1-Mile Walk To School Bus Stop For Student Upsets Prince George's Mom

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Changes in bus routes across Prince George's County have upset an Upper Marlboro mother. Dalphyne Hayes said for two months she's been concerned about the change in bus routes.

When school starts next week, her 11-year-old daughter will have to walk 15 minutes to reach the nearest bus stop almost a mile away. Last year she walked two minutes up the block.

"It's the distance for me, and the inclement weather. She will also be carrying a bookbag. The bookbags are not light, they are heavy. I have major, major concerns," Hayes told WUSA. "It's not a continuous sidewalk, and my concerns are that because the sidewalks do break, she will have to cross over to get to the other sidewalk."

In a statement provided to WUSA9, school officials said the recommendations from the Transportation Task Force, "includes more centralized bus stops that allows buses to make fewer stops, which improves arrivals on-time. This is especially important given the ongoing driver shortage." The district still is short 165 school bus drivers.

Read more at WUSA