Dr. Stefanie Lemcke lives on North Avenue. She is the founder and CEO of Gokid, a carpooling technology for schools. Stefanie writes:
When my husband and I learned (after the fact) that Mary Young, director of Westport’s Planning & Zoning Department, had issued a permit allowing the new school bus company First Student to park at Staples and other Westport schools, we were concerned.
First, there had been no notice or public hearing on the matter. In fact, we only learned of the permit when P&Z issued a press release.
Second, we believed any such decision properly lay with the Planning & Zoning Commission, and not with Ms. Young.
And third, we were concerned that this was a backhanded way to save money by permanently moving the parking to school property. (The previous company provided a parking lot on the Post Road).
We were assured, however, that this was only an interim measure, and that the conditions attached to the permit would protect neighbors and adequately address our concerns.
It turns out that we were right to be worried. Not only are these buses creating additional traffic around schools, but every weekday since school started, our entire North Avenue neighborhood has been awakened at 5:45 a.m. by the sound of buses firing up, then beeping and backing up, as well as the sound of motors idling.
Every morning, way before school starts, we have also been treated to the toxic pollution produced by those engines. Here’s a video:
Ali Stanley of Willow Walk says: “Since the first day of school I have been awakened by the beeping and honking of the buses parked at Staples. I look forward to October 31 when they can find an alternate home. The noise pollution is unsustainable.”
We raised the problem with the schools, the town and the Board of Education over the past week. We believed that we were on firm ground in doing so. After all, the permit expressly prohibits any activity that “adversely impact[s] the students, neighbors, and the community at large.”
Moreover, the permit states that any complaints will be resolved within 7 days.
Yet the town has done nothing to remedy the situation. In fact, when we raised the issue of idling buses, we were told that this was simply the company “doing their maintenance thing.” (Never mind that maintenance is specifically prohibited on school grounds.)
We are particularly concerned because the permit is due to expire on October 31, and to the best of our knowledge, the town has done nothing to procure alternative sites for the buses.
Buses parked during the day at Staples High School. (Photo/Stefanie Lemcke)
We believe that it would be unconscionable (and potentially illegal) for the town to extend this permit, given the lack of public input at the time it was adopted and the environmental and health consequences for residents.
It is time for the town to become more transparent about these types of decisions, to include neighbors in the process, and to reveal what efforts have been undertaken to find a permanent location for the buses.
We are a leading school district, so let’s lead by example: We are asking to bring back dedicated, off-campus parking for buses, which will decrease traffic around school sites, improve access, air quality, and safety for students and staff, and generally improve our quality of life.
Last week, in response to numerous concerns about school buses — including not only school parking, but routes and reliability — superintendent of school Thomas Scarice addressed the bus question. In an email to Westport Public Schools parents, he wrote:
The district has officially transitioned transportation providers from Dattco to First Student. Our efforts certainly are not perfect, particularly at the beginning of the school year, but performance is much improved and will only continue to get better as the days and weeks ensue.
Bus Parking: The district secured temporary authorization to park in our school lots through October 31 and we are actively pursuing options for the permanent parking of buses. An extension of authorization for school-based parking may need to be pursued in the interim.
New Buses: A completely new fleet of buses will roll off the assembly line and into our schools in December. When that happens, the transportation app will return. The current fleet does not have the technology to support the transportation app.
First Student buses. (Photo/Amy Schneider)
Drivers: There is a full roster of drivers this year, which significantly contributes to more reliability. Many Dattco drivers have been hired by First Student. However, there could be a time where a combined route is necessary if a significant number of drivers call out on a given day. There are a couple of routes that continue to need attention to improve performance and I can assure our families that this work is underway. Improvements will continue to be felt in the coming days and weeks.
Traffic: One pervasive challenge that has only worsened is the traffic volume around town. As we moved beyond the pandemic, traffic patterns became problematic. These problems are worse this year than any of my three previous years. We will work to reroute as needed to mitigate the effects of town traffic.
Overall, the entire transportation operation is better, but there is still plenty of room for improvement, particularly at this point in the school year. Communication will improve and parents should look for messages from building administrators when there are delays.
