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Claflin University sophomore Layla DeCosta is a biology major and a scholar in the prestigious Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College. However, she was immersed in history and a national news story on Wednesday when Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Congressman James Clyburn (D SC-6th District) visited Orangeburg on June 28, 2023, to announce the city's $22.7 million infrastructure grant to support the redevelopment of the Railroad Corner. The grant is part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program. More than $2.2 billion from the RAISE discretionary grant program will fund 162 infrastructure projects nationwide. DeCosta was selected to make remarks on behalf of students at Claflin and South Carolina State University during the program.
"It is amazing to see how everyone is so excited about this announcement and how with this grant, Orangeburg has an opportunity to achieve its full potential," said DeCosta, a graduate of Spring Valley High School in Columbia, S.C. "I am very excited about this redevelopment project and how it will bring retail spaces, transformational housing, and increased safety for students who walk across Railroad Corner," she said. "It's a great day in Orangeburg, and I am happy to be a part of this historic event."
The Railroad Corner Project includes funding for a pedestrian bridge and a multi-modal transit hub featuring a new transit stop and charging stations. The project will improve access from neighborhoods and college campuses to downtown Orangeburg.
After Claflin, DeCosta's academic and career options include pursuing a Doctor of Medicine. She may also attend graduate school for a master's in clinical psychology and then earn a Doctor of Philosophy in a psychology-related field.
"I don't have any interest in politics or history as it relates to my career," DeCosta responded when asked about a possible future in politics. "But I find politics and history quite interesting and important to understand, especially when they impact me and my community. It was an honor and a very surreal experience to represent Claflin and be in the same room with people making groundbreaking changes in the community and the country."
Claflin President Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack said the Railroad Corner Project is transformational and the redevelopment initiative will benefit Claflin, South Carolina State, and the entire Orangeburg community. "This project will enhance the safety of our students and make the area much more attractive and appealing to Orangeburg residents and visitors,” Warmack said. “It will also help both universities recruit and retain outstanding students, faculty, and staff and foster inclusive economic growth downtown and throughout Orangeburg."
Congressman Clyburn praised Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler for his visionary leadership and thanked him and other city and county leaders for their combined contributions.
"Several years ago, the mayor said he saw the railroad corner as the most important thing he could do for this community," said Clyburn. "We have six U.S. highways coming through Orangeburg County, two railroads, and three institutions of higher education - all within walking distance of downtown Orangeburg. The infrastructure is here to do what needs to be done - but it has not been developed. That's why we are here today."
Before becoming the nation's 19th Secretary of Transportation in 2021, Buttigieg served two terms as mayor in his hometown, South Bend, Ind. Supporting the development and passage of President Biden's signature Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has been his top priority since joining the Biden-Harris Administration.
"You can feel the difference when a community pulls together behind a project like this," said Buttigieg. "University leadership means a great deal to have Layla speaking for the students whose lives and studies will benefit from this work. She puts us in touch with the future she represents."
Buttigieg wished the audience "Happy RAISE Day" in reference to similar announcements to RAISE grant recipients in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two territories.
"This time, unlike some of the decisions made in the past, federal taxpayer dollars will be used to connect rather than divide - to enhance rather than diminish - to include rather than exclude," Buttigieg said. "That is why we are so proud to award the City of Orangeburg 22.7 million dollars. We know these dollars are going to be of great use."
The RAISE grant program, expanded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, supports communities of all sizes, with half of the FY2023 funding going to rural areas and the other half to urban areas.
"Transit is not just about moving through America's biggest metropolitan areas - it also connects smaller communities, and it can be a leveler if there is equal and affordable access. There is a lot to love about this project."
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