ART Sunday bus service gets rolling with nine routes

Asheville’s ART transit system now has Sunday service. Buses rolled out of the Coxe Ave. downtown station at 8 a.m. today, providing 67 hours of Sunday service on nine of the city’s 17 routes. The Sunday route is expected to increase ridership by 85,000 per year. The 2012 transit master plan initiative was the genesis of the Asheville […]

The art of the wheel

Amid tough budgets, significant safety issues and rising fuel costs, Asheville Transit is rolling into summer with a major tuneup. The system is poised to announce new routes, schedules and other changes designed to improve performance, convenience and safety. In tandem, the city will launch a marketing campaign aimed at touting the transition and luring new riders, starting with a name change from ATS to ART (Asheville Redefines Transit).

City looks for new company to manage Asheville Transit System

The city of Asheville plans to solicit proposals from new companies to manage its transit system. Starting in June, the Asheville Transit System will implement changes designed to improve its routing and on-time performance. The city will also mount a marketing campaign to increase ridership, changing the name of the system from ATS to ART (Asheville Redefines Transit).

Asheville City Council approves Transit Master Plan (Citizen-reported via Twitter)

Asheville City Council votes 6-1 to accept Transit Master Plan, tweets Xpress reporter Brian Postelle. Council will hear implementation options at its January retreat. “OK, TMP fans,” tweets an ebullient @ashevillebus, “It’s time to start lobbying council to find the money to fund the plan.” Council also voted to postpone for one week the cancellation of the Asheville-Weaverville route.

Edgy Mama: Bus-riding mama

A few months ago, Paul van Heden, marketing coordinator for Asheville’s transportation department, asked if I’d ride the bus for a day—an entire day—with my kids, to prove that a typical mom can accomplish her daily errands on Asheville’s public transit system. I enthusiastically accepted Paul’s challenge. Then I failed.