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RIVERSIDE, CA — June 21, 2010 — Murrieta has a new bus shelter thanks to a little help from an unexpected group of people.
In an effort to promote public transportation, members of the Murrieta 4-H Club spent nearly six months raising $5,500 to build the covered bus shelter on Juniper Street between Jefferson and Adams avenues near the Murrieta Senior Center, City Hall and public library. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at noon on Wednesday, June 23.
Raising the money wasn’t easy, according to Sheyanne Stewart, an advisor to the 4-H group that consisted of children ages five to 11. The small group picked up trash, held a bake sale, organized a petting zoo and sold donuts and coffee at 4-H events. Their efforts were propelled by private donors and a Kohl’s of Menifee grant.
“This project was an extension of what our kids were learning about the environment and going green,” Stewart said. “And what a better way to go green than riding the bus?”
Until recently, the Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) bus stop consisted of a single bench and a pole that held a kiosk with bus route schedules. The new covered shelter will protect customers from the summer heat and occasional rain. The stop is served by Route 23, which connects nearby to CommuterLink express routes 202 and 206.
The project started in August 2009 when Stewart floated the idea past Temecula Mayor Jeff Comerchero and Murrieta City Councilman Doug McAllister, who both sit on the RTA Board of Directors. The two helped Stewart work through the process and identify a suitable location for the shelter.
“We knew that it was a great opportunity to get young people involved in a great cause,” said Comerchero, who is Chairman of the RTA Board of Directors. “This was truly a success story that will make a positive impact on the community.”
During the months when the group was working to raise the money, RTA began examining ways to help pay for the project if the kids fell short of their goal. In the end, the group didn’t need any assistance from RTA, and they managed to single-handedly raise the money and make the project a reality.
“This is a testament of the power of grassroots leadership,” McAllister said. “They couldn’t have picked a more relevant or beneficial cause.”
The Riverside Transit Agency provides public transportation for Western Riverside County, operating 37 fixed routes, 8 express routes and Dial-A-Ride service. RTA’s service area spans 2,500 square miles, the second largest in the nation. For bus route and schedule information contact RTA at (800) 800-7821 or log on to our website at RiversideTransit.com. |