To support our ask to bring back a dedicated school bus parking lot, please email me: stlemcke@gmail.com.
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Interesting that the supt does not address the complaint of startup noise, pollution, “honking” and those awful back up horns that can. literally, be heard a mile away. Also ominous, is his statement that “an extension of authorization for school -based parking may need to be pursued”; that simply means, without a doubt, that the buses will be on school property for the foreseeable future.
Thank yo
Thank you for your comment Dan. We would be fine with this interim solution while the town is searching for a new parking, but long term is what worries us. Not just for us neighbors, but for staff, students, and all of Westport.
Interesting how this video records a horn blaring,. That’s not a bus.. it’s someone’s anti theft car horn. You complainers who bought houses adjacent to a large school should have known to expect more traffic and noise. It’s obvious that you just want to push this problem ( as you see it) onto some other area. Many applaud the district getting rid of Dattco and contracting with First Student. I believe the school district is within their rights to allow the buses to park on school property. It makes perfect sense!
Hi Peter – thank you for your opinion. The honking is / was stemming from the buses, not from car anti-theft – and it has been heard literally heard every single day. we are not “complainers’ we are searching for better ways to handle a town wide issue in a neighborhood that has lived very well with the school right next door.
So in other words, move them to another neighborhood? The former bus company, Dattco parked the buses downtown, across from Playhouse Square. My office used to be nearby and everyday at 4pm, no one could leave or enter our parking lot because the line of buses blocked the driveway. Multiple attempts to alleviate the issue were ignored.
In other words, move it to another neighborhood? The former bus company Datco, parked buses downtown, across from Playhouse Square, near my old office. Everyday at 4pm, they lined up and no one could enter our leave our parking lot because they blocked it. Numerous requests to alleviate this issue were ignored.
Dr. Lemcke describes an untenable situation for neighbors–the sound and pollution is terrible. Buses should not be idling in someone’s backyard. We cannot ask entire neighborhoods to sacrifice their health & sanity this way. And yes, Scarice’s comment that they “may” need to extend the permit is ominous. Why didn’t the town think of this before they signed the contract? Everybody knows land is precious in Westport. Or is Dr. Lemcke right? Was this the plan all along: to save a buck on the back of certain neighborhoods? In any event, this town needs to start taking noise pollution seriously.
The buses’ anti-theft sirens are what is heard in the video not a car alarm. I’ve witnessed it firsthand at Staples. I was waiting at the front entrance to pick up my child for an appointment when the bus next to me had their alarm go off. It took quite a few minutes for the driver to be located and the very very loud alarm to be silenced. Traffic chaos at the schools and navigating the school grounds safely on foot or by car has become more of an issue since buses have been using the schools as their transportation hubs. I hope the town is close to finding an alternate solution.
Perhaps the busses could be parked in the Westport Playhouse lot. The Playhouse could use the extra income and it sits in a commercial area. Could be a ‘win-win’ for all.
Thank you Rita for this suggestion. It is important to bring ideas to the P+Z and BOE – commercially zoned areas is the key for parking buses.
This is a case and a time when individuals and departments responsible for managing supplemental issues to education in Westport take the easy, short way out of a operational problem by just creating another almost equal problem.
If one looks at the actual operations, mechanics and efficiencies of school busing in Westport there are glaring mistakes and inefficiencies present that also create a larger problem.
Why are the current buses being supplied and operated have such a larger than needed capacity size. When the fact that school busing ridership numbers are not examined or justified it becomes a contributing problem for the Westport School system to have a contractor provide and bill for buses larger in seating capacity yhan is justified by ridership numbers! Why are we parking, operating and paying for larger buses than is needed.
You as a concerned Westporter should make a simple observation of the current carry numbers of students on these buses and note the over capacity in most routes and operations.
Why do our school administrators not have more accurate ridership requirement and usage numbers to prevent over capacity and be able to adjust bus size and usage to accurately match need versus what is being expensed versus what is actually needed?
Oversized capacity means simply the buses in most uses are bigger than needed, require more space to park when not out busing and greatly increase the contract expenses of operating the system.
