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Mill Run Bus Service

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by Neighbor, Jun 27, 2013.

  1. Neighbor

    Neighbor Member

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    It appears that Highview Trail Pl. is listed as not having a bus to Mill Run for the 2013-14 school year. However, parts of Highview Trail Pl. (and Rideway) may have been overlooked; because parts of it extend, not only beyond the .8 mile walking distance, but extend beyond streets that appear to have bus service. For example, Windy Pine, Whisperhill, and Withers Grove are all closer to Mill Run than the furthest homes on Highview Trail Pl. I've attached a map as an example. I assume this is a LCPS DOT issue, but I thought I would ask if anyone has considered requesting a review of the walk route. It seems to me that a mistake was made in the communication.
     

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  2. twohokies

    twohokies New Member

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    You need to contact LCPS directly. There's an online complaint form you can fill out and they'll get back to you. They have made mistakes and have fixed them, but only for the people who have called them out on it. They told us we wouldn't have a bus, we're .95 miles away, I filed a complaint, they checked the distance and said "oh, you're right, you will still have a bus". Good luck!
     
  3. luftinarr

    luftinarr Member

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    I just submitted a comment on the Transportation site because we are in the cul de sac portion of HTP and are well outside of the .8 walking zone.
     
  4. Neighbor

    Neighbor Member

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    Update: I spoke to the county today. It turns out that the County Transportation Dept. inadvertently left Windy Pine, Whisperhill, and Withers Grove off the "no pick-up list." A revised memo was supposedly sent to the principal on Friday. As it stands, there will be no bus to any of the homes on the new revised list (even though some are beyond the .8 mile mark). Of course, the decision can be appealed.
     
  5. twohokies

    twohokies New Member

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    WHAT?!?!? This is so frustrating but not surprising. I have an email from the county telling me that we have a bus at our address on Whisperhill. Thanks for the heads up. I'd rather chase this down now vs the week before school when we are on vacation.
     
  6. luftinarr

    luftinarr Member

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    I haven't heard anything back from my online submission, but what Neighbor says doesn't surprise me. Also, technically speaking, Highview Trail Place is on the "no pickup" list, but Highview Trail COURT is not. I live on the Court portion. I'm hoping they make a final decision soon.
     
  7. twohokies

    twohokies New Member

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    I just called the LCPS transportation contact I have from March and will share any feedback.
     
  8. Liss

    Liss New Member

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    I would also STRONGLY urge anyone who is concerned - either because you are beyond the .8 mile line or for safety issues (crossing Claiborne, for example) to follow through the process. You must first submit a concern online (https://webinter.lcps.org/ConcernRegistry/), which is likely to be met with a "this is the policy, too bad" response; then submit an official appeal (http://www.lcps.org/Page/108721). When/if you get a notice that your appeal was denied, you can appeal that to the school board.

    I have had many conversations with school board members about this - they are very aware that this is an issue and the more we (politely but firmly) pressure them to resolve this the more likely we are to see changes.
     
    BzyCookn likes this.
  9. twohokies

    twohokies New Member

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    If you are beyond the .8 mile and get the "too bad" response, send back your address and have them look up your specific home. I got the canned response the first go round, but when I started asking questions, they looked up my address and reversed their decision (before I had to appeal). This was back in March. However...... who knows the current situation since I'm still waiting for a call back.
     
  10. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    So this issue can be somewhat of a double-edged sword. If you want to make sure you stay at Mill Run, then you need to be in the walk zone. Otherwise, if a bus picks you up you can be bussed to another school.
    During the elementary school boundary changes made last year, Broadlands residents across Claiborne and higher up Ridgeway were demanding to be in the walk zone so they could stay at Mill Run.
    Well, now you have to walk to Mill Run.
    The School Board is looking at acquiring property at the corner of Belmont Ridge/Croson for a new elementary school. If it is built there, they will be looking to reduce the crowding at Mill Run.
    Before you decide to complain about this, decide what is more important to you.....having a bus or staying at Mill Run.
     
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  11. twohokies

    twohokies New Member

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    All the meetings that I paid attention to and plans I reviewed did not carve off the top part of 44.1 nor was it ever said during the meetings that anyone outside of .8 miles would lose the bus. Now maybe in one part of a meeting that I wasn't watching. But I recall no conversations like what I heard about Briar Woods and their walk/bus zone for kids within 1 mile.

    I would be ok if there was a grade cut-off and it was 4-5 graders walking. But I have a problem with a 1st grader walking to Mill Run when 8th graders get a bus to Eagle Ridge.
     
  12. sowalker

    sowalker New Member

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    There will be No buses for either Mill Run or Eagle Ridge for any addresses on or off of Ridgeway, unless there is another change in the present plan.
     
  13. pcgamble

    pcgamble New Member

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    I just checked the Eagle Ridge site and Whisperhill is not listed as part of the walk zone. I assume that we will have a bus to Eagle Ridge.
     
  14. luftinarr

    luftinarr Member

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    I honestly don't care if my kids are walkers or busers and I don't care if my kindergartener has to walk 9/10ths of a mile to school, but what I care about is someone in LCPS Transportation finally making a decision. There has been so much back and forth with both Mill Run and Eagle Ridge. I called Eagle Ridge and the secretary read a letter to me that stated my street was on the bus route list. Now I'm hearing that there are no buses. Mill Run shows that I'm not on the bus route list, but neighbors, Facebook, and this forum have said we have bus service and now we don't have bus service. If someone could just make up their mind, make a FINAL decision, and publicize that final decision that would be great.

    With that said, I'm waiting for Francis Hite, a Transportation Supervisor, to return my call. We've been playing phone tag.
     
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  15. luftinarr

    luftinarr Member

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    Just spoke with Francis Hite and she confirmed what Neighbor and Sowalker posted - there is NO bus service for Mill Run or Eagle Ridge for the areas in the map that Neighbor posted. She said the revised letters were sent to the principals (specifically Mr. Vickers on Friday) and that the schools would be posting the updated info. There will still be mid-day bus service for kindergarteners though.
     
  16. twohokies

    twohokies New Member

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    Did she explain why they are going beyond the .8 mile for walkers?
     
  17. Neighbor

    Neighbor Member

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    Yes. The reason is becuse it would be silly to pick up kids from the 4 or 5 houses that are just over the .8 mile mark (abesnt a handicap/disability need). Could you imagine the looks those kids would get from the walkers as they drove by in their weather protected bus :)
     
  18. JLC

    JLC Member

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    Here's a copy of the updated letter.
     

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  19. twohokies

    twohokies New Member

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    We are talking more than 4-5 kids here. All the elementary-aged kids on the 4 streets in question would fill up an entire bus.
     
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  20. Neighbor

    Neighbor Member

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    eh, it's more like 20 houses that "could" be affected. They measure from the Mill Run property line and take the shourtest path walking distance. Attached is an image of the houses that could argue that they are over .8. I have no idea how many of the roughly 20 homes have kids in elementary school, but I seriously doubt it would fill a bus. I agree that it would be great to have the bus back for all of us though :)
     

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