691 or visit www.ashevillenc.gov/transit.

ABOUT THE ASHEVILLE TRANSIT SYSTEM: Asheville Transit provides bus service throughout the City of Asheville and other local areas with 24 bus routes running from 6 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 6 a.m.–12:45 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Transit maps and schedules are available at www.ashevillenc.gov/transit.

These routes radiate from the Transit Center, located downtown at 49 Coxe Avenue next to the U.S. Post Office. The center provides such amenities as clean restrooms, indoor and outdoor seating, and an on-duty information assistant from whom you can obtain the latest maps and schedules or from whom you may purchase monthly and annual passes and ticket books. They can answer any questions you may have about riding the bus in Asheville.