High
school traffic leads council to put its thinking caps
on
Councilman says congestion is ''accident
waiting to happen.''
Thursday, September 16, 2004 • By MALENA A. JACKSON
• The Express-Times
PHILLIPSBURG -- Town council is mapping out a plan to
help eliminate the traffic problem at Phillipsburg High
School.
With 1,700 students trying to get to school each day by
driving themselves, riding the bus or being dropped off by
their parents, town officials are concerned about the flow
of traffic at the school.
"It's an accident waiting to happen," said Councilman
David DeGerolamo during a work session Tuesday night.
Town council and Police Chief Thomas Krisak discussed a
few ideas to alleviate the problem.
Krisak proposed a new ordinance be adopted to have
parents pick up their children five minutes after the
existing pick-up time. School buses would come in five
minutes earlier.
"If we can get the buses in and out earlier, who cares
what the parents do after that," Krisak said.
Council President James Stettner said he wants to see
the traffic going in one direction.
Stettner suggested the buses be parked in front of the
high school while the carpoolers come in on either side of
the school via Hillcrest Boulevard and Barrymore Street. All
vehicles would exit onto Lincoln Road. This strategy would
eliminate traffic in front of the school altogether,
Stettner said.
"I think this way might be the best alternative because
we're dealing with four different bus vendors trying to meet
deadlines," Stettner said.
Officials said much of the increased traffic is due to
the additional classroom trailers on Liner Boulevard.
Because of the increasing student population, 10 temporary
trailers were added for more classroom space.
But Krisak said traffic has always been a problem.
While council decides what to do about the problem,
Krisak said he has a solution.
"We're going to start writing summonses to those who
refuse to stay out of the bus lanes. We've been nice in the
past with just warnings," he said.
Copyright 2004 The
Express-Times. Used with permission.
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