Board backs study to light every Jefferson County school bus stop next year

The Jefferson County Board of Education voted March 10 to approve a resolution to study the safety and placement of school bus stops relative to street lighting and to pursue a three‑way partnership with Metro government and LG&E. The resolution creates an outline for assessing existing lights, prioritizing repairs, considering moving stops to lit locations and, where necessary, installing new lights.

Metro Council member Marcus Winkler, who told the board he has introduced similar legislation at Metro Council and secured all 25 co‑sponsors, said the effort aims for every school bus stop in Jefferson County to be lit by the start of school in August 2026. Winkler said the group would prioritize repairing existing street lights first, then evaluate moving bus stops to nearby lit locations, and finally prioritize new installations where needed.

The district emphasized the resolution as a budget‑neutral proposal for JCPS: LG&E and Metro government would lead costs for repairs and prioritized installations, and the district would coordinate feasibility studies and stop‑placement decisions. Board members expressed support for the collaborative approach and asked follow‑up questions about cost, scope (approximately 17,000 bus stops), and whether the initiative would cover early‑morning and late‑drop‑off stops.

The motion to approve the resolution was moved and seconded on the floor and passed by voice vote.