AppalCART

some photo's

2012-01-26T12:54:00.000-08:00

photo's by Director Chris Turner

project set to resume

2012-01-23T10:42:00.000-08:00

Construction has been at a standstill at the future AppalCART headquarters on the N.C. 105
Bypass for months, but transportation director Chris Turner says work will soon begin again.
Kellen Moore WATAUGA DEMOCRAT

Originally published: 2012-01-23 12:44:46
Last modified: 2012-01-23 12:50:55 AppalCART project set to resume
by Kellen Moore

The wheels of progress often move slowly, and few know that better than the AppalCART staff.

Two and a half years have passed since the town granted a building permit for a new headquarters on the N.C. 105 Bypass, and the structure still sits unfinished.

But AppalCART transportation director Chris Turner and board chairman Jerry Moretz said recent developments will soon spur activity at the site, and completion is again within sight.

“It's been a frustrating project because of a number of reasons, but I think now we are finally poised to get the contractor back to work,” Moretz said.

Problems began to arise in spring 2011, when McCarroll Construction of Arden began to experience financial difficulties, partly due to subcontractors going out of business, Turner said.

Couple that with bitter winters and an overall poor economy, and the going was tough.

An audit was performed on the construction company, followed by a mediation session in August between McCarroll, AppalCART and the N.C. Department of Transportation's Public Transportation Division, which administers state and federal grants.

The parties reached a settlement in which the NCDOT agreed to provide a $300,000 grant to enable McCarroll Construction to resume work, Turner said.

But shortly after, another problem arose when the Federal Transit Administration threatened to not fund a steel canopy system for the bus parking areas. The roughly $700,000 canopies were added through change orders, but the FTA was concerned that the pricey project should have been bid out separately.

But just this month, the FTA resolved the issue and allowed the project to be added via change order.

In the next week or so, passers-by should notice work picking up again at the 23,000-square foot building, Turner said.

Footers will be dug for the canopy, which is intended to provide shelter for the rear of the buses and will allow drivers easier access for maintenance purposes even in severe weather.

The canopy system also is engineered to have no posts in the parking lot, which should make driving and parking easier, Turner said.

Numerous other projects also need to be completed, including the solar and rainwater collection systems, the heating system, some plumbing, generator installation and final indoor finishes.

The staff hopes to move to the new building in May or June, Turner said.

“Most passengers won't see a big difference, but AppalCART staff certainly will,” board member Angie Boitnotte said.

While the construction has blown through its original August 2010 end date, the $5.5 million project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is on budget, Moretz said.

“It will be a very impressive facility when it's finished,” Moretz said.

Public Hearing Notice

2012-01-16T12:57:00.000-08:00

The AppalCART Authority will hold public hearings on January 19, 2012 at 3:30PM in the AppalCART Board Room at 274 Winkler’s Creek Road in Boone regarding AppalCART’s Community Transportation Application, and Job Access and Reverse Commute Application, to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for federal and state funding. The applications must be submitted to the state by January 27, 2012.

AppalCART is the public transportation authority serving Watauga County with fixed route bus service in the Boone area and county -wide van routes under contract with various human service agencies.

The estimated combined total for both grants is approximately $5,200,000 for administrative, operating and capital assistance for July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013. This amount includes approximately $2,800,000 in federal and state funds. The local matching share is approximately $2,400,000.

Those interested in attending the public hearings and needing either auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or a language translator should contact Chris Turner on or before January 12th at 828-264-2280 or director@appalcart.com .

The applications may be inspected at the AppalCART office on 274 Winkler’s Creek Rd from 9:00AM until 5:00PM. Monday through Friday starting January 12th. Written comments should be directed to Christopher D. Turner, Transportation Director, POB 2357, Boone, NC 28607 prior to January 18, 2012.

Cutbacks & Closings

2011-12-16T13:13:00.000-08:00

Unexpectedly, the General Assembly in Raleigh cut the State Maintenance Assistance Program from $678,494 to $601,630. To achieve the necessary budget reductions, AppalCART has to make cutbacks.

Closed Saturday Dec 24 – Tuesday Dec 27 return on Wed Dec 28
Closed Saturday Dec 31 - Monday Jan 2 return on Tuesday Jan 3

Monday Dec 19, 2011- Saturday Jan 14, 2012 only Red, Green One, POP105 One, Orange One, and Purple will be running. ending at 8PM Mon-Fri and 5PM Saturday’s

Monday Jan 16 – State Farm Shuttle will operate from 4PM – 1:25AM
Tuesday Jan 17 – throughout ASU’s Spring Semester
State Farm Shuttle will stop running at 10PM rather than 11:30PM Mon-Fri
State Farm Shuttle Sundays (or the day before classed begin) will continue 4PM-1:25AM
Summer bus routes will be ending at 8PM

Two full-time positions – Driver and Mechanic – will remain unfilled.

For more information, call 264-2278 or check the website at http://www.appalcart.com/

Gillig Hybrid-BusTraining

2011-12-16T12:56:00.000-08:00

AppalCART's Shop Staff
B. A. Arnette, Victor Farthing, Donnie Cox,
Shop Manager Gary Fletcher, Gillig Trainer, and Terry Wolfe

Shop Manager Gary Fletcher, B.A. Arnette, Donnie Cox
Terry Wolfe on top of one of the Gillig hybrid buses
at the battery box.
On Dec 15, 2011, the Gillig Trainer instructed
local emergency responders
at AppalCART
on the Gillig hybrid buses.

