Traffic Delays Continue To Plague Greenwich High School

GREENWICH, CT — A new later start time has not helped the traffic situation at Greenwich High School, at least not during the first couple of days of school, according to local police.

Located on Hillside Road, just off the Post Road in Greenwich, the high school has grappled with morning traffic congestion for years, with 8 a.m. now the peak drop-off time with first bell at 8:30 a.m.

"You just need to plan ahead," said Greenwich Police Lt. John Slusarz. Despite the later start time, students can still be dropped off at the school as early as 6 a.m. when doors open.

Two solutions that may help alleviate some of the congestion are adjustments to the timing of traffic lights in the area - traffic is often backed up onto the Post Road in morning - which the Department of Public Works is in the process of monitoring.

And the second is the issuance of tickets for parents who drop off students on the east side of Hillside, which is prohibited because it forces the teens to cross the street, further delaying traffic.

The department issued three such tickets, for violation of traffic control signal, on Tuesday, Sept. 5, and a few more the first week. Officers have also warned students who cross in such a fashion that they could get ticketed, too, for misuse of highway by a pedestrian, according to Slusarz.

"One 16-year-old also temporarily lost his license because he was caught driving several friends to school, which is a violation because 16-year-olds are not permitted to have other juveniles in the vehicle with them," said Slusarz. "And he had just gotten his license."

Patch file photos of Greenwich High School morning traffic taken in 2011 by Leslie Yager. Similar traffic congestion is still an issue at the high school