Parents, councilors press Woburn schools to restore bus stops after last-minute route changes

Dozens of parents and city officials urged the Woburn School Committee on Sept. 9 to restore or add bus stops after last-minute enforcement of the district—s transportation policy left students without safe walking routes.

The complaints focused on neighborhoods served by Goodyear and Linscott elementaries and on stops near Pearl Street and the Westgate Apartments. Parent Megan Bowers said Linscott families found out too late that routes had changed and described the opening day as chaotic: "What a sad sad way to start the school year." She added that streets near Westgate lack sidewalks and that drivers often ignore speed limits.

City Councilor Rob Toro, who said he is also a parent affected by the changes, told the committee the timing and manner of enforcement created real hardship for working families: "Just because we have a policy doesn't mean the policy is good. This should be a time where we're looking at the policy and…