Annual Awards Banquet

2011-12-13T06:24:00.001-08:00

Monday December 12, 2011 at 5PM after a 3PM Board Meeting

Roger Dotson, Troy Greer, B. A. Arnette, Shop Manager Gary Fletcher, and Terry Wolfe

Kerry Watson, Bill Davis, Rick Davis, and Marchell Miller

Tim McGuire, John Kirk, and Jim Harrison

Jeannine Taylor, Angie Boitnotte, Michelle Brewer, and Barry Sauls

Barry Sauls, John McMillian, James Combs, Alex Sharpe

US News & World Report, and Fall Photo's

2011-10-19T13:34:00.000-07:00

AppalCART

According to US News and World Report - Boone is one of the best places to retire in 2012.
********************************************************************
Affordable mountain town: Boone, N.C.
Pricey Aspen and Vail may be beyond your budget, but that doesn't mean you can't spend your retirement years appreciating spectacular mountain views or making runs on the slopes. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Boone boasts three nearby ski resorts as well as trails for cross country skiing, winter hiking, and snowshoeing. Residents of this small town of 14,000 also have access to one of the country's most scenic roads, the Blue Ridge Parkway. A bonus: Boone provides residents with a free local bus service, AppalCART, and access to many of the amenities at Appalachian State University. In 2010, the median home sale price was $215,250.

photo's by Chris Turner
edited by Joanna Wilcox

NCDOT Board Tours New Facility on Oct 5, 2011

2011-10-07T10:03:00.000-07:00

the Board rode in on a chartered bus

http://www.ncdot.org/about/board/
http://www.ncdot.gov/about/leadership/secretary.html

AppalCART and Facility Overview

SYSTEM OVERVIEW
AppalCART is the public transportation system serving the town of Boone, Watauga County and Appalachian State University. Established in January 1980 as the Watauga County Transportation Authority, AppalCART provides fixed-route, paratransit, demand-response and subscription service.

The majority of AppalCART’s ridership is on the fare-free fixed-routes serving the Appalachian State University community and the general public in the Boone area. AppalCART operates 10 routes Monday through Friday, five of which operate until 11:00 p.m., as well as three daytime routes on Saturdays and three evening routes on Sundays during spring and fall semesters at ASU. The system also offers complimentary paratransit service to individuals certified with disabilities that prevent them from using the fixed routes for certain trips.

Vehicle Fleet:
31 passenger vehicles including:
• Two hybrid 35’ transit buses that arrived in June 2011
• 15 rear-engine transit buses
• 14 rural paratransit service vehicles

FY 2011 Ridership and Operating Statistics:
• 1,352,429 passenger trips – 13% more than FY 2010 – a record for the system
• 54,326.90 hours of service – 6.8% more than FY 2010
• 725,810 miles of service – 6.9% more than FY 2010
• 176,161 miles of van service resulting in 16,148 one-way trips.
• 48,159 miles of paratransit service resulting in 14,769 trips – 31% more than FY 2010

ADMINISTRATIVE AND MAINTENANCE FACILITY
AppalCART was awarded $5.5 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to construct a 24,000 square-foot administrative/maintenance facility that will enable the rapidly growing transit system to continue to operate an efficient, reliable transportation network. A $4.1 million contract was awarded to McCarroll Construction on May 29, 2009 for the facility, which is currently being constructed on an eight-acre site owned by AppalCART off the N.C. 105 Bypass.

The facility is anticipated to obtain LEED Silver certification and currently has enough points to be certified as Gold. Environmentally-friendly features include a rainwater containment system that will catch runoff and use it to wash buses, a solar panel system to heat water for domestic and radiant floor heat, and low-flow showers and toilets in locker rooms.

Project Delays
Economic conditions caused several subcontractors on the project that had already been paid, including funding for their vendors, to go out of business. As a result, McCarroll Construction had to pay vendors that would have been paid by the subcontractors, causing a hardship on the construction company. McCarroll Construction was unable to pay their subcontractors and vendors during the spring of 2011 and the subcontractors refused to return to the job site. AppalCART made an arrangement with McCarroll Construction’s attorney to make monthly payments to the attorney so that they can pay the subcontractors and vendors. Mediation between AppalCART and McCarroll Construction occurred on Aug. 25 and settlement in the amount of $300,000 was agreed upon to be paid to McCarroll Construction for General Conditions beyond what had been stated in the contract. It was also agreed that the project would be completed by Nov. 23, 2011 otherwise liquidated damages of $800 per day will be enforced.

Current Status
McCarroll is back on the project work site and interior floors are being completed at this time. The project is about 85% complete with remaining tasks including finishing the interior, opening the septic system, turning on the water, installing the maintenance equipment, completing the paving of a parking lot and installing bus canopies. Change orders in the amount of $1,167,883 have brought the project total to $5,267,883.

Jennifer Garifo
Communications Officer
N.C. Department of Transportation
Communications Office
1 South Wilmington Street
Raleigh, N.C. 27601
(919) 733-2522
(919) 733-9980 fax
jgarifo@ncdot.gov

AppalCART Director Chris Turner and Secretary of Transportation Gene Conti

For AppalCART's new facility - Project Manager Patrick Beville and Architect David Patrick Moses

AppalCART Building Maintainance Manager Randall Fletcher

Bob Collier and Chris Turner

Beville, Moses, Turner, and Fletcher

High Country Press article

2011-09-02T06:28:00.000-07:00

http://www.highcountrypress.com/weekly/2011/09-01-11/appalcart-transit-center.htm
SEPTEMBER 1, 2011 ISSUE

The AppalCART Transit Center on the N.C. 105 Bypass in Boone was originally slated for completion in July 2010, but progress has been delayed. The complex is currently about 85 percent complete, according to AppalCART Transportation Director Chris Turner.

“It’s still under construction,” Turner said. “Little things are going on inside; not much is going on outside.”

On August 25, “we had a major mediation between the AppalCART project management team and McCarroll Construction team—general contractor for the job,” Turner said.

Attorney A. Holt Gwyn mediated the all-day meeting that was arranged in order to “hear the general contractor’s financial needs and to state our thoughts on the debts incurred,” Turner said.

He explained that “some of their subcontractors went out of business, so they incurred debts that were not responsibility normally of the owner.

“They were able to keep a full schedule through March and April, then things slowed down,” he said.

To get the project back in full swing, “we are going to need spending authority from the state, and they’re going to need spending authority through their bonding company,” he said.

He expects “both to come through,” but said that “it’s going to take a month or two before things are going full blast again.”

Funded by about $5.5 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the energy-efficient building “will allow the fleet [of AppalCART vehicles] to operate more effectively” and will also be “a rather attractive complex,” Turner said.

The approximately 24,000-square-foot building designed by architect David Patrick Moses will consist of office space and a maintenance area. It will be LEED-certified and will feature foam insulation as well as “solar water heaters to help heat the floor of the shop,” Turner said.

The solar panels will be visible from the highway, he added.

“When we finish it, it will be a real asset to the community,” he said.

The initial pavement has been done for about two-thirds of the parking lot, and the awnings for the fleet of vehicles stand as the “largest remaining part to do,” Turner said.

