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![]() AppalCART buses in Boone, NC. | |
Founded | October 1981 |
---|---|
Headquarters | 305 Highway 105 Bypass Boone, NC 28607 |
Locale | North Carolina |
Service area | Boone and Appalachian State University with service to rural locations throughout Watauga County |
Service type | Local and Student Commuter |
Routes | 24 |
Stops | 120 |
Hubs |
|
Fleet | 43 |
Daily ridership | 1,938,321 annually (2019) |
Fuel type | Diesel, gasoline & electric |
Operator | Watauga County |
Website | appalcart.com |
AppalCART (Appalachian Campus Area Rapid Transit) is a free public bus network located in Boone, North Carolina. It provides fare-free fixed route and paratransit service throughout Appalachian State University and Boone, as well as low-fare van service to other towns within Watauga County.[1] In 2013, AppalCART reported a ridership of 1,712,873 passenger trips.[2] In 2019, it reported 1,938,321 trips.[3]
AppalCART is governed by an 8-member board.[4] The current chairman of the board is Quint David.[5] It receives its funding from a mix of federal, state, local, and Appalachian State University funds.[6]
Route name and official color shade | Annual ridership (2019) | Year-round? | Start | High-traffic destinations | High-traffic corridors served | Opposite end[A] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blue | 159,208 | ![]() |
ASU Peacock Traffic Circle |
|
|
South Lot / Baseball Stadium |
Express | 114,688 | ![]() |
ASU Peacock Traffic Circle |
|
ASU College of Health Sciences | |
Gold | 16,099 | ![]() |
ASU College Street Station |
|
South Lot / Baseball Stadium | |
Gray (formerly State Farm Lot Shuttle) | 45,813 | ![]() |
ASU Child Development Center |
|
ASU State Farm Lot | |
Green | 294,372 | ![]() |
Hospitality House |
|
Cottages of Boone | |
NC 105 Lot Shuttle | 20,023 | ![]() |
ASU NC 105 Lot |
|
ASU Mountaineer Hall | |
Orange (Currently suspended due to staffing shortages)[8] | 180,396 | ![]() |
ASU College Street Station |
|
Brookshire Park Road | |
Pink | 62,773 | ![]() |
ASU Peacock Traffic Circle |
|
ASU College of Health Sciences | |
Pop 105 | 273,054 | ![]() |
AppalCART Headquarters |
|
AppalCART Headquarters | |
Purple | 250,639 | ![]() |
ASU Peacock Traffic Circle |
|
||
Red | 366,604 | ![]() |
AppalCART Headquarters |
|
ASU College of Health Sciences | |
Silver | 58,385 | ![]() |
Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute |
|
Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute | |
State Farm Lot Shuttle | No data (Established 2023) | ![]() |
ASU Trivette Hall |
|
ASU State Farm Lot | |
Wellness District | 41,535 | ![]() |
ASU College of Health Sciences |
|
|
ASU College of Health Sciences |
Total annual ridership (including Night Owl routes and irregular routes such as Game Day routes) (2019): | 1,938,321 | - | - | - | - | - |
Route name and official color shade | Annual ridership (2019)[D] | Year-round? | Start | High-traffic destinations | High-traffic corridors served | Opposite end |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Express | 3,163 | ![]() |
ASU Peacock Traffic Circle |
|
The Village at Meadowview | |
Gold | 2,548 | ![]() |
ASU College Street Station |
|
South Lot / Baseball Stadium | |
Pop 105 | 3,517 | ![]() |
AppalCART Headquarters |
|
AppalCART Headquarters | |
Total annual ridership (2019) | 9,137 | - | - | - | - | - |
In addition to the above routes, AppalCART operates seven game day routes: Gray, Express, Purple, Orange, Blue, Gold, and the Disability Shuttle, totaling 24 routes on the system. There are three stops only served by these routes: Poplar Grove Connector Parking Lot, ASU Hill Street Lot, and ASU Stadium East Gate, totaling 120 stops on the entire system.[9]
Route name and official color shade | Fate | Active from | Year-round? | Start | High-traffic destinations | High-traffic corridors served | Opposite end |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blowing Rock | Low ridership | May 2018–Aug 2021 | ![]() |
Tanger Outlets |
|
|
Green Park Inn |
Gray (1st version)[E] | Staffing shortages[12] | Aug 2021–Sep 2021 | ![]() |
Caldwell Community College
& Technical Institute |
|
Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute | |
Green East | Merged with Teal to become Green Route[13] | ?–Aug 2018 | ![]() |
ASU College Street Station |
|
Hospitality House | |
Green West | Merged with Red[13] | ?–Aug 2018 | ![]() |
ASU College Street Station |
|
Old Bristol Road / US 421 near NC 105 Bypass | |
Orange Night Owl | Staffing shortages, COVID-19 pandemic[14] | Aug 2019–Nov 2019 | ![]() |
ASU College Street Station |
|
Brookshire Park Road | |
Teal | Merged with Green East to become Green Route[13] | Aug 2013–Aug 2018 | ![]() |
ASU Peacock Traffic Circle |
|
Cottages of Boone | |
Night Owl | Unknown | ?–Mid-2001 | No data archived | No data archived | No data archived | No data archived | No data archived |