NCDOT: Asheville bus service resumes year after Helene

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (FOX Carolina) - The North Carolina Department of Transportation announced it is resuming its intercity bus service in downtown Asheville nearly a year after it was suspended due to Hurricane Helene.

Officials said Greyhound will operate the service under contract with NCDOT’s Integrated Mobility Division.

Greyhound will pick up and drop off passengers on Ashland Avenue outside of the downtown Asheville Rides Transit (ART) Transit Station, beginning on Aug. 1. The new arrangement is the result of months of coordination with the NCDOT’s Integrated Mobility Division and Asheville.

The Director of NCDOT’s Integrated Mobility Division, Brennon Fuqua, said, “Restoring service to Asheville has been a top priority. This is not just about getting buses back on the road. It’s about ensuring residents have reliable, affordable transportation to access not only our great state but also the nation. Access to transportation is access to opportunity.”

Officials said the relaunch marks a major step forward in restoring vital transportation access for Asheville and surrounding communities.

Travelers will have access to daily direct service between Asheville and Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Chapel Hill and Raleigh. They can also connect easily out-of-state destinations on the national intercity bus network, including Richmond and Norfolk, Virginia; Washington, D.C.; New York; Atlanta; and Greenville, South Carolina.

Officials said that, before Hurricane Helene, the intercity bus stop was located at a gas station outside of Asheville. Service was suspended when the gas station was destroyed.

Greyhound emphasized the importance of the renewed partnership.

Greyhound Chief Operating Officer Rodney Surber said, “Intercity bus travel is a lifeline for so many people in this region — providing an affordable way to visit family and access jobs and healthcare across North Carolina and beyond. After nearly a year of work to restore service in Asheville, we’re proud to finally get riders moving again. We’re especially grateful to the state and local officials whose partnership made this possible.”

Passengers can book tickets and learn more about Greyhound’s service by visiting Greyhound.com or on the Greyhound mobile app.