“I’m hopeful we’ll be in there by Christmas,” he said, adding that it is “just a hope at this point” and could be sooner or later.

In the meantime, he said he is grateful that AppalCART has its office at 274 Winkler’s Creek Road out of which to operate.

For more information about AppalCART, click to www.appalcart.com or call 828-264-2278

new AppalCART Facility on Hold

2011-08-23T11:52:00.000-07:00

This blog hasn't been updated since April 29, 2011, because all the news on our new facility is bad. Our contractor, McCarroll Construction ran out of money. The article below just appeared in the Watauga Democrat August 21, 2011.

http://www2.wataugademocrat.com/News/story/New-AppalCART-facility-on-hold---id-005927

Roughly two years after construction began on the new AppalCART facility on the N.C. 105 Bypass, work has stalled due to the contractor's financial difficulties. McCarroll Construction, based in Arden, began approaching AppalCART around March trying to collect more capital so it could continue the project, transportation director Chris Turner said.

Now, AppalCART is considering starting mediation with the contractor next week to figure out how to move forward.

Representatives of McCarroll Construction did not return several messages by presstime Thursday.

The delay has caused AppalCART to go through its budget for legal services, request an extension for its federal stimulus money and push back its ever-changing opening date.

“The timeline’s sort of out the window until we get the mediation done, and then it will still be ‘iffy,’” Turner said. Work began at the property in summer 2009, with the goal of finishing a 23,000-square-foot, LEED-certified center with offices, maintenance bays and ample parking.
The $5.5 million budget was covered by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, although AppalCART contributed its own reserves for early site work and purchasing the property. McCarroll’s bid came in at $4.1 million, but several change orders have upped the final cost estimate to about $5.3 million, Turner said. While the building itself is “probably 90 percent done,” Turner said, the facility lacks several important pieces. Materials are onsite to construct steel parking lot canopies, which will cover the lots where many of the vans and buses will park to offer protection from damaging rain and snow. The canopies will also allow drivers to inspect their vehicles without being exposed to inclement weather. Portions of the parking lot also need to be paved, and elevators need to be tested, Turner said. The interior needs finish flooring, a phone system and a two-way radio system to communicate with buses.A solar water heating system also has not yet been installed on the roof, he said.

The facility has passed several anticipated openings: early 2011, then April 2011, then June and finally mid-July. Now, Turner is hoping to be in the new space before mid-December.

As the project stretched longer than expected, the contractor’s budget for general conditions and overhead simply ran out, he said.

AppalCART and the N.C. Department of Transportation audited McCarroll Construction to ensure its expenses were legitimate and found that the company’s books were in order, Turner said.

They also applied for a grant extension for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money, which Turner expects will be approved.

AppalCART had $1,500 budgeted for legal costs last year and “spent probably three or four times that amount in the last fiscal year,” he said.

The parties are now seeing whether they can come to an agreement or whether the bonding company needs to take the reins. A lawsuit is always a possibility, Turner said, although he anticipated that mediation would be successful.

Until the matter is settled, AppalCART continues to operate its routes from the existing facility at 274 Winklers Creek Road. The routes had already switched to new start times in anticipation of buses leaving from the new facility, but Turner said making those new times work will not be a problem.

Turner said the AppalCART staff is eagerly anticipating the chance to show off the facility’s functionality and beauty and move out of the cramped building where they have been for 27 years.

“It’s something that’s going to be resolved, but it’s going to take some time,” he said.

Facility, ARRA, Artists

2011-04-29T06:53:00.000-07:00

The AppalCART facility is still under construction, hoping for a mid-July 2011 move-in date.

Artists Keith Lambert and Willie Baucom installing their work.
ShipYard EarthWorks

click to biggify read about Art-In-Transit

AppalCART Director Chris Turner, Architect (smiling) David Patrick Moses

(black shirt in rear and blue shirt in rear)
DavidW and Terry Davis of McCarroll Construction

AppalCART's Mike Norwood, Randall Fletcher, Tim Townsend, Michelle Brewer, Chris Shook, and Chris Turner in photo.

Willie Baucom positioning the ARRA medallion.

AppalCART's new facility was built with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding.

Turner, Cook, Brewer, Gates, and Shook

2011-03-15T10:53:00.000-07:00

Here kitty, kitty...

2011-03-08T10:53:00.000-08:00

AppalCART now is the proud owner of a BobCat skid-steer loader. Will be used mostly by Randall for blowing snow, sweeping the parking lots, and unloading heavy pallets at the new facility. Move in date is scheduled for June 15th.

New Facility Photo

2011-01-27T09:53:00.000-08:00

We're hoping to move in June 2011. Gotta a little more snow last night.

Facility and Snow Update

2011-01-06T10:24:00.000-08:00

Ray at Ray's Weather says we've got more snow coming, and it's gonna snow through next Tuesday. We've got a bet going when Watauga County Schools will be back in session.

ASU Chancellor's Card, snowdrift, new facility photo's

2010-12-17T11:48:00.000-08:00

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Wed Dec 15th - snowdrift outside our present facility. Today, Fri Dec 17th - is by far the mildest weather we've had in a couple of weeks.
Ray'sWeather
Date Snowfall (inches)
November 4-6 trace
December 1 trace
December 4-5 3.0"
December 5-7 6.0"
December 12-14 9.5"

Total Ice & Snow 18.5"

***********************************************
Director Chris Turner took some photo's of AppalCART's new facility. We hope to move in April 2011.

while the weather outside was frightful

2010-12-07T08:30:00.000-08:00

the food inside was delightful
at AppalCART's Holiday Potluck Buffet on Monday Dec 6th
Appalachian State University was on a 2-hr delay that morning

Brad Indicott stirs his homemade chili

Tommy Medley

Jeff Shaffer and Chris Shook

2010-11-16T10:58:00.000-08:00

Effective Dec 1, 2010,
Boone Mall management no longer wants AppalCART intown-route-bus service on the Mall’s property. They feel that many people are using the Mall parking lot for a PARK-&-RIDE and not spending $$$ in the Mall. Stay tuned for upcoming intown-route-bus changes.

