Impacted students include residents in some Kyle, Fuentes and Ramage Elementary neighborhoods.
The setup
Students eligible to ride a bus must live 2 or more miles away from their zoned school, or live less than 2 miles but live in an area with hazardous traffic conditions.
Every year, the HCISD transportation department re-evaluates hazardous designations for areas within 2 miles of HCISD campuses. Defined by Texas Education Agency standards, roads are considered hazardous if they have the following conditions:
- Students walk along or across a freeway
- An expressway, overpass or underpass
- No walkway is provided, therefore students must cross an “uncontrolled, major traffic artery”
Note, neighborhoods without sidewalks are not considered hazardous, according to agenda documents.
The board of trustees approved the new designated hazardous areas at a board meeting June 24.
The approved changes impacted services to various elementary schools, as they are no longer designated hazardous and less than 2 miles away from the school, according to district officials. That shifts services to the following elementary schools and roads:
- Fuentes Elementary: Dacy Lane, approximately four students
- Kyle Elementary: Hometown Kyle neighborhood, Stagecoach Crossing, Rebel Road and FM-150, approximately 221 students
- Ramage Elementary: Millcreek and Highlands at Gristmill neighborhoods, student impact unclear
What they’re saying
Parents voiced concern at a July 21 meeting following discontinued bus service in their neighborhood.
Tiffany Chavez, parent of a rising KES kindergartener, said she opposes the elimination of bus transportation, especially as her child is very young and the walk to school could be dangerous. Chavez said her child’s walk to school would take a minimum of 40 minutes.
“These roads where even adults hesitate to cross. Now imagine a 4- or 5-year-old, trying to cross them,” she said.
Additionally, she said the hazards could be fatal.
“All it takes is one distracted driver, one car turning too fast, one moment, and we will all be asking, ‘Why didn't we stop this?’” she said.
Director of Transportation Cassandra Behr told Community Impact she and the transportation department drove and walked the area, and adhered to Texas Education Agency guidelines to establish if stopping the bus routes would still be safe for children.
Other parents said they were not notified beforehand of the potential change. Behr confirmed parents were not notified ahead of time, however, the board of trustees previewed the designated hazardous areas June 10 before taking action June 24.
After the board approved the new hazardous routes, the transportation sent letters to impacted families including those in Hometown Kyle, on Stagecoach Crossing and Ramage Elementary parents.
Stay tuned
Behr told Community Impact she verified with the city of Kyle that a project blocking North Wallace Street is anticipated to be completed Aug. 12, a day before the first day of school. She is still waiting to hear back regarding the city redoing crosswalk paint on Veterans Drive.
For designated hazardous areas that will receive transportation, click here.
