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Resident urges review of consolidated school bus stops, district defends route design
Summary
A Southampton Township resident told the committee Jan. 15 that a consolidated bus route forces children to walk on narrow, sidewalk-free streets; the school superintendent responded by saying routes are designed with student safety in mind and that most rides are under 45 minutes.
Kevin DiNuzzo, a resident of the Grande at Burrs Mill, told the Southampton Township Committee on Jan. 15 that a recently consolidated school bus route is putting elementary‑age children at risk by requiring them to walk along narrow streets without sidewalks.
"Why would the school board compromise the safety of our little kids for negligible time savings?" DiNuzzo asked in public comment, saying some children now must walk about 150 yards in the street and sometimes cross where the bus door is on the wrong side. He cited a December 2018 district letter and a petition from neighborhood residents and said he would raise the issue at the school board meeting on Jan. 28.
The committee did not take formal action but Mayor James F. Young, Sr. advised DiNuzzo that the concern should be addressed to the school district. The committee also asked residents to forward incident reports to the Township Administrator so the township can track roadway safety issues raised by the public.
Michael L. Harris, superintendent of the Southampton Township Schools, had responded in a December 20, 2018 letter (entered into the public record) that routes are created "in consultation with the transportation provider based on the layout, geography, number of students, and other relevant information." The letter said the Grande at Burrs Mill has "approximately thirty‑three students that are transported from eight different stops" (about 4.1 students per stop) while Tranquility Court has "approximately seventeen students that are transported from seven different stops" (about 2.4 students per stop). The letter added that the district aims to limit student ride times ("the majority of students riding the bus for forty‑five minutes or less") and that minimizing stops can reduce hazards associated with student pickup and drop‑off.
DiNuzzo disputed that rationale in his comments, saying the absence of sidewalks and the narrow width of Oxford Circle introduce a hazard that outweighs small time savings. He specifically referenced a fatal 2016 incident on Buddtown Road when multiple children were struck while walking in the roadway to underscore his safety concerns.
The committee did not order any follow‑up action for the school district but Mayor Young and staff noted the topic should be raised directly with the school board. DiNuzzo said he plans to attend the Jan. 28 board meeting to press the issue further.
Ending: The committee closed public comment after hearing several residents on related safety and infrastructure questions; there was no vote or directive regarding bus‑stop consolidation recorded in the minutes.
