May 2026: The City of Asheville installs a high-visibility crosswalk at the Pinchot Drive / Red Fox Circle all-way stop — where the crossing guard works during arrival and dismissal. Committed and delivered within days.
Four schools. One dangerous corridor. Three school bus crashes in just over a year. NCDOT crash data shows Overlook Road at 3.2 times the statewide average for roads of its type.
The City of Asheville, NCDOT, the Sheriff’s Office, and Buncombe County Schools are now actively coordinating on this corridor. But we’ve hit a wall: North Carolina has no state funding pathway for traffic safety at existing schools. Your state legislators need to hear from you.
Three school bus crashes in just over a year. Over half of all crashes occur during school arrival and dismissal. Zero crashes on Saturdays. 65% concentrated at one intersection — Long Shoals and Overlook. 2025 was the most severe year on record.
Source: NCDOT TEAAS Study #41000078494 · Delivered March 10, 2026
May 2026: The City of Asheville installs a high-visibility crosswalk at the Pinchot Drive / Red Fox Circle all-way stop — where the crossing guard works during arrival and dismissal. Committed and delivered within days.
School dismissal congestion on Overlook Road is pushing drivers through Biltmore Park and surrounding streets to reach I-26. These routes were never meant for cut-through volume — and they’re creating new hazards blocks from the schools.
Residents report vehicles running the stop sign at Woodvine & Pinchot — a direct result of cut-through drivers using the neighborhood as a shortcut.
If you live on any of these streets, your voice matters — email your state legislators using the button above.
Multiple agencies are now working on this corridor. Here’s what’s delivered, what’s pending, and where the gap is.
✓ In progress: Pinchot crosswalk delivered (May). BCS parking lot rework (summer 2026). NCDOT MSTA re-examination ongoing. City investigating spot enforcement and north-side parking restrictions.
To: All 5 Buncombe County legislators (see NC General Assembly Contacts below)
Subject: School Traffic Safety — Funding Gap for Existing Schools
To: robert.jackson@bcsemail.org
CC: Full Board of Education (see BCS Board Contacts below)
Subject: School Traffic Safety — MSTA Study Implementation
To: ashevillenccouncil@ashevillenc.gov
Subject: School Traffic Safety — Follow Through on March 26 Commitments
Under GS 136-18(29a), NCDOT reimburses traffic safety improvements for new or expanding schools — but there is no equivalent for existing schools. These are your state legislators who can change that.
NC House
| Name | District |
|---|---|
| Eric Ager (D) | District 114 |
| Lindsey Prather (D) | District 115 |
| Brian Turner (D) | District 116 |
NC Senate
| Name | District |
|---|---|
| Warren Daniel (R) | District 46 |
| Julie Mayfield (D) | District 49 |
South Asheville falls in multiple districts. The “Email State Legislators” button above sends to all five.
Superintendent: Robert Jackson
| Name | District |
|---|---|
| Rob Elliot (Chair) | District 3 |
| Kim Plemmons (Vice-Chair) | District 6 |
| Ann Franklin | District 1 |
| Greg Cheatham | District 2 |
| Amy Churchill ★ | District 4 |
| Judy Lewis | District 5 |
| Charles Martin ★ | At-Large |
★ Amy Churchill and Charles Martin have been actively engaged on school traffic safety in this corridor.
Email all at once: ashevillenccouncil@ashevillenc.gov
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Esther Manheimer | Mayor |
| Antanette Mosley ★★ | Vice Mayor |
| Kim Roney ★★ | Council Member |
| Bo Hess ★★ | Council Member |
| Sheneika Smith | Council Member |
| Sage Turner | Council Member |
| Maggie Ullman | Council Member |
★★ Vice Mayor Mosley connected us with the City Manager’s Office. Kim Roney has personally visited the school corridor and is actively engaged. Bo Hess was engaged at the March 26 committee meeting and pushed for concrete solutions.
Pinchot and Springside are City roads. Overlook and Long Shoals are NCDOT. Schools are Buncombe County. No single agency owns the full problem — make sure none of them can point at the others.
| Commissioner | District |
|---|---|
| Amanda Edwards | Chair |
| Al Whitesides | District 1 |
| Jennifer Horton | District 1 |
| Martin Moore | District 2 |
| Terri Wells | District 2 |
| Daryl Ball | District 3 |
| Parker Sloan | District 3 |
The data is in. On March 10, 2026, NCDOT delivered official crash data from the state’s TEAAS database for this corridor. The numbers confirm what this community has been saying.
