In response to a request from the Asheville City Council last month, the state Department of Transportation has agreed to conduct one more traffic study — beginning immediately — to estimate future traffic volume along the I-26 Connector. “We are in the process of working on that,” confirmed DOT Traffic Engineer Kevin Lacy. Calibration of … Read more
The Warren Haynes Parkway. It has sort of a nice ring to it. But to rename the Blue Ridge Parkway after the guitar-slinging philanthropist, Mayor Charles Worley would have to talk turkey with a whole bunch of federal officials — probably City Council, too. And convincing all those folks to designate a national treasure after … Read more
When the Moscow Ballet’s Nutcracker plays in Asheville Friday night, it will offer more than a window into Russian culture — more, even, than a beloved holiday ritual. The colorful production will also reflect a profound local and regional legacy. “North Carolina has always been in the forefront” of American arts education, says producer Mary … Read more
Correction In the Dec. 1 Xpress — an issue where I tried a little too hard not to come off like the glassy-eyed Spicoli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High — I ended up surpassing even that legendary space-cadet glory with the ultimate rookie mistake. The Umphrey’s McGee article from that issue featured the dreaded … Read more
“The best analogy … is a flood. Traffic is like water, only a little more unpredictable.” — Transportation-planning consultant Don Bryson In the end, whether Interstate 26 has six lanes or eight may not matter. No amount of road-widening or road-building is going to save Asheville from the coming deluge of traffic, according to a … Read more
At any given time, there are an estimated 2,000 homeless people in Buncombe County. An ambitious plan to drastically reduce homelessness in Asheville was greeted with a mix of enthusiasm and skepticism at City Council’s Dec. 7 work session. “This is a fairly radical departure from the way you treat homeless now,” noted Jerome Jones, … Read more
Newly elected Buncombe County Commissioner Carol Weir Peterson kicked off the Board of Commissioners’ Dec. 7 formal meeting with her first official act: presenting a certificate of appreciation to Jeff Shelton for his 10 years of managing the county animal shelter. Shelton thanked the commissioners for their support, giving credit for any success he’s achieved … Read more
Deadline, relief meeting ahead Friday, Dec. 17, is the deadline for Western North Carolinians to register for federal assistance in recovering from hurricanes Frances and Ivan. Registration is required for anyone who suffered damage from the storms to be considered for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Those affected by the storms who … Read more
Is this guy crazy? What is the Asheville, Buncombe and Henderson water system really worth? The City of Asheville wants to get out of all agreements, and we all admit that water, airports, golf courses, etc., should not be connected. The big question is what to do with this “white” or “black elephant,” depending upon … Read more
