The City of Asheville, N.C. Awards Transit Management Contract to First Transit

First Transit, Inc., a leading private provider of transit management and contracting services, was recently awarded a three-year management contract from the city of Asheville. Since July of 2008, First Transit has overseen the operations of the Asheville Transit System.

"We are proud to partner with the city once again," said Norman Schenck, general manager, First Transit/Asheville Transit. "With this contract, we plan to continue to provide safe and efficient transit services to the residents of Asheville. Currently, we are anticipating the launch of a new branding strategy for the transit system, as well as a restructured route system to better meet the transportation needs of the 1.4 million passengers who utilize the service."

With this contract win, First Transit will be responsible with providing management services required to keep the transit system functioning properly and efficiently, and managing all aspects related to the operation. Asheville Transit currently operates 21 buses and is scheduled to introduce nine new buses in 2012, with two of them being hybrid/diesel buses.