diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/data/_async/client.py b/google/cloud/bigtable/data/_async/client.py
index c60ff4144..b348057c5 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/data/_async/client.py
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/data/_async/client.py
@@ -88,8 +88,9 @@
     DEFAULT_CLIENT_INFO,
     BigtableAsyncClient,
 )
-from google.cloud.bigtable_v2.services.bigtable.client import BigtableClientMeta
-from google.cloud.bigtable_v2.services.bigtable.transports import BigtableGrpcAsyncIOTransport
+from google.cloud.bigtable_v2.services.bigtable.transports import (
+    BigtableGrpcAsyncIOTransport,
+)
 from google.cloud.bigtable_v2.types.bigtable import PingAndWarmRequest
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ def __init__(
         client_options: dict[str, Any]
         | "google.api_core.client_options.ClientOptions"
         | None = None,
-        **kwargs
+        **kwargs,
     ):
         """
         Create a client instance for the Bigtable Data API
@@ -163,9 +164,13 @@ def __init__(
             credentials=credentials,
             client_options=client_options,
             client_info=client_info,
-            transport=lambda *args, **kwargs: BigtableGrpcAsyncIOTransport(*args, **kwargs, channel=custom_channel)
+            transport=lambda *args, **kwargs: BigtableGrpcAsyncIOTransport(
+                *args, **kwargs, channel=custom_channel
+            ),
+        )
+        self.transport = cast(
+            BigtableGrpcAsyncIOTransport, self._gapic_client.transport
         )
-        self.transport = self._gapic_client.transport
         # keep track of active instances to for warmup on channel refresh
         self._active_instances: Set[_WarmedInstanceKey] = set()
         # keep track of table objects associated with each instance
@@ -235,7 +240,7 @@ async def _ping_and_warm_instances(
         instance_list = (
             [instance_key] if instance_key is not None else self._active_instances
         )
-        ping_rpc = self.transport._grpc_channel.unary_unary(
+        ping_rpc = self.transport.grpc_channel.unary_unary(
             "/google.bigtable.v2.Bigtable/PingAndWarm",
             request_serializer=PingAndWarmRequest.serialize,
         )
@@ -294,8 +299,8 @@ async def _manage_channel(
             await asyncio.sleep(next_sleep)
             start_timestamp = time.time()
             # prepare new channel for use
-            old_channel = self.transport._grpc_channel
-            new_channel = self.transport_create_channel()
+            old_channel = self.transport.grpc_channel
+            new_channel = self.transport.create_channel()
             await self._ping_and_warm_instances()
             # cycle channel out of use, with long grace window before closure
             self.transport._grpc_channel = new_channel
diff --git a/tests/unit/data/_async/test_client.py b/tests/unit/data/_async/test_client.py
index 32338a817..c6ad1995f 100644
--- a/tests/unit/data/_async/test_client.py
+++ b/tests/unit/data/_async/test_client.py
@@ -117,7 +117,6 @@ async def test_ctor_super_inits(self):
                 # test gapic superclass init was called
                 assert bigtable_client_init.call_count == 1
                 kwargs = bigtable_client_init.call_args[1]
-                assert kwargs["transport"] == transport_str
                 assert kwargs["credentials"] == credentials
                 assert kwargs["client_options"] == options_parsed
                 # test mixin superclass init was called
@@ -193,9 +192,7 @@ async def test__start_background_channel_refresh_task_exists(self):
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
     async def test__start_background_channel_refresh(self):
         # should create background tasks for each channel
-        client = self._make_one(
-            project="project-id", use_emulator=False
-        )
+        client = self._make_one(project="project-id", use_emulator=False)
         ping_and_warm = AsyncMock()
         client._ping_and_warm_instances = ping_and_warm
         client._start_background_channel_refresh()
@@ -203,7 +200,7 @@ async def test__start_background_channel_refresh(self):
         assert isinstance(client._channel_refresh_task, asyncio.Task)
         await asyncio.sleep(0.1)
         assert ping_and_warm.call_count == 1
-        ping_and_warm.assert_any_call(client.transport._grpc_channel)
+        ping_and_warm.assert_any_call(client.transport.grpc_channel)
         await client.close()
 
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
@@ -212,9 +209,7 @@ async def test__start_background_channel_refresh(self):
     )
     async def test__start_background_channel_refresh_task_names(self):
         # if tasks exist, should do nothing
-        client = self._make_one(
-            project="project-id", use_emulator=False
-        )
+        client = self._make_one(project="project-id", use_emulator=False)
         name = client._channel_refresh_task.get_name()
         assert "BigtableDataClientAsync channel refresh" in name
         await client.close()