From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE — The city recently agreed to extend the contract of its bus system operator for another year, “a move that city staff said is necessary — after Tropical Storm Helene — to ensure a thorough rebidding process for Asheville Rides Transit’s operations and maintenance,” the Asheville Citizen Times reported on May 16.

Specifically, Asheville City Council voted unanimously May 13 to authorize the city manager — in the ninth and final year of the contract — to amend Asheville’s existing contract with operator RATP Dev USA for a one-year extension, and to add $11.8 million for next fiscal year’s continued operations.

 What’s more, the ACT noted that “a $300,000 study is underway to improve Asheville’s public transit system.”

Since 2017, the city has contracted with RATP Dev for operations and maintenance of its ART buses. “The eight-year contract, totaling $70.3 million, was set to expire in June, but the city told the ACT in April that it would likely extend it,” the ACT stated.