NCDOT launches new DriveNC app, Asheville bus ridership tops 10,000

Buncombe County drivers now have a sharper state traffic tool, and Asheville bus riders have a stronger regional link. NCDOT’s refreshed DriveNC.gov and its first free mobile app for iPhone and Android went live May 27 with a cleaner map, custom route and area alerts, live traffic cameras and digital highway sign messages.

The update replaces a DriveNC system that dates to the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd in 1999, a sign of how much the state’s traveler information has changed since then. In 2025, DriveNC logged more than 34,000 incidents, drew nearly 1.4 million users and generated about 2.2 million website visits. NCDOT said the new platform still feeds automatic alerts to Waze, Apple Maps and Google Maps, which means the app is most useful for travelers who want a state-run view of road conditions, cameras and sign messages rather than a full replacement for everyday navigation apps.

That distinction matters around Asheville, where the region’s intercity bus service has quietly become a major mobility option again. NCDOT said the Asheville service has carried more than 10,000 riders in less than a year since it relaunched Aug. 1, 2025, after a pause that began Sept. 27, 2024, in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The service now picks up and drops off on Ashland Avenue outside the downtown Asheville Rides Transit station, after the former stop at a gas station outside the city limits was destroyed by the storm.

The bus line is funded by NCDOT and operated by Flix North America and Greyhound under contract. Riders can connect from Asheville to 292 destinations nationwide, with about 65% of trips staying in-state and 35% going out of state. Charlotte accounts for 26% of trips to and from Asheville, and riders have traveled as far as California. NCDOT also said ridership in this period exceeded the same stretch in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

State and local transit officials framed the milestone as part of western North Carolina’s recovery and a sign that the downtown stop is working. Brennon Fuqua, NCDOT’s Integrated Mobility Division director, pointed to the value of state, local and private partnerships, while Asheville Transit Division Manager Chris Whitlock said the service is helping both transit passengers and Asheville’s recovery. Greyhound Chief Operating Officer Rodney Surber said the bus link remains a lifeline for people traveling to family, events and opportunities across the region.

For Buncombe commuters, the new app is useful when a wreck, storm or lane closure makes a camera check or route alert worth a few taps. For riders without a car, Asheville’s restored bus service is already proving its value by reconnecting the city to jobs, education, healthcare and destinations far beyond the county line.