It is going to be easier to find more compatible and more affordable availibility for offsite bus parking if the size of the actual buses are shorter, smaller and yes quieter. Low and behold, the school district may actually save some money too, imagine that!
Moral of this story, DON’T FIX A PROBLEM BY CREATING MORE PROBLEMS!
State law states idling on school property is illegal. Why is this being allowed at all? Also, why is it the towns problem to find parking? Dattco owned their lot. Though, not a great location, they own it. Of course First Student can come in at a lower price if they are not paying for a lot to store the busses. Whereas Dattco has to pay for the land, the maintenance, and taxes. Why does First Student get a free ride? Also, I thought the town owns the busses. What happened to the busses that Westport paid for? If the new contract is different, where is the money for the busses that had to have been sold? I didn’t see any sort of bid go out for the old busses.
I agree with the title that First Student is a new nightmare. Late buses in both directions, drivers not accounting for the traffic. Also- the buses are so filthy my messy children noticed. They are not properly cleaned. I’m so sorry for Stefanie’s situation. It is not ok. It feels as a parent that we’ve gone “from the frying pan into the fire” with First Student.
Another example of the cosy, obfuscating club of “we know what’s best for you and will tell you what and when you need to know it,” Town officials in action.
I’m ready to be pummeled for this suggestion…
I’ve noticed that there is a large overflow parking area at Sherwood Island State Park. During non-summer months, there never seems to be anything there – completely empty. And this area is huge.
Why not work with the State on a win-win solution to use that for school bus parking during the school year?
The State would likely negotiate a way better deal than a private property owner. The location is easily accessible. It’s not in the middle of a residential neighborhood.
Westport doesn’t own Sherwood Island and may not have authority to do that.
Why I said, “work with the State!” But it will take our local leaders taking the initiative.
This is what happens when Westport voted for Jen Tooker as First Select Woman. How are those traffic studies going? Westport needs to live with the choice they made. Mr. Steinberg would never allowed this to happen, and he would of tackled such issues as traffic on day one instead of gladhanding and giving lip service.
Between that and the Long Lots mess, I have that same thought every day.
First it’s head lamps of clammers causing havoc! Now the reverse warning sound of a school bus!! The inhumanity that Westporters must put up with is truly heroic!!!
The traffic has gotten so much worse! I support bringing back the dedicated parking.
The traffic in that area is a nightmare! There has to be another solution without foisting the problem onto another neighborhood!!
It seems that decisions were made without proper consultation with the neighbors – no one should have to suffer the noise pollution that the attached video shows, let alone the air quality issues and increased traffic flow this causes. The town needs to find a tenable solution that can allow for peace to rein. Having a bus depot in the middle of a residential area is not the answer.
To add fuel to the fire, I’ve recently witnessed First Student drivers speeding [thankfully with no children on board] on Sylvan Road South and Gorham Avenue. I never witnessed this before this school year.
Memory is short.
1. Bus parking was never free. Dattco leased their lot and passed most of the cost on to the town.
2. The town does not and never has owned the buses. Those are leased from the bus company.
3. The traffic resulting from staging the buses from that Post Road lot created traffic snarls forever. I just found an article from 2012 complaining about the bus parking situation and the lack of good cost-effective alternatives. Commuter lots, other private commercial properties, Sherwood Island itself (during the off season), and any other possible town properties were unsuitable for one reason or another. Many other towns faced with similar issues do park their buses at their schools. It’s the logical and practical place for them to be located.
https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/School-officials-look-for-less-costly-site-to-3512428.php
3. I’m sorry if this sounds rude, but if you buy a house near schools, expect buses, traffic, noise and lights. That’s what schools create. The trade off is proximity to the school for your kids. Maybe advocate for cleaner greener buses(which also cost more money, so be prepared to know where to cut the school budget to make room.)No one wants diesel exhaust polluting their home and property, or their workplace.
