PACE scholars partner to bring more transportation to Salisbury
SALISBURY, Md. – Transportation is expanding in Salisbury through Shore Transit.
Students at Salisbury University came up with a plan for easier access for underserved communities. “Everybody in the community, especially the marginalized community, the Hispanic community, and the Haitian community on the West side so they can have equitable transportation to go to work wherever they want to go,” said Andersen Herman, a student organizer.
PACE Scholars at Salisbury University conducted a study finding out that there was a need for more transportation. “While talking to some Haitian individuals, they said they don’t have transportation access to work,” said Herman.
And creating better access, the students along with the City of Salisbury and Shore Transit came up with a plan: “To find out what the community actually needed the students was able to have feet on the ground throughout the community at the Third Friday events to find out what the residents wanted in the area and they found out that they wanted a bus stop at this location,” said Jon Wilson, Transportation Project Manager for the City of Salisbury.
The bus stop is on Cypress Street in front of the Save A Lot, a predominantly Haitian neighborhood. “So the bus stop is a way for them to have a transport to go to work and especially to the Haitian community because the language barrier can sometimes be a problem when it comes to “what do you need?” and then they don’t understand because they don’t speak English,” said Stephora Cesar Alberi, a student organizer.
The students hope this can build a bridge connecting Salisbury and marginalized communities. “We’re expecting a huge impact in the community, so now people that have been affected on the West side with no bus stop were able to, they’re able to get back to work and be able to get to work more safely through the bus stop,” said LaMaree James, a student organizer.
Currently, Shore Transit is hiring Creole-speaking drivers. To see those job listings, you can visit Shore Transit’s website.
