Planning, Economic Development and Environment Committee (Virtual) (Mar 17, 2026)

The Planning, Economic Development and Environment Committee will meet virtually on March 17th to discuss several key issues impacting Asheville. A significant portion of the meeting will focus on Asheville's public transportation system, with updates and a vote regarding a new contract for operating and maintaining the Asheville Rides Transit (ART) system. This decision will affect transit services, costs, and potentially address ongoing concerns with the current system.

The committee will also receive updates on the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Small Business Support Program, designed to aid businesses recovering from recent challenges. Additionally, they will hear about the progress of a comprehensive study evaluating Asheville’s transit system to inform future planning.

Citizens are invited to share their thoughts during a public comment period, and the committee's recommendations regarding the ART contract will be forwarded to City Council for final approval on March 24th. Interested residents can view the meeting virtually via the City of Asheville’s YouTube channel to stay informed about these important discussions.