Shore Transit is a commuter bus service on the Lower Eastern Shore

Eastern Shore of Maryland

The Eastern Shore of Maryland is a territorial part of the U.S. state of Maryland that lies predominately on the east side of the Chesapeake Bay and consists of nine counties. The origin of term Eastern Shore was derived to distinguish a territorial part of the State of Maryland from the Western...

 of the state of Maryland

Maryland

Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...

 in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, servicing Somerset

Somerset County, Maryland

-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*53.5% White*42.3% Black*0.3% Native American*0.7% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*1.5% Other races*3.3% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...

, Wicomico

Wicomico County, Maryland

As of the census of 2010, there were 98,733 people, 37,220 households, and 24,172 families residing in the county. The population density was 261.7 people per square mile . There were 41,192 housing units at an average density of 109.2 per square mile...

, and Worcester

Worcester County, Maryland

-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*82.0% White*13.6% Black*0.3% Native American*1.1% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*1.3% Other races*3.2% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...

 counties. The company comes from the consolidation of Somerset Commuter, Worcester County Ride, and Wicomico Transit. A major transfer point is located in Salisbury, Maryland

Salisbury, Maryland

-Demographics:Salisbury is the principal city of the Salisbury-Ocean Pines CSA, a Combined Statistical Area that includes the Salisbury metropolitan area and the Ocean Pines micropolitan area , which had a combined population of 176,657 at the 2010 census.As of the census of 2000, there were...

 where most of the buses gather thirty minutes after every hour.

Services

Shore Transit has twelve bus lines through the three counties. They mostly operate on the major highways in the region: U.S. Route 13

U.S. Route 13 in Maryland

U.S. Route 13 is a U.S. Highway running from Fayetteville, North Carolina north to Morrisville, Pennsylvania. In the U.S. state of Maryland, the route runs from the Virginia border south of Pocomoke City in Worcester County north to the Delaware border in Delmar, Wicomico County, where the route...

, U.S. Route 50

U.S. Route 50 in Maryland

U.S. Route 50 is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching just over from Ocean City, Maryland on the Atlantic Ocean to West Sacramento, California. In the U.S. state of Maryland, US 50 exists in two sections. The longer of these serves as a major route connecting...

, and U.S. Route 113. Shore Transit also has several transfer points or hubs to connect to other buses, either more of its services or to other transit agencies.

Calvert Street: In downtown Salisbury. All but one bus routes stop here at one point during the day, most of which meet thirty minutes after every hour. The Calvert Street hub also provides connections to Delmarva Community Transit, another commuter transit agency serving Dorchester County

Dorchester County, Maryland

Dorchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland on its Eastern Shore. It is bordered by the Choptank River to the north, Talbot County to the northwest, Caroline County to the northeast, Wicomico County to the southeast, Sussex County, Delaware, to the east, and the Chesapeake...

 and is a partner of MUST, a collaborative group of public transit agencies on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Ocean City Transfer Point: Serves as a transfer point for Ocean City Transit and Shore Transit during the winter months. Served by Routes 431 and 451.

West Ocean City Park and Ride: Serves as a transfer point for Ocean City Transit and Shore Transit during the summer months. Served by Routes 431 and 451

Princess Anne Transfer Point: Located at Somerset Plaza. Routes 111, 431, 451, 701 South, 701 North, and 703 serve this hub, and the buses usually gather on the hour.

Westover Park and Ride: Serves as a transfer point and is served by Routes 111 South, 431, 451, 701 North, 701 South, and 703.

