Frequently Asked Questions
1. What services does Apple Country Transit offer?
Apple Country Transit offers two kinds of services: fixed route and paratransit services.
The majority of services are fixed-route services, which means that the bus travels the same route every day. The fixed route services are described the Rider Information page. Maps that can be viewed or downloaded from the Routes page.
Apple Country offers by-reservation services for people with disabilities and low-income persons needing medical transportation. These services are funded mostly by the Federal government. Customers of paratransit services are expected to pay a portion of the cost. The area paratransit services are those addresses within 3/4 of a mile of the fixed route system. The paratransit services are described the Paratransit Rider Information page. Maps that can be viewed or downloaded from the Routes page.
2. What is the Transfer Station and where can I find it?
Apple Country’s Transfer Station is the downtown bus station where all bus routes meet at 30 minutes after the hour. The Transfer Center is located at the corner of 4 th Avenue and Grove Street. For example, a person who must travel from Blue Ridge Community College to the Asheville Airport must take a Red Route bus to the transfer center and then change to a Blue Route bus.
3. Why are Apple Country Transit buses sometimes empty?
Mass transit is heavily used in the mornings and evenings, when people are going to or coming from work. Since transit needs to be dependable and easy to understand, it operates all day at the same time at each of the stops. Since many of our other customers depend on the system all day we do not stop or change the routes
4. What kind of buses does Apple Country Transit use?
The majority of Apple Country Transit’s fixed route buses are manufactured by Goshen Coach. Our fleet contains a mix of ethanol gasoline blend and clean diesel vehicles which seat 28 passengers.
Paratransit services are delivered by cutaway vans (light-duty vans manufactured by Ford and Chevrolet).
5. Is there a plan for transit route improvements?
Periodically, transit agencies must survey the use of each transit route to determine whether route changes are needed. The County is now in the process of completing a survey of each route. If route revisions are needed, the plan for these revisions will be reviewed by the Board of Commissioners in Spring 2009. Public hearings must be held before a route is changed.
By Federal law, Apple Country Transit is also required to develop a five year transportation development plan, to help identify operations issues and unmet needs.
6. Is there a plan to improve bus stops?
The County is in the process of acquiring and installing new bus stop signs. Any bus stop signs which are no longer accurate will be removed. The County is also developing plans to install new, attractive and functional bus passenger waiting shelters at locations around the community. A plan to place and fund the bus waiting shelters is being developed. Eighty percent of the cost of the shelters will be paid by the Federal government. We will appeal to local governments, businesses and civic groups to assist with the balance of the funding.
7. Does Apple Country Transit promote the use of bikes for transportation?
Bike racks are installed on every bus operating on the fixed routes. Bus bike racks allow transit riders to ride their bike to a bus stop, place the bike on the bus rack, and then ride their bike from the bus stop to their destination.
The Apple Country Greenways Committee (not affiliated with Apple Country Transit) completed a countywide plan for the creation and improvement of greenways to include both walking and biking trails. The City of Hendersonville intends to integrate these plans with public transit planning. The Proposed Apple Country Greenway is identified in Map 16 of the Henderson County 2020 Comprehensive Plan.
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