Overlook Road (Long Shoals to Springside/Pinchot, 0.55 miles): 58 crashes in four years. 34 injuries. $398,700 in property damage. Crash rate: 742 per 100 million vehicle miles — 3.2 times the NC statewide average. Left-turn collisions account for over half of all crashes. Over half of all crashes occur during the school arrival and dismissal window (7–9 AM, 2–4 PM). Zero crashes on Saturdays — this is a school-day pattern. 65% of crashes are concentrated at the Long Shoals/Overlook intersection. 2025 was the most severe year on record for injuries (16) and property damage ($150,300).
Long Shoals/Overlook Intersection: 56 crashes. 31 injuries. $349,000 in damage. Left turns and rear-end collisions account for 71% of crashes at this intersection. On April 23, 2025, a car traveling 45 MPH struck a school bus making a left turn at 7:01 AM during school arrival (Crash #108122853) — one injury.
Springside Road (Hendersonville Rd to Overlook, 0.8 miles): 18 crashes. 9 injuries. $192,500 in damage. Crash rate: 513 per 100 million VMT — 2.2 times the statewide average.
Pinchot Drive (Overlook to Holt/Woodvine, 0.32 miles): 5 reported crashes plus the January 30, 2026 bus collision (not yet in the database). Crash rate: 335 per 100 million VMT — 1.4 times the statewide average for a residential street.
Source: NCDOT TEAAS Studies #41000078494, #41000078493, #41000078495, #41000078522 · Period: Jan 2022–Dec 2025 · NC statewide average: 233 per 100 MVMT
Download Source Data (PDF)
Overlook Road · 58 crashes · 15 pages
Long Shoals / Overlook Intersection · 56 crashes · 13 pages
Springside Road · 18 crashes · 11 pages
Pinchot Drive · 5 crashes · 8 pages
Official NCDOT Traffic Engineering Accident Analysis System reports. Unmodified.
April 30, 2026 — Third Corridor Bus Crash on Long Shoals
A rear-end chain collision in a 35 MPH school zone on NC 146 (Long Shoals Road) near Miami Circle involved two school buses with students on board. The chain began when traffic stopped for a third school bus that was loading children on the opposite side of the highway. Asheville Police Department responded and filed crash report #26010012. This is the third bus-involved crash documented in this corridor in just over a year — following the April 23, 2025 crash at Long Shoals/Overlook and the January 30, 2026 crash on Pinchot Drive. Two of the three have now occurred on NCDOT-maintained NC 146.
May 2026 — Crosswalk Delivered, City Engagement Deepens
The City of Asheville installed a high-visibility crosswalk at Pinchot Drive and Red Fox Circle — where the crossing guard helps students cross during arrival and dismissal. The commitment was made and delivered within days. Vice Mayor Antanette Mosley and Assistant City Manager Jade Dundas attended the Biltmore Park HOA Safety Committee meeting on May 6 and committed to investigate spot parking enforcement and discuss parking restrictions on the north side of Pinchot Drive. Observations during afternoon dismissal show the new no-parking signage is being respected on the south side of Pinchot, while compliance is worsening on the north side, and students are still seen crossing the road outside the crosswalk.
April 16, 2026 — Multi-Agency Site Visit at Estes Elementary
NCDOT Division 13, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, the Asheville Police Department, Buncombe County Schools facilities, a school board member, and Principal Pinkerton walked the Estes campus together. BCS committed to reworking the parking lot this summer. NCDOT is going back to their MSTA study team to re-examine recommendations and address gaps in Koontz-to-Estes traffic flow. NCDOT district staff are exploring turn lane funding eligibility. Public comment was delivered at the FBR MPO board meeting the same day.
April 2026 — City Engages on Pinchot
Assistant City Manager Jade Dundas confirmed crosswalk visibility improvements at Pinchot Drive. The high-visibility crosswalk was installed in early May (see card above).
April 2026 — State Funding Gap Identified
During the site visit, NCDOT confirmed that state funding for turn lane improvements is only available if the school is expanding — not for existing safety problems. Under GS 136-18(29a), NCDOT reimburses highway improvements for new or expanding schools. There is no equivalent for existing schools. This is a statewide structural barrier, not just a local problem.