I have two major issues;
1) Why in the world did we purchase a fleet of busses that ARE NOT electric? This local, two part segmented use (morning runs and afternoon runs) of our busses is ideal for an electric fleet. Electric busses are ideal for local traffic, you plug them in at night and then again at 10 AM when they are back in their parking lot. This makes complete sense on so many fronts, not to mention the air pollution and the cost of electricity versus the cost of gasoline or diesel fuel.
2) Why did we invest in a new fleet of busses without adequate garage storage space? All vehicles will sustain a much longer life if they are garaged, particularly in southern New England, that’s a fact. Leaving busses outdoors in winter months will inevitably lead to a premature life expectancy.
keep riding that electric wave man…
IMO they are not better for the environment or less expensive.
electricity comes from somewhere. batteries come from somewhere. pollution is going to happen in the lifecycle with electric vehicles. moving parts require maintenance. what happens to the batteries when they have run their useful life?
what happens in when weather is very cold and battery capacity is lowered?
what is the cost to update infrastructure and charging stations to accommodate a fleet of large electric vehicles?
methinks you have not thought this through…
Energy created through power plants is created much more efficiently than via an automotive engine.
Most of the energy in an automotive engine creates heat (not power) but most of the energy used in an eVs goes to moving it. (Around 25% efficiency vs around 75% efficiency.)
Fewer moving parts also make eVs cheaper to operate over the long run. No oil changes! And crazy great acceleration. I can’t speak to school busses, but an eV will save you 4 cents/mile in maintenance.
Infrastructure still needs to catch up, but for local use, it would make a lot of sense.
Like you say, you have to think it through.
what about the pollution mining the materials for the batteries? building them? disposing of them?
not all energy is clean energy, largely depends on the state/location.
EVs do have fluid changes, coolant, brakes, etc. i dont buy that owning an EV saves you in maintenance, especially once that battery pack loses range and needs to be replaced.
how much is the electric rate in westport? is an electric vehicle really less expensive when you compare gas versus electric costs?
what happens when your EV is out of warranty and needs repairs? can any mechanic do repairs or do you have to find some specialized shop at a high labor rate?
what happens when you have a minor fender bender and find out the parts to fix your EV cost an arm and a leg compared to an ICE vehicle?
i think many have been fed a lot of BS. and sadly people are paying big bucks to get laws made to shove this electric crap down our throats.
One possibility to meet zero emission requirements and not have to deal with the valid issues of battery electric vehicles is to utilize a fuel cell drive train. Too often this is not even considered. With the federal infrastructure Act and the Hydrogen Hub initiative, green hydrogen is an option as a clean fuel source.
but that wouldnt make all the electric car companies and politicians linked to them money
What I think may be a bigger issue with all the buses parked in front is the inability of a fire engine to access the front of school. I was just there this morning to drop something off to my high schooler and had to carefully maneuver my minivan through the narrow space between the buses and all I could think was…what happens if there’s a fire and the firetrucks can’t get through? Im shocked the fire department signed off on this.
thats actually a real concern (in addition to others)!
I’m shocked that the Westport Fire Department signed off on this plan. I was at Staples this morning to drop something off to my high schooler and had to carefully maneuver my minivan between the narrow access lane in front of the school. All I could think of was what if there’s a fire and how would a fire engine get through here???
Has Westport considered using battery powered busses, that can be recharged overnight? Boston is replacing its commercial fleet (and trackless trolleys) with such busses. Surely if this provides enough power for a days work for a city bus, it should be more than adequate for a school bus.
I have heard from a large group of parents that the delays are bad.
Just two days ago I called in the bus on Hillspoint because I caught the driver using their cell phone while operating the bus in motion.
A passenger “P” endorsement on your license needed to operate a bus plus air brakes is extremely difficult to obtain. I have my Class “B” Hazmat & Tanker endorsement. I know they are relying on their phones which I’m sure have maps for stops. It’s not the same as decades ago where actual residents drove the busses, even now retired schools administrators, police officers, etc.
As for the noises that are omitted from the busses, NHTSA requires that ALL busses MUST have back up alarms installed and operational, to alert people and vehicles the bus is reversing and to be in motion.