Boone Mall
1180 Blowing Rock Rd # E6
Boone, NC 28607-4831
(828) 264-7286
Meredith Golden
boonemallmeredith@hotmail.com

AppalCART
POB 2357
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 264-2278
Chris Turner, Director
director@appalcart.com

Amanda and Billy Orsell

2010-11-08T07:14:00.001-08:00

Billy and Amanda are hard-working full-time students and employees at part-time jobs, Billy is an excellent driver here at AppalCART. They married on Oct 30, 2010. CONGRATULATIONS! Everyone at AppalCART wishes you a wonderful beginning, and love to last a lifetime.

Public Forum Photo's and Video Clip

2010-10-12T11:55:00.001-07:00

Oct 12, 2010. As the leaves were peaking in the High Country, AppalCART was hosting a Public Forum at the Watauga County Human Services Center in Boone, NC.
Photo's and video by AppalCART's Secretary, Joanna Wilcox

Here's a video clip , just 4 minutes of the forum.

new Mountaineer North/South from Charlotte

2010-09-29T13:45:00.000-07:00

Mountaineer North/South (Boone, Lenoir, Hickory, Lincolnton, Gastonia, Charlotte)
(map & schedule coming soon)

Effective October 1st, 2010, Coach America will be providing daily round-trip service between Boone & Charlotte. The round-trip route, which will serve Boone, Lenoir, Hickory, Lincolnton, Gastonia, & Charlotte, will operate seven days a week.

Ticket fares and scheduled stop locations can be downloaded above, click on MOUNTAINEER. Tickets can be purchase online at Greyhound.com, near the Appalachian State University bus stop (Phil’s Citgo, 168 Hardin St), at the Hickory bus stop, at the Gastonia bus stop or at the Charlotte bus stop. Prepaid tickets will receive priority seating. Tickets can also be purchased directly from the driver, exact change is required.

** DETOUR UPDATE ** : Hwy 321 Construction update. Every Monday and Wednesday evening passengers destined to Boone from Charlotte and points south of Lenoir should expect a delay of approximately 90 minutes for their arrival in Boone due to the construction detour. See NCDOT Annoucement (PDF) or read more on the NCDOT Traffic & Travel website.

New-Facility Under-Construction Photo's

2010-09-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

photo's by Director Chris Turner

Upcoming Public Forums

2010-09-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

NOTICE OF PUBLIC FORUMS
AppalCART is currently developing a Community Transportation Service Plan. This Plan will serve as a guide for transit services in Watauga County for the next five years. Informal public forums are being held to present and discuss potential alternatives that are being considered for the plan and to solicit public feedback prior to the development of the final plan. Drop in and tell us what you think. The meeting locations, dates, and times are as follows:
**************************************************
Watauga County Human Services Building
Upstairs Conference Room
132 Poplar Grove Connector
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
10:00AM to 12:30PM
*************************************************
Appalachian State University
ASU Student Union
Grandfather Ballroom
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
1:00PM to 4:00PM
************************************************
Town of Boone
Council Chambers
1500 Blowing Rock Road
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
7:00PM to 9:00PM
**********************************************
Please call AppalCART (828)264-2278 for more information or to schedule a ride to attend one of these meetings.
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Those interested in attending the public meeting and needing either auxiliary aid or services under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or a language translator should contact Chris Turner by October 4th, 2010. 828.264.2280 director@appalcart.com

VillageOfMeadowview, Radiator, ASU Turn-Around

2010-08-19T07:27:00.000-07:00

photo's by Director Chris Turner director@appalcart.com

Village of Meadowview, Purple Rt

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AppalCART Mechanic's putting in a new radiator

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College St Turn-Around under construction, our drivers will really appreciate it once it's done

a visit to the new facility

2010-08-13T06:19:00.000-07:00

photo's by Secretary Joanna Wilcox appalcart@appalcart.com

AppalCART
305 NC Hwy 105
Boone, NC 28607

On Thursday August 12, 2010, AppalCART Board Members and On-Premise Solutions took a tour of AppalCART's future facility which should be ready for occupancy early 2011. Thank you McCarroll Construction's Keith Hensley - building a ramp, floors swept, construction supplies organized - having it ready for inspection.

Transit-Needs Analysis

2010-07-28T10:12:00.000-07:00

Steering Committe meeting for AppalCART's 5-year plan was held at Region D Council of Governments hosted by Transportation Planner Craig Hughes

from KFH Group Lib Fetting

click on photo's to biggify

AppalCART's Operations Manager Tim Townsend
Boone Town Councilperson and AppalCART Board Member Stephen Phillips
Watauga Social Services Social Worker Supervisor III Kedith England
KFH Senior Planner Lib Fetting
(back of) Transportation Director Chris Turner

(white hair) NCDOT-PTD Mobility Development Specialist Patricia P. Perry
Town of Boone Development Coordinator and Planner Jane Shook
bottom right - Joe Furman, Watauga County P & I /EDC Director

Appalachian State Uni Parking & Traffic Director Barry Sauls,
Watauga County Senior Center Director Tabitha Thomas

(head of the table) Watauga Co Parks and Rec Director Stephen Poulos

(out of focus on right)Region D Council of Governments Transportation Planner Craig Hughes

photo's by AppalCART's Joanna Wilcox

Matthew Read, Scottish heritage

2010-07-06T13:07:00.000-07:00

Just in time for the upcoming Highland Games in this area, our driver Matthew Read celebrates his Scottish heritage. In fact, he will be wearing his kilt will driving the shuttles back and forth to Grandfather Mountain.

photo's by Joanna Wilcox and http://boonedockswilcox.weebly.com/

Let the lily of France in luxuriance bloom,
Let the shamrock of Erin its beauty maintain,
Let the rose of fair England still waft its perfume,
But the Thistle of Scotia will dearest remain.
'Twas the badge that our fathers triumphantly wore
When they followed their sovereigns to vanquish the Dane,
The emblem our Wallace in battle aye bore;
Then the Thistle of Scotia must dearest remain.
It blooms on our mountains, it blooms in the vale,
It blooms in the winter, in snow, and in rain;
The type of her sons when rude seasons assail ~
To Scotia, her Thistle will dearest remain.
Author Unknown

Annual Awards Banquet

2010-06-29T09:44:00.001-07:00

ROADeo 2010

2010-06-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

Photo's by Chris Turner, Wilmington, NC

Prior to the conference, three AppalCART drivers participated in NCPTA's Roadeo in Wilmington

AppalCART Drivers Terry Norris, Billy Orsell, Louis Ogletree

Chris Turner, John Kirk, Terry Norris, Billy Orsell,

Tim Townsend, Louis Ogletree

facility construction update

2010-06-23T09:37:00.000-07:00

photo's by Chris Turner

On-site Visit to New Facility

2010-05-05T10:18:00.000-07:00

May 5, 2010, AppalCART's Director Chris Turner and Secretary Joanna Wilcox made an on-site visit at the new facility location.

