Controversial Lindbergh Traffic Plan Passes Unanimously

The Lindbergh Schools Board of Education unanimously passed a new traffic plan for Long Elementary School at Tuesday's board meeting.

The plan drew criticism from residents in the Doercrest Manor subdivision, where school bus traffic will now be directed before and after school. Residents gathered more than 150 signatures on a petition asking the school board to find a new solution for traffic at Long.

The newly approved traffic set-up should ease the flow of morning pick-up and afternoon drop-off at Long, which Superintendent Jim Simpson and Long Principal Jana Parker have both called a "ballet dance," carefully choreographing movements from students, parents, cars and buses to get kids to school safely.

See video of Long Principal Jana Parker discuss school traffic.

"The current balancing act of buses, automobiles, kids and adults exiting Long onto Sappington at the same time is just too delicate," said David Reinhardt, the first person to speak in favor of the plan Tuesday night. "Let's make things safer and easier for everyone."

Frank Ruzicka, a Doercrest Manor resident who worked actively for an alternate traffic plan, asked the board not to approve sending school buses through his neighborhood until police and planners could weigh in on its safety.

"More facts need to be gathered, more information needs to be reviewed," Ruzicka said. "The lives and well being of children are at risk."

See video of Ruzicka asking the board not to approve the new traffic plan. 

For a blow-by-blow account of the meeting, check out the Sunset Hills-Crestwood Patch Facebook page.

Related articles:

• Long Elementary's New Traffic Plan Irks Neighbors
• $850K Spent to Buy Land Next to Long Elementary
• Resident Petition Opposes Long School Traffic Plan