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Committee approves Reed Elementary bus-loop extension to ease morning congestion
Summary
The Urban Design Committee approved a final-location review to extend Reed Elementary School's bus loop to increase on-site bus storage and reduce queuing onto Whitehead Road, subject to minor revisions including a planting plan and bike-parking provisions.
The Urban Design Committee on March 13 approved a final location/character/extent review for a Reed Elementary School project to extend the existing bus loop and reduce bus queuing on Whitehead Road. The project expands the on-site bus storage area by approximately 210 feet, increasing capacity so buses no longer queue onto the street during peak drop-off and pick-up times.
Why it matters: School bus queuing onto public streets can create safety and traffic congestion in residential areas. The approved extension is intended to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety in the neighborhood around Reed Elementary.
Project details and committee direction: Richmond Public Schools presented a plan to lengthen the existing bus loop while retaining a 24-foot travel lane and adding a 6-foot sidewalk along the pickup/drop-off side of the loop. The project includes stormwater drainage improvements tying into the existing storm sewer at the Whitehead/Daytona intersection, and the applicant agreed to relocate several small trees planted by students elsewhere on school property.
Staff had recommended the final sidewalk be extended to connect the school entrance to Whitehead Road and recommended permeable paving and additional bike parking. During discussion the project team explained limited right-of-way, overhead utilities and an undedicated 30-foot prescriptive easement along the frontage constrained some sidewalk options. The committee modified staff recommendations to strike the previously stated direct sidewalk-extension condition and instead asked the applicant to revise condition language so that planting and landscaping be coordinated with the final bus-loop geometry; the committee also asked the applicant to add or evaluate bicycle parking near the western entrance.
Richmond Public Schools told the committee the extension is intended as a relatively quick construction project to solve an immediate safety issue; representatives estimated the work could be completed within a month during a typical construction period if scheduling permits. The school istrict also said relocated trees would be placed elsewhere on school grounds and agreed to provide a planting plan at final submission.
Vote: The committee voted to approve the Reed Elementary bus-loop extension with staff recommendations, with the modification that the sidewalk condition be struck as stated and planting guidance be adjusted to reflect the actual bus-loop design and include plantings along the bus-loop frontage. Committee members voting yes included: Denise; Gimmer; Magnardi; McKenzie; Hammitt; Woodson; Pearson; Clark; and Doyle. The vote was unanimous.
Next steps: The applicant will provide the revised final plans, a planting/landscape plan showing where existing trees will be relocated, and confirm permits and drainage details with city departments before construction proceeds. Construction timing will be coordinated to limit disruption to school operations.
Ending: The committee ction clears a path for a near-term, focused fix to bus-related congestion while leaving options for future sidewalk or streetscape work to be solved in larger right-of-way projects.