Director Chris Turner, Contractor Arturro, and McCarroll Construction's Site Supervisor Terry Davis

Folks keep asking us

2010-02-19T11:33:00.000-08:00

how the new AppalCART facility is coming along but...

I ran into Marie Freeman on campus, guess what she was doing? Taking pictures.

Appalachian State University Smoking Policy

At the present AppalCART facility, we can barely see out the lobby window.

Drivers Dennis Dotson and Tommy Melody

2.10.10 blizzard

2010-02-10T13:46:00.000-08:00

snowfall in Boone over the weekend

2010-02-01T06:48:00.000-08:00

Some areas of the High Country saw up to around a foot of snow after this weekend’s snowstorm. Here are photo's taken by Director Chris Turner. With the blade on the shop truck, Chris and Trainer Tim Townsend scraped AppalCART's parking lot on Sunday January 30th.

new photo's and stats by Director Turner

2010-01-13T10:58:00.000-08:00

AppalCART authorities reported nearly a six percent increase in ridership from 2008 to 2009, setting a record for annual ridership.

AppalCART’s director, Christopher Turner, said over1.2 million passenger trips in over 661,000 miles of service were logged in 2009.

Turner said, “The 5.9 percent increase amounted to an additional 67,466 recorded trips over the total for 2008.” Turner added that he believes the AppalCart saw an increase in ridership because the service purchased newer buses, a second bus was added on the Orange Route, and the continuation of fare free program on the AppalCART’s bus routs. The service’s ridership may also have increased because AppalCART’s hours of operation also increased by two percent over the past year.

Potluck Party Dec 11, 2009

2009-12-11T11:44:00.001-08:00

Employees either brought a dish or donated money towards paying for a ham.

NCDOT Transportation Secretary Gene Conti

2009-11-30T11:55:00.000-08:00

click on photo to enlarge, NCDOT Transportation Secretary Gene Conti visted AppalCART's new construction site on Oct 29, 2009.

AppalCART on a hybrid bus

2009-09-14T11:33:00.000-07:00

NCDOT-PTD has approved hybrid-bus purchases through Gillig. AppalCART has the funding and will likely receive a bus like this one in late 2010.

Signs are up!

2009-09-11T07:32:00.000-07:00

Signs are up at the new facility site.

Pop105 servicing University Highlands.

photo's submitted by Secretary Joanna Wilcox

a few facility photo's

2009-09-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

submitted by Transportation Director Chris Turner

Aug 25th first day ASU classes

2009-08-25T10:43:00.000-07:00

photo's by Transportation Director Chris Turner
director@appalcart.com
828.264.2280
AppalCART is the public transportatio sysytem for Watauga County, North Carolina
www.appalcart.com

First day of classes for Appalachian State University
www.appstate.edu

waiting at the WalMart bus shelter

High Country Press | Site Work Begins on New AppalCART Facility

2009-08-20T07:50:00.001-07:00

High Country Press
Site Work Begins on New AppalCART Facility

by Sam Calhoun

By July 2010, AppalCART will debut a new facility in Watauga County thanks to funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Although the federal government has yet to dole out the money for the project to AppalCART, said Director Chris Turner, the state approved the award in June and Watauga County’s transportation authority is currently using its own funds to conduct site preparation work at a five-acre site on Highway 105 Bypass while waiting for federal approval.

Two months ago, N.C. Gov. Bev Perdue announced that AppalCART had been approved for $6 million in stimulus funding to build a new, 23,000-square-foot, LEED-certified transit center in Boone that will consist of offices and a maintenance area. AppalCART purchased five acres on Highway 105 Bypass in 2004 for the transit center and used internal funds to complete environmental assessments on the property. AppalCART attempted to get state funding to build the new facility, but none was available until stimulus funding became an option.

As far as a planned groundbreaking ceremony, “we’re still waiting for the state to tell us when the federal government can participate,” said Turner.

Turner applied for $5.5 million to build the new facility and an additional $500,000 for passenger accomodations, such as new bus shelters, he said.

“The state approved the project; now we’re just waiting for the feds to approve it,” said Turner, who added that stimulus funding for rural projects in the state seem to be taking longer to distribute. “We’ve been told the feds will notify the state as soon as the funding is available.”

While waiting, Turner said a construction crew is using money set aside by AppalCART to conduct preliminary grading on site and to dig a ditch for a retaining wall. According to Turner, the transit center is expected to be completed by July 2010.

Turner estimated the project would create 40 jobs and sustain about 300 jobs among general contractors and subcontractors. The new facility is designed by architect David Patrick Moses and AppalCART awarded the bid for the project to McCarroll Construction, Inc.

Aug 7 pumping water out

2009-08-07T05:56:00.001-07:00

trying to dry out the land, using sump pumps to get the water out

photo's submitted by McCarroll Construction's General Contractor Terry Davis

Aug 6 Facility Photo Update

2009-08-06T13:26:00.001-07:00

photo's submitted by Director Chris Turner

Gold Rt, Rendering and Windmill

2009-07-27T10:46:00.000-07:00

AppalCART's Gold Rt in front of ASU's Broyhill Inn. Look at the size of that Echinacea!

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AppalCART's Transportation Director Chris Turner proudly displays the rendering for AppalCART's future facility.

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FYI - From 1979 to 1983, Boone NC was home to the largest wind-powered electric generator in the nation.

Managed by NASA and operated by Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, the windmill was located on top of Howards Knob, and put Boone on the map for sustainable energy.

This year, Boone became a windmill city once again. The tower height is 115 ft, the blade diameter is 66 ft and the turbine produces 150,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually - or roughly enough energy to power 10 to 15 residential homes.

The windmill is the largest in North Carolina, serves as a demonstration project for all community members in the High Country, and sits at the Broyhill Inn on ASU's campus.

