Resident Petition Opposes Long School Traffic Plan

The Lindbergh Board of Education will review the proposed traffic route for Long Elmentary School during Tuesday’s regular meeting, but nearby residents are still hoping to prevent a part of the plan that routes buses through their subdivision.

Doercrest subdivision resident Frank Ruzicka and neighbors have gathered 150 signatures in a petition that praises the school’s expansion, but asks that a new road designed for bus traffic not be connected to their neighborhood.

"It's not just about what's in our backyard or front yard. It's about safety,” Ruzicka said.

The neighborhood is working to create an alternate proposal, though Ruzicka said it wouldn’t be ready in time for the Board of Education meeting.

Most recent story: Talk Gets Tense over Proposed Long Elementary Bus Routes

Last year the board approved the purchase of 4.6 acres of land next to Long, on the border of Crestwood and Sunset Hills, to expand the parking lot and add field space to the campus. Proposed traffic changes are in an effort to create a better flow for vehicles, and keep pedestrian and vehicle traffic separate, Assistant Superintendent for Finance Charles Triplett previously told Patch.

Under the new plan, the school’s five buses would head south down a new road connected to Doercrest Drive through a gate operated by a district staffer. Buses would ultimately exit on Eddie & Park Road, instead of Sappington Road. Several residents in the Doercrest subdivision and nearby areas have cited concerns for its impact to traffic, safety in the subdivision, and the amount of information they've gotten from the school district on the plan. Ruzicka even submitted a complaint with Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster’s Office to see if additional documentation is available from district officials.

Superintendent Jim Simpson told residents last week he believes the plan is the most effective option for the school--as well as the safest.

Lindbergh’s Board of Education approved $1.35 million in certificates of participation (COPs) on Jan. 31 to fund the purchase and improvements, according to a report from Call Newspapers. 

Related articles:

• Long Elementary's New Traffic Plan Irks Neighbors
• $850K Spent to Buy Land Next to Long Elementary