Each driver by law MUST to a pre trip inspection before driving out. The pre trip inspection has at most 100 items. From operating the horns, flashers and stop sign safety features to checking all operational lights, air brakes build/rate and each lug nut.
The electric bus debacle: CT Transit had a fleet of them, they are all off the road pending inspection/investigation into fire. CT has one of the highest utility rates in the nation. Electrical vehicles suffer in very cold weather, charging times, have to be in a specific area far from low lying areas of flooding and not near any large open space areas that could spark from fire.
Would love to see if possible the busses could be parked somewhere else, split amongst all eight schools, and drivers leave from each school to return and continue. Sherwood Island? Overall environmental conflict BUT would like to see state and local work on something possible. Expansion of Park n Ride to have a section for busses,
Thank you for your thoughtful and insightful answers Andrew!
Electric anything is still a long ways off, at least until e-bikes stop burning down buildings.
Sherwood Island is a State Park, this is a Town problem.
Why not park all the busses at Compo? Huge lot, off season.
The traffic situation when driving to school has became significantly worse. It’s evident that this issue can greatly affect the well-being of families residing near the parked buses. I really hope that the town can devise a more effective and suitable solution.
To quote the esteemed Oscar Rogers, FIX IT! The traffic nightmare around school pickup and drop off is a massive quality of life issue that affects the whole town. Whether it’s inventing teleportation, digging tunnels (or, heck, sidewalks!) for the kids to walk to school or – wink, wink – acknowledging the new “sleep later” start times are exacerbating the problem and reverting to what they used to be, the town needs to step in and DO something. We – and our kids that get picked up at 905 when school starts at 9 – deserve more than just words or more studies.
This is not sustainable from a noise level, pollution level, and local traffic volume. Please reconsider finding another location.
The morning noise seems to rub against noise laws. We can’t have work/landscaping done on our homes before/after certain times of the day due to the disturbance it causes neighbors. So, why is the noise from these buses allowed to happen? The air quality has made it so that morning joggers can not longer breathe. The traffic on North Ave. was already terrible, now it is worse. Anyone who lives on or tangent to North Ave. basically has to suffer, more than ever before, through the bus times twice a day. (I realize that someone previously mentioned the Dattco parking lot causing leaving work at 4pm to be a challenge… jeez… I wish I could leave work at 4pm). We get notices EVERYDAY regarding bus delays and combined routes. Kids are late to school and late to arrive home. This was an autonomous, unsustainable, not-thought-out decision that needs to be changed. FIND A BETTER SOLUTION… before Oct. 31st.
Is anyone thinking of the teachers and students being exposed to and how this must really affect their daily lives? Also the impact of the carbon emissions on the environment of a fleet of buses idling every day….
I understand why neighborhood noise is awful. However I think there should be more buses and way less kids and parents driving to school. Talk about air pollution! I hope a new parking lot is found. Good luck.
Reading all the comments it is clear this is a complex situation that requires a thoughtful, inclusive approach. It also seems clear that any outcome will have to be a compromise solution. Using Staples as a bus parking lot, with no engagement with the most impacted members of our community, is clearly not the way this should have been approached. I have heard first-hand from my senior how disruptive the buses are, even during the school day. I’m hopeful that this very important decision will not just become a “done deal” decision, but that the town will solicit the views and considerations of the community before making the final decision.
While it’s obvious that this is an issue with a number of complexities, it’s not one that solely plagues Westport. Many Fairfield County towns have backed up against the same problem – Fairfield’s buses park at the dump and similar to Westport, Greenwich, Darien & New Canaan park their fleets at schools. Unfortunately. Westport is generally very congested – there aren’t a lot of options for parking a large fleet of buses. I think we all know that the bus company isn’t going the EV route anytime soon so I’d drop that as a potential solution. As for noise pollution and air pollution, Dr. Lemcke opted to live next to a large high school on an extremely busy road. It’s not clear what she expected? Similar to those who are peeved by the water towers on North, the “not in my neighborhood” stance just doesn’t work. Also, let’s get real, children and staff are exposed to fumes emitted by buses for a short period of time everyday (if at all) – using this as an argument is a reach.