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Resident raises safety concerns about student bus stop on Hadley Road; board hears request for route change
Summary
A resident urged Lockport Township High School District 205 to revise a bus stop on Hadley Road, saying the stop forces students to stand next to a 40 mph roadway and that cars frequently perform U‑turns or speed back through the area.
During the public‑comment period of the Sept. 15 meeting, a resident raised safety concerns about a morning bus stop on Hadley Road used by Lockport Township High School students.
The speaker, identified by staff as Dan Cantrell and introducing himself as “Dwight” at the lectern, said two freshmen who live on the same block use the stop and that the current pickup location places students next to moving traffic. He described vehicles making U‑turns in Brockman Court and drivers using driveway turnarounds to “make up” time, and he said those patterns cause cars to accelerate back through the stretch where students wait. The resident said he had discussed the location with the district’s safety and transportation staff and that district guidance instructs students not to stand in roadways and to remain behind yellow curb lines; he noted curb lines do not exist at the stop.
The speaker referenced district transportation guidelines posted in the materials and the Illinois State Board of Education and National Highway Traffic Safety guidance on stop placement near intersections and on roads with speed limits above 35 mph. He said Hadley Road has a 40 mph speed limit and that stopping students at or near such a roadway “is not as safe as possible.” The board’s meeting host reminded the speaker of time limits and thanked him for the comment; staff accepted the speaker’s photos that depicted the stop and traffic patterns.
What the board did: The comment generated questions and a request for staff follow‑up. No formal motion or vote occurred during public comment. Board policy cited to attendees during the session included policy 2:230 (public comment procedure) and policy 8:30; the board reiterated that comments may prompt staff review but are typically followed up outside the meeting after staff investigate and gather information.
Why it matters: School bus stop design affects student safety and is governed by district transportation procedures as well as state and national guidance. The resident asked the district to reexamine the stop placement and routing so students do not wait at the roadway edge on a 40 mph corridor.
What’s next: Staff indicated prior communications have occurred and the resident’s materials will be kept on file; board members requested staff to follow up after investigating routing alternatives and to report back when available.
