Buncombe County Seeks Public Input on First Pedestrian Plan for Unincorporated Areas

Buncombe County has launched its first Pedestrian Plan for unincorporated areas, aiming to create a clear vision and an action framework for sidewalks, crosswalks and pedestrian connections that link neighborhoods to schools, jobs, transit and services. County officials are seeking public input through meetings, focus groups and online surveys as they shape priorities for safety and access across areas outside municipal limits.

An early community drop-in meeting is scheduled for Jan. 29, 2026, at the Enka-Candler Library. That session is the first public engagement opportunity since the project began in summer 2025 and is part of an outreach program intended to hear residents’ experiences with gaps in sidewalks, dangerous crossings and barriers to walking for daily trips. The project timeline is approximately 12 months, placing a draft plan in view for summer 2026.

The plan is federally funded through the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), which means the effort involves coordination with state and federal partners and follows funding and planning requirements tied to those programs. For unincorporated parts of Buncombe County - where many residents rely on walking to access schools, transit stops and nearby services - the plan represents a first systematic attempt to inventory pedestrian needs and identify prioritized projects across county-managed roads and rights-of-way.

Practical outcomes under consideration include filling sidewalk gaps, improving crosswalks at busy intersections, and creating stronger pedestrian links to transit stops and community facilities. For residents who walk to school, work or the bus stop, the plan could translate into targeted project lists that inform future construction or grant applications. For drivers, clearer pedestrian routes and safer crossings aim to reduce conflicts and improve traffic predictability on county corridors.

Engagement methods will include public meetings, focus groups and online surveys to reach a broad cross-section of residents. The county’s outreach seeks input from people who walk regularly - including older adults, families with children and residents of neighborhoods without sidewalks - so that the plan reflects lived experience across unincorporated neighborhoods.

The Pedestrian Plan is a foundational step that will set priorities rather than fund every sidewalk immediately. Residents interested in shaping those priorities should plan to attend the Jan. 29 drop-in at Enka-Candler Library and look for upcoming focus groups and surveys. The plan’s findings, due roughly a year after the summer 2025 start, will inform how Buncombe County proposes pedestrian improvements and coordinates with NCDOT and other partners moving forward.