Facility Friday July 24th

2009-07-24T08:25:00.000-07:00

Wyatt Aldridge and AppalCART's Transportation Director Chris Turner

McCarroll Construction General Contractor Terry Davis and Chris Turner

future site of an elevator

retaining wall will be going here

AppalCART Facility Friday - June 26

2009-06-26T08:20:00.001-07:00

click and read article from the Watauga Democrat

On right, AppalCART Director Chris Turner director@appalcart.com

the General Contractor is now on site

2009-06-16T12:28:00.000-07:00

from GoBlueRidge.Net
from Winston-Salem Journal
June 16, 2009. McCarroll Construction's General Contractor is now on the site and at work for AppalCART's new transit facility.

An old septic tank from the Burley Warehouse was discovered. The plan is to pump it out, break it up, and haul it to the landfill.

General Contractor Terry Davis

stay tuned!

submitted by Secretary Joanna Wilcox

Pre-Construction Meeting June 2, 2009

2009-06-02T08:11:00.000-07:00

Big Day at AppalCART! a pre-construction meeting for our new facility held in AppalCART's conference room. In attendance: AppalCART's Transportation Director Chris Turner, now going counterclockwise, Architect David Patrick Moses, Municipal Engineering Alan Crees, McCarroll Construction Bob Garren, McCarroll Construction Keith Hensley, McCarroll Constructruction Gerald Davis, ASU Engineer and Project Manager Patrick Beville. By telephone was NCDOT-PTD's Nancy Painter.

Clockwise - Gerald Davis, Keith Hensley, Bob Garren, Alan Crees, David Patrick Moses

Patrick Beville, Gerald Davis, Keith Hensley

Alan Crees, David Patrick Moses, Chris Turner

Keith Hensley and Bob Garren

Chris Turner amd Patrick Beville

David Patrick Moses ended the meeting on a positive note, expressing that it is an exciting day especially for those that have already been involved in getting this far with the new facility plans and emphasizing the importance of teamwork needed throughout the project.

Submitted by AppalCART Secretary Joanna Wilcox

Lena rides to WWCC on the AppalCART

2009-05-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

Tuesday May 12, 2009 - Lena Norris went to the Western Watauga Community Center located in Cove Creek on the AppalCART.

Coming out of her Tater Hill home.

AppalCART Driver and Cove Creek native, Steve Combs assists Lena into the van.

Lena Norris

Lena arriving at Western Watauga Community Center. Steve lends her a hand.

Steve even carries her pocketbook.

WWCC phone # 828.297-5195

Activities are:

Arts and Crafts Classes and Guilds
Trips and Picnics

Support Groups

Health Screenings
Fitness and Health Promotions
Educational Opportunities
High Country Senior Games
Medical Loan Closet

Reserved Space for Community Activities

Young At Heart Newsletter

Employment Information Assistance

Recreational Activities

AARP's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
Seniors Health Ins Info (SHIP)

Volunteer Placement Activities

Transportation

Information and Referral

Advocacy for rights and benefits of older adults

Retirement Planning Information

Intergenerational Activities

Volunteer Services: chore, friendly, visiting, telephone reassurance

Always willing to lend a helping hand is Toni Wait who is the long-time Director of the Western Watauga Community Center. toni.wait@ncmail.net

Also, many competitive hours of Rook is played at WWCC.

Pedestrian killed on U.S. 421

2009-04-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

http://www.wataugademocrat.com/2009/0413/0413pedestriankilled.php

Pedestrian killed on U.S. 421
By Melanie Marshall

A pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle Friday evening on U.S. 421.

Tammy Sue Wagner, 46, of 2710 U.S. 421, Boone, was standing in the westbound lane of traffic near the intersection of George Wilson Road. This section of roadway is directly in front of her residence.Wagner was struck at 8:42 p.m. by a 2001 Audi passenger car, driven by Sharon Anderson Carlton of Sugar Grove.

Trooper G.A. Johnson of the N.C. Highway Patrol said bystanders told him Wagner had been standing in the road for several minutes and one person had tried to physical remove her from the roadway.

In the eastbound lane, an AppalCART bus had come to a stop and the driver, was sounding the horn and flashing the headlights in an attempt to warn oncoming motorists of Wagner’s presence. Other motorists had swerved to miss her prior to the accident, according to witnesses.Johnson said heavy rain and low visibility were contributing factors. Carlton was not cited in the accident.

The NCHP said Wagner had been drinking alcohol and that intoxication was a likely factor in the accident. Watauga Medics responded to the scene. CPR was performed on Wagner prior to transport to the Watauga Medical Center. She was pronounced dead at the emergency room.

Hello World!

2009-03-24T06:14:00.001-07:00

Christopher Wisam Lazim was born at 6:09 PM Sunday March 22, 2009 at Blount County Memorial Hospital in Maryville, Tennessee. Rachel and Wisam named the baby after Rachel's father, AppalCART's Director Chris Turner, and her husband, Wisam Lazim.

Snow Photo's

2009-03-03T13:09:00.000-08:00

our own Ed Ponton went cruising with his buddies in the big March 2nd snow. This was the photo-of-the-day over at Ray's Weather.
"I know you don't usually put up pictures with people in them - but I thought you would enjoy this one. My buddies and I were out driving on Andy Hicks Rd. near Banner Elk. We were the first ones to make it all the way through after getting stuck and digging for an hour and a half" Sent in by Ed Ponton.

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Monday March 2, 2009 some of the employees made it in, although ASU was closed and therefore AppalCART was closed. However, a few of the kidney dialysis patients were transported for their treatments.

Don't they look like the cover band for some washed-up-old-band? :-)
Roger Dotson, Tom Gates, Louis Ogletree, Troy Greer in the dispatch office.

Amother Motley Crew,
Allen Culler, Bill Sheffield, B.A. Arnette, Terry Wolfe in the Shop Manager's office.

Director Chris Turner.

Wed Feb 25, 09 Prequalified bidders meeting

2009-02-26T06:46:00.000-08:00

held at the Watauga County Library in Boone, NC at 1:30PM.
11 of the 12 that prequalified contractors were present.

Project Manager and ASU Engineer Patrick Beville
AppalCART Director Chris Turner
DOT DBE Utilization Engineer Michael McKoy
Architect for the project, David Patrick Moses (leaning over talking to Randi)
DOT architect Randi Taylor
DOT-PTD Financial Management Specialist Nancy Painter

the panel takes turns addressing the group and answering questions

Project Manager and ASU Engineer Patrick Beville

I would like to see a nice green space. Landscape with the running water. Some picnic tables.

