After Busing Discontinuation, Maplewood Says They'll Make It Safer To Walk To School

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Now that the South-Orange Maplewood School District is in its second year of a new integration program, some students are heading to a building farther from their home, but the district says it can't afford to bus students who live within 2 miles of school for now. On Wednesday, town officials listed safety measures they'll take for kids walking to school.

Schools open this Thursday in the district.

As of Wednesday, a petition to provide more busing had amassed nearly 1,700 signatures.

The town noted on Wednesday, "In response to the discontinuation of courtesy busing for students within a two-mile walking distance of SOMA Schools, the Township of Maplewood has taken additional precautions to ensure elementary students walking to and from schools in high-traffic areas may do so safely."

The Township says they have implemented the following surrounding Seth Boyden and Delia Bolden Elementary Schools:

• Increased barriers and signage, such as in-street pedestrian crossing signs, in surrounding areas
• Restriping Tuscan Street and Boyden Avenue to prioritize pedestrian safety, which has been completed prior to the start of school
• Designated student drop-off zones near school entrances, as indicated by county light-up message boards and township signage
• Increased enforcement of property maintenance codes for people with shrubbery blocking visibility along pedestrian routes to school
• Will be strongly enforcing parking regulations to address obstructions to sidewalk access and the flow of pedestrian traffic
• Will be designating Harding and Brown Streets as one-way roads from 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. to accommodate an anticipated increase in drop-off traffic for Seth Boyden School

Residents on impacted streets have been advised of this change, the town said. During these times, Henry Place will be closed to all through traffic and open to Henry Place residents only.

If you have questions, contact the Township Engineering Department. And you can click here for more information.