Commuter buses

Route Number	Route Name	Notable stops	Cities served	Total trips	Other notes
Route 431	Salisbury–Ocean City–Pocomoke	Wor-Wic Community College Wor-Wic Community College -Tuition:Tuition is $81 per credit hour for residents of Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset counties, $197 per credit hour for other Maryland residents, and $239 per credit hour for out-of-state students.-External links:*... , Atlantic General Hospital Atlantic General Hospital - Atlantic General Hospital Timeline :Atlantic General Hospital, a 62-bed not-for-profit acute care hospital located in Berlin, Maryland, has been providing quality healthcare for more than 15 years... , Berlin Wal-Mart, West Ocean City Park & Ride, Pocomoke Wal-Mart, Fruitland Wal-Mart.	Salisbury Salisbury, Maryland -Demographics:Salisbury is the principal city of the Salisbury-Ocean Pines CSA, a Combined Statistical Area that includes the Salisbury metropolitan area and the Ocean Pines micropolitan area , which had a combined population of 176,657 at the 2010 census.As of the census of 2000, there were... Ocean City Ocean City, Maryland Ocean City, sometimes known as OC, or OCMD, is an Atlantic Ocean resort town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. Ocean City is widely known in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and is a frequent destination for vacationers in that area... Pocomoke	9 trips	Reverse loop of route 451
Route 451	Salisbury–Pocomoke–Ocean City	Wor-Wic Community College, Atlantic General Hospital, Berlin Wal-Mart, West Ocean City Park & Ride, Pocomoke Wal-Mart, Fruitland Wal-Mart.	Salisbury Pocomoke Ocean City	9 trips	Reverse loop of route 431
Route 701 North	Salisbury–Crisfield–Princess Anne	McCready Memorial Hospital, Somerset County Library, and Crisfield High School.	Salisbury Crisfield Crisfield, Maryland Crisfield is a city in Somerset County, Maryland, United States, located on the Tangier Sound, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. The population was 2,723 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Salisbury, Maryland Metropolitan Statistical Area... Princess Anne Princess Anne, Maryland Princess Anne is a town in Somerset County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,313 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Somerset County.Princess Anne is included in the Salisbury, Maryland Metropolitan Statistical Area....	10 trips total	Reverse loop of route 701 South
Route 701 South	Salisbury–Princess Anne–Crisfield	McCready Memorial Hospital, Somerset County Library, and Crisfield High School.	Salisbury Princess Anne Crisfield	10 trips total	Reverse loop of route 701 North
Route 703	Salisbury–Crisfield–Princess Anne	Fresh Pride Grocery Store, Crisfield High School, and UMES.	Salisbury Crisfield Princess Anne	7 trips total	Sunday only service

Local buses (Salisbury)

Route Number	Route Name	Notable stops	Cities served	Total trips	Other notes
Route 111 South	Salisbury–Princess Anne–UMES	University of Maryland Eastern Shore University of Maryland Eastern Shore University of Maryland Eastern Shore located on 776 acres in Princess Anne, Maryland, United States, is part of the University System of Maryland... , Fruitland Walmart, andPocomoke Walmart.	Salisbury and Princess Anne	16 trips
Route 111 North	Salisbury–Delmar	The Centre at Salisbury The Centre at Salisbury The Centre at Salisbury is a super-regional mall owned by the Macerich corporation in Salisbury, Maryland. The mall's main anchor stores include Sears, Boscov's, Macy's, JCPenney and Dick's Sporting Goods, and it also features a 16 screen cinema stadium-style Regal Cinemas movie theater that...  and Salisbury Walmart	Salisbury and Delmar	14 trips
Route 121	Central Salisbury	The Centre at Salisbury and Social Security Administration Social Security Administration The United States Social Security Administration is an independent agency of the United States federal government that administers Social Security, a social insurance program consisting of retirement, disability, and survivors' benefits...	Salisbury	11 trips
Route 131	Southeast Salisbury	Gateway Village, One Stop Job Market, and Peninsula Regional Medical Center	Salisbury	10 trips weekdays
Route 141	East Salisbury–Wor-Wic	One Stop Job Market, Wor-Wic Community College, and The Shoppes at Salisbury	Salisbury	11 trips weekdays
Route 151	South Salisbury–Fruitland	Riverside Medical Center, Apple Drugs, and Milford Street Medical Centre	Salisbury and Fruitland	11 trips weekdays
Route 171	West Salisbury	Pecan Square, Salisbury Plaza, Booth St, Village of Hope, West Rd., Jersey Rd.	Salisbury	10 trips weekdays

Shore Ride

Shore Transit also offers a service to those who are not located close to the fixed routes. The service only allows those whose destinations are outside of a 3/4 mile distance of a fixed route stop to use it, and the requests for use must be phoned in.

Fares

Fares one-way on any bus currently cost $3.00 and there are no transfer tickets. Senior fares are applicable for those over 62, and they are $1.50 one way. Children under 42 inches (106.7 cm) ride free.

In July 2008, a seven-day pass was introduced for all riders. This pass is refillable over seven-day periods and can be filled for up to four weeks at a time; each seven-day period costs $25.00.

History

The Somerset Commuter originally began running in 1999 with a fare of $1.00, earning it the nickname "Dollar Bus" among users. This bus began in Crisfield and traveled north to the Centre at Salisbury

The Centre at Salisbury

The Centre at Salisbury is a super-regional mall owned by the Macerich corporation in Salisbury, Maryland. The mall's main anchor stores include Sears, Boscov's, Macy's, JCPenney and Dick's Sporting Goods, and it also features a 16 screen cinema stadium-style Regal Cinemas movie theater that...

.

In October 2002 the Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore was approached by representatives from Somerset Commuter, Wicomico Transit, and Worcester County Ride, with the desire to merge the three public transit systems. As of July 2003 Wicomico Transit and Somerset Commuter merged to form Shore Transit. Worcester County Ride merged in July 2004.

Shore Transit continues to expand to this day. As a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA and commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.To...

, Shore Transit received funding for eight new buses and a new building for its headquarters, which will be stationed near Wor-Wic.