LIVING OFF THE LAND. We made a discovery when we visited the property, we have residents living in a tent.

Architect for the project, David Patrick Moses and AppalCART Director Chris Turner listening to Project Manager and ASU Engineer Patrick Beville.

will be adding DPM's minutes to this post

submitted by Secretary Joanna Wilcox

Kathleen Moore - Hooked on Rugs Part2

2009-02-26T06:42:00.000-08:00

Kathleen Moore, one of our seniors that rides the van to Cove Creek Project on Aging, hooked us another rug. In the photo below, she is presenting the rug to Mike Norwood. We paid her $100. We now have it proudly displayed in our lobby. Thank you so much Kathleen!

Deep Freeze, Snow and the Wolves

2009-02-05T08:04:00.000-08:00

Director Chris Turner took the photo and I put a filter on it.

Wednesday and Thursday we started bus routes at 9:00AM while ASU began classes on Wednesday at 10:00AM and Thursday at 11:00AM. Road have been slick and we've been in a deep freeze - single digits and down to zero. Wednesday we had only flurries during the day, but late in the day and overnight light snow returned and was held on stubbornly. Accumulating snow is over now, only flurries remain for a few hours this morning. Temperatures will be cold today and tonight, but higher elevations will begin to "mild up" overnight. The next front will is expected next Thursday. We can expect mild weather to continue with rain possible Wednesday night and Thursday. Cooler weather will follow this front. The next round of cold weather looks post-Valentine's Day.

Here's the Wolves. Nice Wolves. One of our mechanics, Terry Wolfe, is pictured with his son, Jackson on Tuesday February 3, 2009. Photo by Chris Turner.

Blog post by Secretary Joanna Wilcox

Kathleen Moore - Hooked on Rugs

2009-02-02T09:59:00.000-08:00

Driver Louis Ogletree reported that one of our senior passengers, Kathleen Moore, hooked a rug with an AppalCART van and it was hanging at the Western Watauga Community Center. Trainer Tim Townsend quickly purchased the the rug below from Kathleen and it now hangs on display in his office.

AppalCART management has now commissioned a rug from Kathleen which will be on display in AppalCART's lobby. Monday February 2, 2009, Kathleen rode our Rt. 6 to the Community Center and I met her there and took a few photo's. She is now working on this larger piece for our lobby.

Kathleen actually teaches the Monday rug-hooking class. Margaret Oliver is on the left. Shirley Frierson is in the brown sweater and Cheryl Roberts in orange.

Kathleen helping Shirley with her flag and the bears are also a project of Kathleen's.

Kathleen makes her own hooking tools and this is one of her favorite books.

If you've never been to the Western Watauga Community Center in Sugar Grove, you should certainly stop by, it very nice inside, and includes a library.

Submitted by Secretary Joanna Wilcox

appalcart@appalcart.com

www.appalcart.com

AppalCART Photo

2009-01-28T12:02:00.000-08:00

AppalCART's blogging Secretary Joanna Wilcox
and Driver Lisa Wendt.
photo by Director Chris Turner Jan 26, 2009

AppalCART Rug

2009-01-27T04:40:00.000-08:00

One of the ladies at Cove Creek's Project on Aging, Kathleen Moore, hooked this rug. It was on display at the Center and Trainer Tim Townsend paid Ms. Moore $40, so now it's on display in Tim's office. We hope to get a larger one made for the new AppalCART facility lobby.

MLK Day, snow in Watauga, NC

2009-01-19T12:35:00.000-08:00

the paratransit van arrives at Chuck Mettam's house

Chuck's wife, Gina, has been clearing snow. She hollers to me, "Keith is a keeper."

Driver Keith South extends a hand to our passenger, Chuck.

Our drivers not only drive but give a helping hand.

Keith gives Chuck an escort to the van.

over the river and through the woods, to the grocery store they go

Keith gets Chuck safely back home.

submitted by Joanna Wilcox, AppalCART's Secretary
http://www.appalcart.com/ = website
828.264.2278 = phone

January 19, 2009 Snow in Boone

2009-01-19T12:21:00.000-08:00

Driver Larry Wheeler

Van downtown Boone

Green Rt on Old Bristol Rd

Downtown Boone

ASU's Convocation Building

POP105 heading up to University Highlands Apartments.

Green Rt in downtown Boone.

AppalCART's Christmas Lunch

2008-12-19T11:03:00.000-08:00

Roger and Lisa put their heads together and came up with the idea.
Everybody chipped in for a Christmas Lunch on Friday Dec 19, 08.

Stephen Howard - Priceless

Mike Norwood, Bill Sheffield, Brad Indicott

Matt Williams

Dennis Walker

Joe Preston

Terry Norris and Randall Flecther

Tim McGuire

John Kirk and Lisa Wendt

John Kirk and John Eggers

John Kirk, Roger Dotson, Troy Greer, Tim McGuire

Brad Indicott

Troy Greer and Dennis Walker

Troy Greer and Randall Fletcher

Troy Greer and Roger Dotson

Logan Freeman checks his muscle tone after eating Joanna's
potato salad, Jim Harrison looks on.

John Eggers

Roger Dotson

Charlie Cook

Michelle Brewer and Stephen Howard

Michelle Brewer and Roger Dotson

Michelle Brewer, our hostess with the most-est.
Thank you Michelle!

Dec 18th Sunrise by CDT

2008-12-18T14:03:00.000-08:00

If you were up early enough on Thursday Dec 18, 08, like Transportation Director Chris Turner was for his 60th Birthday, you would have seen this view from the AppalCART office.

ROAP Meeting 12/12/08

2008-12-12T12:03:00.000-08:00

Transportation Director Chris Turner led the meeting.

Project on Aging Director and AppalCART Board Member, Angie Boitnotte
Watauga County Finance Director, Doris Isaacs
Watauga Dept of Social Services Social Worker Supervisor III , Kedith England
absent were: Watauga Opportunities Michael Maybee and a Rep from Mental Health

Rural Operating Assistance Program. County agencies are alloted monies from the NCDOT to try new public transportation routes for their clients. December is the 1/2 way mark in the Fiscal Year, and Directors met to see how expenditures were going.

