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Transit Maintenance Facility Grant

At a glance

  • What: Application to the Federal Transit Administration FY2026 Low or No Emission Grant Program for $48 million toward a new Asheville Rides Transit operations and maintenance facility (estimated $60 million, with a 20 percent match of $12 million).
  • Where it stands: Resolution 26-187 approved on the September 8, 2026 consent agenda; application deadline was September 21, 2026. Outcome of the application is not in the record.
  • Next: If awarded, staff returns to Council to budget the grant and the rest of the match; the pursuit does not authorize design or construction.

Detail

  • The existing facility at 360 West Haywood Street is over capacity and cannot be expanded cost-effectively, per a 2021 study. A new site needs 6.8 to 13.9 acres; the study named the City-owned 8.76-acre property at 224 Louisiana Avenue as a strong candidate, under three miles from the downtown ART Station.
  • Part of the match is already in the capital plan: $300,000 in FY28 and $4,800,000 in FY29. The application includes a scalable, phased plan; HDR, Inc. is assisting.
  • Related transit actions: on September 8 the State Maintenance Assistance Program agreement (Resolution 26-186, $1,104,732 for FY27, up 0.59 percent); on September 22 the Section 5303 planning grant ($189,839, Resolution 26-194) and an application to the state transit apprenticeship program (Resolution 26-195). All on consent, unanimous.
  • Related: ART Place Transit Project and the Transit Maintenance Garage update in the September 8 capital report.

Sources

Log

2026-09-22 - City Council

Consent approval of the Section 5303 transit planning grant and the apprenticeship grant application.

2026-09-08 - City Council

Consent approval of the Low or No Emission grant application and the SMAP funding agreement; the capital quarterly report noted a milestone on the grant application.