HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter Cayuga Heights Elementry School. Re Route 30 Changes.PDFCAYUGA HEIGHTS ETEMENTARY SCHOOL
Ithaca City School Disrrict
110 East Upland Road, Ithaca, New york 14580
Patrick Jensen, Principal 607 -257 _8557
February 15,2010
TC]AT
Transit S ervices Committee
73'l Willow Ave
Ithaca, NY 14850
Re; Route 30 Changes
Dear Transit Services Committee Members.
I formally request that the Transit Services Committee reconsider the recent rerouting of Route #30.Ther change has generated considerable corfcern in the cayuga Heights school community as the newroute passes just behind the school.
on a typical day, hundreds of cars enter anh exit our scJrool grounds through our back entrance off rheParkwa1,, the same intersection that bus ror{te #30 traveis gOi 11ryr". daily. buring the past two years,the district has spent tens of thousands of dpllu:::: a{drgss long-term trafficcongestion and parkingissuesi at our school. Recently, our drivewdy off The Parkway was widened to eliminate the morningand aftemoon traffic backups that occurred toth on The Parkway and rhe Northway. In addition,changes were made to improve traffic fl:y unl increase the number of parking spots. I was surprisedthat the school received no prior notificatio{r of the change as the district has put forth a great effort tomake improvements.
As of last week, I have been observing sevolal cars that park on school property, which I believe areTCAT riders who have begun using our baok parking lot as a park and ride. our 60+ s66*embersserve the needs of over 340 students' Mostlo.f our stiff park in the lots off The parkway, along with aconsriderable number of daily visitors. tn a{oition, s"ueiul school buses use our back entrance both inthe rnorning and afternoon as our front entrance is also oongested.
i am particularly concetned for student safety as the weather wanns and many students begin to walkor ride their bikes t-o school on a ciaiiy basis. iviany of trr-ese students pass through the intersection ofThe Pzffkway and The Northway to enter school giounds. At that time of year, we typically see a slightreduction in the number of cars dropping of{stuients but many parents have indicated they will likelyconttnue to drive their children to school. It seems to be a tenible waste of e'ergy but I understandtheir reluctance.
In closing, I need to share that I was surprislo to learn that no traffic study had been completed prior tothe change' Please consider changing the rofte, p_"rirupr stuyng on Triphammer Road all the way from
Jle Clorrimunity corners to the Comett cu*{ur. 'prr.n *ouing the route to the other end of TheNorlltway would significantly lirnit the num{e' of children who come in close proximity to a TCATbus on a daily basis.
Sincerell.f--t
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