AppalCART's Public Forum 12/10/08

2008-12-12T04:36:00.000-08:00

Transportation Director Chris Turner

AppalCART Board Members left to right
Chair Jerry Moretz, Vice Chair Greg Lovins, Stephen Phillips
and Watauga Democrat's Scott Nicholson

AppalCART plans 2009 changes amid state, local budget constraints
By Scott Nicholson Watauga Democrat

AppalCART, the local public-transit authority, is gearing up for possible changes in the next fiscal year.AppalCART held a public forum on route plans that would take effect in August. The hearing at the Watauga County Public Library in Boone drew little input but allowed AppalCART director Chris Turner an opportunity to talk about funding, increased numbers of riders and expansion of the bus fleet. Turner said any plans were dependent on funding levels and grant applications through the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Chris Turner
“Anything we say today is dependent on the outcome of funding,” Turner said. The transportation authority started in 1981, with 9,886 rider trips in its first month of operation. That has grown to a record 179,476 riders in October, with over a million riders so far this year. The annual number of route miles has increased from 277,000 the first full year to 620,000 last year.Turner said he’d asked his staff about the need for interest was generated along the Green Route because of growth east of Boone. Turner said the increased numbers of riders and stops had led to some delays in running time, so AppalCART proposes to shorten the route.It currently starts at Wood Circle and goes downtown before looping around George Wilson Road, essentially orbiting Boone. Turner proposed removing the stop at Brookshire Park and Industrial Park Drive to shorten the route’s duration.AppalCART also proposes to add a second bus on the Orange Route and extend its hours. “That’s a major increase in service,” he said, with a second route requiring 15,000 gallons of biodiesel fuel to cover 60,000 additional miles of service. Fuel and driver costs would be significant, he said, but the route was needed because it would take some of the pressure off the Green Route. Turner said one of the reasons for increased frequency of the routes was the pending roadwork on King Street, which is scheduled to begin in April. “Any gains (in time) we make here may be offset by highway construction,” Turner said.AppalCART is ordering an all-wheel drive van, which Turner said was desperately needed to help carry people to medical appointments. One minivan will be replaced this year, and the fleet will have 16 rear-engine buses and 30 total vehicles next year. “That’s about as big as we can get with the space we’ve got,” Turner said.AppalCART is planning a new transfer station and facility on NC 105, with property and plans ready and the project awaiting funding. Turner said the new facility would allow the fleet to expand and create more service bays for garage maintenance. He said estimating fuel costs next year would be tricky, since energy costs have fluctuated wildly this year. He said with the recent decline in fuel prices, the budgeted amount for last year would nearly match the average cost at around $2.77 per gallon for biodiesel and gasoline. The authority gets its money from the Federal Highway Fund, with contributions from Appalachian State University, the town of Boone and Watauga County. The transit authority began offering no-fare rides to everyone a couple of years ago, leading to an escalation in ridership.Turner said typically ridership peaks at the beginning of the university semester, but then declines a little as students adjust their schedules.He said larger apartment complexes of over 400 units would be needed to create a new route or a bus stop in an unserved area.Turner estimated it would cost more tham $100,000 to add the second run for the Orange Route, which doesn’t include capital costs for a new vehicle. He also said the transit authority had a mission to represent the entire community, not just Appalachian State University students.The funding applications are likely to arrive in January 2009. AppalCART will then begin making final route plans for the next fiscal year.

The AppalCART office is decorated

2008-12-05T06:20:00.000-08:00

Thanks to our Route Supervisor Michelle Brewer, the AppalCART office is decorated for Christmas. When Michelle was hired at AppalCART, she was fresh from San Antonio, Texas. She's a full-fledged mountain girl now though.

Michelle finished decorating the Finance office window.

On to the Dispatch window. Dispatch is the hub at AppalCART, it's where the action is and Tom Gates is one of four dispatchers

and Tom does his job with a smile. He's been with AppalCART for 28 years! Started while he was in his rocking and rolling years, drumming for different bands.

Drivers Matt Williams and Tim McGuire sit by AppalCART's Christmas Tree.

Actually Matt is a Christmas Tree grower in Ashe County, and he also raises pumpkins.

Tim, as a hobby, has beehives. He's a 24-year Safe Driver - all those years without a preventable accident while driving AppalCART buses. Wow!

The Air Force flew in to AppalCART.

2008-12-03T15:09:00.000-08:00

Two of our drivers talking about the military days.
Both of these drivers are retired from the Air Force,
John Longo and John Eggers.

Snow, ASU Football Champs, and photo's

2008-12-01T07:59:00.000-08:00

Check out Marie's great action photo. With Appalachian’s win over South Carolina State Saturday, the Apps have a quarterfinals date with the Richmond Spiders this Saturday at noon at Kidd Brewer Stadium. The Apps met Richmond in last year’s semifinals and the Mountaineers came away with a 55-35 win. Because of television coverage, ESPN has set the times for all games in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. What television channels on which the game will be carried have not been released. David Jackson and Steve Brown will begin their live coverage of the game Saturday morning at 10:00 on AM 1450 WATA.

AppalCART starts operating for the noon football game against Richmond at 8:30AM Saturday Dec 6, 08. With kickoff scheduled for noon, AppalCART will start all routes at 8:30 AM and run until two hours after the game ends or approximately 5:00 PM. AppalCART will be running the Red, Green, POP105 bus one, the Pink, Purple, Orange, State Farm Shuttle, and modified Blue Route which runs from the Watauga Human Services Center to the ASU Music Building stop on Bodenheimer Drive. People with disability placards needing transportation are encouraged to park in the lots on the Faculty Street side of the Holmes Convocation Center where AppalCART will pick them up and take them up Stadium Drive using lift equipped vans. AppalCART's website is http://www.appalcart.com/ has all the routes on it.

Passengers Boarding the Pink Rt on Monday morning Dec 1, 2008. See Parents, they're going to classes.

Driver for the day is happy-go-lucky Stephen Howard.

Let's go decorate this tree.

Wed Nov 26. 08 START YOUR ENGINES

2008-11-26T05:39:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving, we're closed Thursday and Friday, be back Saturday.

Tues 11/25/08

2008-11-25T06:35:00.000-08:00

Friday Nov 21, 08 4th snow of the season

2008-11-21T09:52:00.000-08:00

Weather conditions started out quite slick this morning and AppalCART was on a one-hour delay. Appalachian State University classes were on a two-hour delay.

Brad Indicott

Larry Wheeler

Amy Ashley

Kurt Johnson