Salisbury Transit on boards Adopt-A-Shelter program

The Salisbury Transit System (STS) has developed an Adopt-A-Shelter program for local business and organizations. According to transit officials, the program is designed to allow businesses, individuals, community organizations and schools make a difference in their neighborhoods by reporting special maintenance needs, vandalism and/or suspicious activity at community bus shelters. 

Transit staff maintains 18 bus passenger shelters/benches throughout the City of Salisbury. Maintenance involves cleaning, maintaining, repairing and upgrading the shelters to keep them clean and tidy. 

As an ‘Adopter’ in the Adopt-A-Shelter Program, groups will make regular visits to their shelter to assist in making sure it is clean, damage-free and illuminated during the evening; alerting STS of any needed shelter repairs; reporting graffiti and vandalism concerns; and otherwise making sure that STS is fully aware of any special need involving their adopted bus shelter.

  “Salisbury Transit staff makes regular visits to shelters to make sure that they are clean and damage-free,” said Rodney Harrison, Salisbury Transit director. “We believe through this Adopt-A-Shelter Program that groups such as private companies, churches, schools and civic organizations can help us to make sure those structures are sound, clean and safe for our riders.”

Organizations that adopt a shelter will receive public recognition in the community such as a specialized sign on the outside of the shelter, notification on ACCESS16 or other special acknowledgments. 

Duties as an Adopter

Participants in the Adopt-A-Shelter Program agree to adopt a bus shelter for a period of one (1) or two (2) years.

Adopters will be responsible for the following:

• Make ongoing inspections of your bus shelter, and surrounding area, to make sure it is clean, free of trash and graffiti; report any issues and concerns to Transit staff
• Report vandalism/ safety-concerns, such as shattered glass and damage to your shelter, to Transit staff for their immediate follow-up and corrective action. Stay free-and-clear of unsafe conditions at your bus shelter and leave the shattered-glass clean-up to STS
• Report bus shelter maintenance needs to Transit staff
• Once a month, visit the shelter during the evening hours to inspect for bus shelter illumination issues and report your findings to Transit staff
• Report any signs of criminal behavior and/or suspicious packages found in or around the bus shelter area to Salisbury Police
• If desired, groups may visit the shelter site to remove trash from the immediate surrounding area. Transit staff will provide your group with complimentary disposable gloves, garbage bags and safety vests

Rules and Regulations

Adopters must:

• Be 18 years or older, unless they are part of the group overseen by someone 18 years or older
• Agree to abide by the terms and conditions set forth in the Adopt-A-Shelter Agreement Form, once established as an Adopter in the Program
• Agree to adhere to all public safety rules and conduct that would normally apply to an individual in the public right-of-way, while visiting and working at your bus shelter
• Agree not to attempt any repairs to the bus shelter or any portion or component thereof
• Agree not to post any advertising materials or signs on or around the bus shelter. Any unauthorized posted materials will be removed by STS
• Agree not to alter the bus shelter unit in any way, such as painting it or adding graphics on it at any time
• Agree not to add/install any items on or around the bus shelter, such as benches, trash receptacles, lights, etc., as these will be removed by STS
• Agree not to hold events at the bus shelter, other than site visits as previously described
• Agree not to object to or interfere with any advertising displayed at the adopted bus shelter, as the advertising content is controlled solely by STS through its bus shelter advertising contractor

For more information on the Adopt-A-Shelter program, contact Jim Williams at (704) 638-5252 or via email at jawill@salisburync.gov.  Visit www.salisburync.gov/adopt-a-shelter to complete an interest form.