Parents seek council’s help in bringing back bus routes

Council told of traffic
backups and lack of
vehicle space at school
By vincent todaro
Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK — Parents upset about a bus route eliminated by the Board of Education took their case to the Township Council Monday night.

Several parents addressed the governing body about their desire for the school board to reinstate the bus routes that until this year took children from several developments to the Irwin Elementary School, Racetrack Road. The board cut the four routes while tightening the budget last spring, and said they are no longer considered "hazardous" due to a new sidewalk around the Summerhill Mall.

Parents packed the last board meeting to dispute the cut, and several of them also attended the council meeting to argue their points.

Robert Taureck, whose daughter goes to Irwin, said he wants to know what criteria the board used to decide that the route is no longer hazardous. He and other parents argue there are a number of reasons why it is still unsafe to allow young children to walk the route to Irwin.

The board decided during spring budget sessions to eliminate the route if the township would build a sidewalk around the Summerhill Mall loop. The board said it saved about $53,000 by eliminating the routes that were used by about 150 Irwin students. According to state law, a district need not provide busing to those who live less than two miles from school unless the walking route is deemed hazardous.

After the meeting, Taureck said the new sidewalk will be ignored by some children, who will continue to simply cross the loop despite traffic. There is a sidewalk on an island in the road, he said, and that gives children the idea they should cross the loop and just continue walking over the island sidewalk.

He said there are no crossing guards at the loop to make sure children use the new sidewalk.

During the meeting, Lucy Nodar, also a parent, said the board needs to realize that children face dangers that did not exist in the past.

"We’re not living in 1955," she said. "We’re dealing with Amber Alerts and Megan’s Law."

The busing change affects five developments, including Rice Run, The Club, Fox Meadow, Timber Hollow and Summerhill Meadow.

She said the route is still dangerous because of the lack of sidewalks on portions of roads such as Evergreen Boulevard and Wexford Road, as well as traffic on Evergreen. Taureck added that there is no speed limit sign on Evergreen Boulevard until one approaches Wexford Road.

He said there are also several intersections without crossing guards.

After the meeting, another parent, Janice Donner, said that on Lonczak Lane between Summerhill Road and Ryders Lane there are no curbs or sidewalks. The paved pathways for children to walk are easily flooded when there is heavy rain, she said.

Donner said that last Friday’s rain flooded the pathways and children had to walk through the water and mud or walk in the street.

Taureck said during the meeting that drivers often speed on Evergreen Boulevard, and people sometimes even drive on the wrong side of the road.

"It’s a very hazardous street," he said.

"It’s a lot of risk for minimal return," Nodar said.

Mayor William Neary said that speeding is an issue throughout the township and that he realizes more of a focus is needed on the roads used by children walking to school.

He also said the information regarding why the route is no longer deemed hazardous is available to the public. Township Attorney Michael Baker added that, under New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act, such information must be made available quickly.

Council President Donald Klemp said he also wants to see a copy of the study.

Neary said he would obtain a copy and told the residents to call his office if they want to see the information.

"I would love to see this hazardous route study and see what criteria they used," Taureck said.

"There’s something really screwy going on," he said after the meeting.

While the issue is debated, parents have been forced to find other ways to get their children to school.

Nodar said she is able to drive her daughter to school, but that many parents cannot do that with their children.

"I’ve seen grandparents walking them to school," she said.

The resident also said there is insufficient space outside the Irwin school for parents who are dropping their children off or picking them up.

"You need to get to school 30 to 35 minutes early to get parking close to school when picking kids up," Taureck said.

In fact, Taureck said that last week when he brought his daughter to school, traffic was so backed up that he had to wait for the traffic signal at Racetrack and Summerhill roads to change four times before he could turn onto Racetrack Road.

He said the situation is taking a toll on some of the children.

"My daughter is 6 and scared to death to walk," he said. "We decided to stop discussing this at home because she was so upset."