Buncombe County Pedestrian Plan
Buncombe County Pedestrian Plan
Buncombe County is building a plan to make walking easier in unincorporated areas of the County outside of municipal limits. The County’s first Pedestrian Plan is a big-picture vision for a network of sidewalks and crosswalks. The goal is to connect neighborhoods to key places like schools, job centers, and other important spots so people can walk more comfortably and conveniently.
Timeline
The project began in the summer of 2025 and the final draft plan will likely to the Board of Commissioners mid-Fall. Initial community engagement events and outreach will start in the fall of 2025. Surveys and feedback opportunities will gather important data along the way. Our community and the Steering Committee will offer guidance and direct the plan before it goes before the Board of Commissioners.
Funding
The Buncombe County Pedestrian plan is funded by federal aid through the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
How to Get Involved
To learn more about community meetings, Steering Committee opportunities, and feedback options, subscribe for updates below.
Take the Online Survey
A virtual survey is now available to review the 10 draft priority projects. The four question survey is available in English and Spanish. Take the survey here.
Events
Happening Now
In March, over 1,015 Buncombe residents shared ideas about where they’d like to walk in the County. Since then, we’ve reviewed your feedback, created and ranked projects, and built a proposed walking network for the first-of-its-kind Buncombe County Pedestrian Plan. Now, we want to share what we’ve learned and hear what residents think of the 10 priority projects. Residents can share what they like, what they’d change, and what matters most. Feedback will help shape the final Pedestrian Plan by the end of 2026.
Review the 10 Draft Priority Projects (PDF).
Join Us In Person
Community feedback is a central part of creating a comprehensive Pedestrian Plan and residents are invited to an upcoming drop-in style community meeting on Aug. 26 at the Enka-Candler Library Community Room from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Join us to share your experiences, ask questions, and help shape the direction of this plan from the very beginning. Spanish interpretation and materials will be available.
What: Pedestrian Plan Community Meeting
When: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Where: Enka-Candler Library Community Room
1404 Sand Hill Road, Candler, NC 28715
Swannanoa is an important area identified in the Pedestrian Draft Plan, and we have seen how important sidewalk infrastructure is to residents through multiple community engagement efforts including the Swannanoa Small Area Plan. For our second community meeting, we are partnering with the Reshaping Owen Park Workshop team and joining their drop-in style community meeting in Swannanoa on Thursday, Aug. 27 from 5-7 p.m. at ArtSpace Charter School at 2030 US-70. Residents can learn about both plans, share their feedback, and ask questions. Spanish materials will be available.
What: Reshaping Owen Park Workshop
When: 5-7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026
Where: ArtSpace Charter School
2030 US-70, Swannanoa, NC 28778
Online Survey
Can't make it to our events? An virtual option for participation is available now in English and Spanish. Take the survey here.