In August, area families can usually count on a couple of things: hot temperatures and heading back to school.

Students returning to the classrooms can mean heavier traffic and longer commutes. Our transportation package starting on Page 1 provides an update on how daily commutes could look soon on the DFW Connector, North Tarrant Express and LBJ Express.

The managed toll lanes scheduled to start in 2014 and 2015 are fairly rare across the country today. The ultimate goal of these paid lanes with fluctuating tolls is to keep traffic flowing and cut down on congestion. Let us know what you think of the idea in our reader poll online at impactnews.com/GCS-poll

Also this issue we look at the new open enrollment policies at both Grapevine-Colleyville and Carroll school districts on Page 8.

Residents have asked for this for years. For the school districts, it brings good will and thousands of dollars of state money for attendance. The pitfall: There are no guarantees students will attend a specific school.

No matter where a student goes, back to school can be a bittersweet time.

Parents always will remember the moments—a little one just starting first grade, a senior in high school, dropping one off at college. The bitter part may be the heat and the longer commute, but the memories we make during these precious school years are sweet.

We wish everyone a safe and fun school year.

Toni Barron, DFW Publisher, [email protected][email protected]