Community campaign aims to build support for Asheville public transit

Press release from Just Economics:

Better Buses Together and Just Economics of WNC invite the public to join in #20for20: 20 days to build support for public transit in 2020! Access to transit benefits the entire community by supporting local businesses, relieving traffic and parking congestion and getting folks to work, school and everywhere else they need to go with a lower environmental impact.

As part of the implementation of the Transit Master Plan for the City of Asheville, there are hopeful changes to the transit system coming in January 2020. These changes are intended to address on time performance and frequency; however, City Council did not allocate funding for extended evening bus hours. In order to build a system that works for more people, we need the buses to run more often, more reliably and more hours of the day and night.

Community members are invited to sign a petition and contact members of City Council by emailing AshevilleNCCouncil@ashevillenc.gov before the City Council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 22, to show support for a budget amendment to extend evening hours by the end of the current fiscal year. Additionally, community members can share their stories about what an improved transit system means to them and attend a number of upcoming meetings and events that can be found on the Just Economics website.

“We invite the residents of Asheville and Buncombe County to join the fight and help share the message that better transit leads to a better community for everyone,” says Vicki Meath, Executive Director of Just Economics. “Funding and improvements to the transit system are crucial to a growing and thriving, just and sustainable Asheville.”

Stay tuned over the next 20 days for actions, information and ways to get involved with transit leading up to the City Council meeting on Oct. 22. Updates can be found at justeconomicswnc.org and on the Just Economics Facebook page.

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