ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Asheville City Council member Kim Roney is urging residents to contact council ahead of a vote on proposed changes to the city’s bus system, warning that improving service in some areas could mean reduced or eliminated service in neighborhoods that rely on transit for jobs, health care and other essential services.
In a social media post Monday, Roney called on residents to oppose cuts to neighborhood transit and instead push the city to find additional funding for Asheville Rides Transit.
Roney said City Council is scheduled to vote Aug. 25 on next steps for the proposed transit network.
The proposed changes are intended to increase service frequency and improve access to jobs along busier corridors while continuing to provide coverage for people who depend on transit, according to city officials.
The draft network would shift ART’s current balance between ridership and coverage toward putting more resources into areas with higher demand. City staff previously described the draft as moving toward roughly 60% ridership and 40% coverage.
That could mean more frequent buses and shorter waits along major corridors, while reducing or eliminating service in some areas. City officials have said the proposed changes are designed to work within existing resources rather than significantly increase the transit budget.
Roney said in her post that proposed reductions could affect access to jobs, groceries, libraries, medical services and other necessities.
She specifically pointed to the Brevard Road area, which includes the West Asheville Library, grocery stores, jobs and a shelter serving women and families. Roney also pointed to planned housing development along Ferry Road, saying the area should have frequent transit service.
The proposed network includes reduced coverage in parts of the area west of Patton Avenue, including a section of Outer Haywood Road between Brevard Road and Patton Avenue.
Roney also raised concerns about changes near Center Park, where she said residents can access Social Security offices, medical and dental providers and kidney dialysis services.
The draft network identifies the Social Security office area, MAHEC, Tanger Asheville outlet mall, Beaverdam, Grove Park and parts of the west side of Haywood Road among areas where transit coverage could be reduced or changed.
Roney also questioned proposed changes to service along Hendersonville Road toward the Mountain Area Health Education Center, or MAHEC.
She said the road is curvy and lacks sidewalks in some areas, potentially making access difficult for people with disabilities, pregnant people and parents traveling with young children.
The proposed network would increase service frequency along several major corridors, including Hendersonville Road, Patton Avenue, Tunnel Road, McDowell Street, Hillcrest and the River Arts District.
Some routes could operate every 15 minutes under the draft plan. The city also is considering a “pulse” system at the downtown ART Station that would better coordinate bus arrivals and departures and make transfers easier.
The proposed increase in frequency would come with reduced or eliminated service in some areas.
City analysis found the proposal could increase the percentage of residents living within a half-mile of 15- or 30-minute service from about 28 percent to 37 percent.
At the same time, the percentage of residents living more than a half-mile from any transit service could increase from about 39% to 42%.
The proposed changes also could improve access to jobs within 45 minutes by about 10 percent overall, according to the city’s analysis. Low-income residents could see a 15 percent improvement in job access, while residents of color could see a 16 percent improvement.
The city received more than 1,300 responses during its public engagement process. Staff said frequent riders were more likely to support the proposed network, while people who do not regularly ride ART were more divided. Officials have cautioned that the survey was not statistically representative of the city’s population.
The debate also has renewed questions about how Asheville pays for transit.
“We need long-term dedicated funding,” Roney said during a July council committee discussion. “Period.”
In her latest post, Roney called for the city to seek partnerships with employers and Buncombe County, including exploring more frequent service to South Asheville to help address traffic congestion.
She also called for consideration of a regional transit authority, more dedicated funding and greater state-level support.
The funding issue has been a recurring challenge for ART. City officials and council members have been examining ways to improve service while working within the system’s existing resources, while also discussing longer-term funding strategies, including potential regional partnerships and dedicated revenue sources.
Roney said residents should contact the full City Council before the Aug. 25 vote and ask council members to preserve neighborhood transit while pursuing additional funding for the system.
If approved, the proposed network would not take effect immediately. Implementation would begin no earlier than July 2027 as part of the city’s 2027-28 fiscal year budget process.