District receives ‘walking bus’ grant

$14,000 to help students get to school safely

By: John Tredrea
   The state has awarded a $14,000 grant to the Hopewell Valley Regional School District for a Walking School Bus program at Stony Brook Elementary. The 519-student Stony Brook school is in the Brandon Farms development in Hopewell Township.
   As the name implies, a walking school bus program does not use vehicles at all. The program consists of organized groups of children who follow a schedule, usually accompanied by an adult, to walk a charted route to school.
   "District officials sought the grant as a way to encourage more students from surrounding neighborhoods to walk to school," district spokeswoman JoAnn Meyer said. "The budget-related elimination of nonmandated transportation last year has meant many more students in the Brandon Farms development, where Stony Brook is located, must either walk or be driven to school. District officials contend the development’s extensive network of fine sidewalks provides safe access for walkers."
   Stony Brook Elementary parent Bob Giangrosso, however, said he doesn’t think the walking bus program "addresses the safety issue. Given human nature and the circumstances of this situation, I don’t think the walking bus program will make any difference."
   Mr. Giangrosso was one of the leaders of the parental opposition to the district’s controversial decision to eliminate busing to Stony Brook Elementary.
   "I know the intentions of the walking bus program are good, but I don’t think it’s going to result in a lot of 5- and 6-year-olds walking nearly two miles to school. And I don’t think it will make any difference at all in rainy or icy or otherwise inclement weather. Those kids will continue to be driven to school."
   The district has discontinued busing all elementary students who less than two miles from school and all secondary students who live less than two and a half miles, except for students who face a clear safety hazard, such as walking across railroad tracks.
   Mr. Giangrosso objected to the possibility that the district would pay administrative costs for the walking bus program after the grant money has been used.
   "Too many kids are being dropped off and picked up, creating an unsafe condition, because of the busing we’ve lost," he said. "That’s the concern. I don’t think the walking bus program will solve it in any significant way."
   The grant, awarded through the federally funded Safe Routes to School Program, will pay for a program coordinator, marketing expenses, maps and incentives. It also earmarks money for new bicycle racks and pedometers for the school.
   "With only $3 million available and 29 projects funded, you can be proud that your municipality was selected to receive a grant," wrote Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri to Hopewell Valley in announcing the grant. Ms. Kolluri that there were 274 applications for funding.
   Walking school buses have operated safely and successfully elsewhere in New Jersey and around the country and are touted for their contribution toward encouraging healthy lifestyles, as well as reducing traffic congestion and pollution near schools, Ms. Meyer said.
   "We are delighted to win this grant because we know the Walking School Bus model holds great promise for our students and their families in Stony Brook," said Hopewell Valley Superintendent Judith A. Ferguson.
   Letters of support for the walking school bus application were sent by Hopewell Township police, the Stony Brook PTO and the Greater Mercer TMA, a public-private partnership which works to reduce traffic congestion and improve mobility in the capital region.
   The TMA has pledged to help district officials analyze surrounding neighborhoods, map routes and develop schedules for a walking bus, Ms. Meyer said. Officials at TMA have also pledged to share pointers learned from their work with other Mercer County schools and from their counterparts at Ridewise TMA in Somerset County.
   The district’s walking bus proposal has a community-input component, including surveys, checklists and an evening workshop for parents and other interested members of the public.