Asheville City Council approves multimodal improvements to enhance mobility and safety for residents

Charlotte Street road diet art
Here is a rendering of the Charlotte Street road diet and safety enhancements.

The Charlotte Street Road Diet will move forward, with construction expected in 2020. During their Sept. 10 meeting, Asheville City Council approved a resolution appropriating $973,556.10 to Harrison Construction-Candler Division for the construction of improvements designed to enhance safety for multiple modes of transportation.

It was one of three multimodal items approved by Council during the Sept. 10 meeting.

Council adopted a budget amendment to accept $329,274 in Federal Transit funds distributed through the French Broad Metropolitan Planning Organization. The money is earmarked for projects that improve mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities by removing barriers to transportation services and expand transportation options. This money will help fund ADA Paratransit, the Council on Aging’s Call-A-Ride program and similar programs in Buncombe and Madison counties.

Council also authorized the acceptance of $30,000 from Mission Hospital for construction of an ART bus shelter in the Livingston Street area.

More on the Charlotte Street Road Diet

City Council directed the scope of the road diet project and zoning analysis, including a robust public engagement, with several meetings held on the Charlotte Street corridor.

This Capital Improvement Project will include milling and repaving Charlotte Street as well as a 4-to-3 lane conversion from approximately Chestnut Street to Edwin Place. Other components of the project include bike access improvements and spot sidewalk safety improvements. 

Council has allocated $1.25 million for the design and construction of this project. 

This project does not include place making or utility improvements.