March 26, 2026 — Public Safety Committee Hearing
The committee heard the corridor. City traffic engineer committed to an enhanced crosswalk on Pinchot Drive as early as April. Parking restrictions and flashing crosswalk beacon were declined. APD presented speed studies and framed the issue as a school operations problem. Sheriff Quentin Miller attended and was the strongest voice pushing for urgent action. Multi-agency working group committed to continued meetings with community participation. NCDOT Division 13 MPO review was referenced in public comment. Both the Biltmore Park HOA and Oak Forest HOA submitted formal letters of support.
March 19, 2026 — State Traffic Study Confirms Failing Intersections
An NCDOT Traffic Operations Study completed in October 2025 examined all four schools and the surrounding road network. Key findings: multiple intersections along Overlook Road already received a failing grade for traffic flow — the worst rating possible. Long Shoals Road at Overlook, which carries 38,000 cars a day, is expected to get worse. The study recommends rerouting Estes car rider traffic off Overlook Road — but the recommendation was shelved because of funding.
March 10, 2026 — NCDOT Crash Data Delivered
NCDOT’s official crash database confirms Overlook Road’s crash rate is 3.2 times the statewide average. 58 crashes, 34 injuries, nearly $400,000 in damage — over half during school hours. Full data in “Official Crash Data” above.
March 9, 2026 — Your Emails Are Working
Council is hearing you. Council Member Kim Roney has personally visited the corridor during peak hours and confirmed Council is receiving significant community contact.
Earlier: City Manager’s Office workgroup convened (March 2) · APD enforcement response (Feb 24) · Traffic calming study formally initiated (Feb 2026)
What happened on April 30?
A rear-end chain collision occurred on Long Shoals Road in a 35 MPH school zone, involving two school buses with children on board. The chain began when traffic stopped for a third school bus that was loading students. Asheville Police Department responded and filed the crash report (#26010012). This is the third bus-involved crash documented in this corridor in just over a year.
What happened on April 16?
NCDOT, the Sheriff’s Office, APD, Buncombe County Schools, a school board member, and the Estes principal walked the campus together. BCS committed to reworking the parking lot this summer. NCDOT is re-examining its own study recommendations. Public comment was delivered at the FBR MPO board meeting the same day.
What happened in May?
The City installed a high-visibility crosswalk at the Pinchot Drive / Red Fox Circle all-way stop — where the crossing guard helps students cross. Vice Mayor Antanette Mosley and Assistant City Manager Jade Dundas attended the Biltmore Park HOA Safety Committee meeting on May 6 and committed to investigate spot parking enforcement and discuss parking restrictions on the north side of Pinchot Drive.
Why are we now emailing state legislators?
During the multi-agency work on this corridor, we discovered a structural gap in state law. Under GS 136-18(29a), NCDOT reimburses traffic safety improvements when a school is new or expanding. But for existing schools with existing problems, there is no state funding pathway. This affects every school in North Carolina with a dangerous corridor — not just ours. State legislators can fix this.
Is this a city, county, or state issue?
All three — which is why it hasn’t been fixed. Pinchot and Springside are City roads. Overlook and Long Shoals are NCDOT. Schools are Buncombe County. And the funding rules are set by the NC General Assembly. Every level of government has a role.
I don’t have kids at these schools. Does this affect me?
Yes — if you live in Biltmore Park or nearby. Cut-through school traffic is now using residential streets to reach I-26, with stop sign violations reported at Woodvine and Pinchot.
Will one email really make a difference?
Yes. State legislators track constituent contacts. And this ask isn’t just about our corridor — it’s about every school in North Carolina with the same structural barrier. Your email helps build the case for a statewide fix.
What’s a realistic timeline?
The Pinchot crosswalk is delivered. The Estes parking lot rework is planned for this summer. NCDOT is actively re-examining study recommendations. The May 7 BCS meeting is a presentation of the capacity study, not a vote on expansion — turn lane funding eligibility under GS 136-18(29a) is a longer-term process. The state funding gap itself is a legislative fix — a longer timeline, but one that starts with constituent voices reaching Raleigh now.
We’ll send updates as commitments are tracked and next steps develop.