Full announcement from the city of Asheville:

Beginning Jan. 1, 2013, ART will expand to provide partial transit services on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day.

Expanded service on six holidays of the year is made possible with a budget approved by Asheville City Council. A public meeting to gather input on these changes was held on Nov. 1, 2012. In addition, the public was encouraged to participate in a survey that was available at the ART Station and online. That feedback, along with past ridership data, provided information used in implementing extended service on major corridors to the most popular routes.

Additionally, beginning January 2, 2013, ART will permanently increase its regular service to route E1, departing twice an hour between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. E1 will continue to depart once an hour between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. as well as between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

The expanded service is the latest step in the implementation of the City of Asheville’s Transit Master Plan. Please visit the ART Station on Coxe Ave or go to http://www.ridetheart.com to obtain an updated route schedule. ART will operate holiday service beginning Jan. 1, 2013 on the following routes:

· C – Louisiana – Haywood – State St. – Biltmore Village- Fairview Rd. – Swannanoa River Rd – Wood. Departs 9:00 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., operating on the same schedule as currently provided.

· N1 – Merrimon – UNCA – Lakeshore. Departs 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., operating on the same schedule as currently provided.

· N3 – Chamber – Hillcrest. Departs 9:40 a.m. – 6:40 p.m. Route will have a different departure time, leaving at :40 past the hour.

· S3 – Asheland – McDowell- Biltmore Village- Hendersonville Rd – Airport. Departs 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., operating on the same schedule as currently provided.

· S4 – S. French Broad – Depot – Livingston Heights- AB Tech. Departs 9:35 a.m. – 6:35 p.m., operating on the same schedule as currently provided.

· E1 – Tunnel – Asheville Mall – Swannanoa River Rd. Departs 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., providing service as far as Wal-mart/Kohl's, E1 will not serve the VA Hospital.

· E2 –Asheville Mall – Haw Creek – Tunnel Rd. Departs 9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., operating on the same schedule as currently provided.

· W1 – Hilliard – Clingman – Haywood – PVA – Deaverview Area. Departs 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., operating on the same schedule as currently provided.

· W3 – Patton – Goodwill. Departs 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., operating on the same schedule as currently provided.

For ART schedule information call (828)253-5691, e-mail iride@ashevillenc.gov or visit http://www.ridetheart.com.