By Mark Wineka
mwineka@salisburypost.com
Residents on Lash Drive, which includes two apartment complexes, a nursing home and two senior communities, have petitioned the city to extend bus service to their street.
Mary M. Adams, who lives in an apartment off Lash Drive, estimates that some 500 families could benefit from the bus service.
“A bus stop on Lash Drive would help our residents and would definitely make them feel much more independent,” Moore said.
Salisbury bus service extends as far west as the Salisbury Mall, but Adams and Archie Reid, who lives at Laurel Pointe Circle off Lash Drive, said the Salisbury Mall bus stop is 1.25 miles from Lash Drive.
“I don’t think we’re asking for a major change,” Reid told Salisbury City Council Tuesday.
Adams said many residents in the Lash Drive area need transportation but are disabled and rely on wheelchairs and walkers.
“Most of those cannot drive and would use the bus for transportation to doctor appointments, grocery buying, shopping and other appointments,” Adams said.
The Lash Drive area includes Lakewood Apartments, Crosswinds Apartments for seniors, Fleming Heights apartments for seniors, Laurel Point Apartments and The Laurels nursing home.
“It certainly sounds like a need out there,” Mayor Pro Tem Paul Woodson said.
City Manager David Treme said the city definitely would look at changing the route but first has to seek state input on the expansion because of the funding it provides for the city bus service. He said the city is waiting on a report back from the state.
“We certainly would like to service it (Lash Drive),” Treme said. “It’s a big need.”