By Mark Wineka

mwineka@salisburypost.com

A six-month pilot project aimed at providing city bus transportation between the Hefner VA Medical Center and the Greyhound bus stop in East Spencer attracted 407 riders.

The service will continue. Cost estimates put the expanded service — which offers stops at 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday — at roughly $5,000 a year.

The times chosen coincide with Greyhound bus arrival times at Reid's Square in East Spencer.

The pilot program went from March through August.

June had the lowest ridership taking advantage of the VA Medical Center-Greyhound bus stop connection at 47 riders. July had the highest ridership at 112 passengers.

On Monday, Salisbury Transit also is expanding its service to the Catawba College campus and neighborhood as part of a new pilot project. Catawba College students using city buses will receive discounted tickets.

The three new stops in the college area will include the corners of Brenner and Corriher avenues, Brenner and Summit avenues and Summit Avenue and West Innes Street.

From Monday to Friday, the Catawba College stops will be at 7 a.m., 8 a.m., and every hour between 2 and 6 p.m. (seven total trips a day). On Saturdays, stops will be every hour between noon and 4 p.m. (five total stops).

Residents around the college also are being encouraged to take advantage of the expanded service.

It's estimated that the six-month pilot program for Catawba College will cost an additional $2,069.

Public Services Director Tony Cinquemani and Transit Manager Rodney Harrison said stops already are available near Livingstone College, but city representatives will be meeting with Livingstone officials Oct. 21 to discuss the existing stops and determine what the school's future needs are.

Salisbury Mayor Susan Kluttz said with the tough economic times, which include high gas prices, more people are seeking alternative forms of transportation. Riding city buses is good for the environment, and the city is trying to provide more service at a time when it should be expanding, Kluttz said.

City Councilman Mark Lewis said it was disappointing the city had not provided a connection to the Greyhound bus stop before the pilot project.

In other city news, the Salisbury Parks and Recreation Department has won a $2,750 Go Girl Go! grant sponsored by the Women's Sports Foundation.

The grant will go toward a city recreation program next summer called "Girls in Action."

Teri Shaw said the eight-week program will be geared toward girls 8 to 13 and will be held twice a week at the Salisbury Civic Center. It will start in June 2009 and conclude in mid August.

On the Tuesdays and Thursdays it is held, the free program will run from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and will follow the Go Girl Go! curriculum.

The girls will participate in field trips and have guest speakers, while also participating in sports activities. There is an emphasis on learning the importance of teamwork and having each girl develop her own individuality.

The program will be coordinated by six to 10 coaches, administrators and community volunteers.

The sports activities will include tennis, racquetball, weight training, swimming, dance, yoga, basketball, martial arts and softball.

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