LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) carpool drivers faced another day of long pick-up lines on Friday.
"It was not this bad," said Kim Brotzge, who was picking up her grandchildren from their second day of school at Audubon Traditional Elementary.
JCPS students went back to school on Thursday, and parents are making transportation adjustments after JCPS launched a new transportation plan that cut busing to thousands of students.
Brotzge said school pick up this year has proved to be the worst she's seen and blames the absence of buses. She said she was surprised by the decision to cut buses to most magnet and traditional schools.
”Hopefully they change that decision," Brotzge said.
Brotzge arrived in the line right when the dismissal bell rang at 3:20 p.m. But over 30 minutes later, she was still one of many cars inching forward on Hess Lane.
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JCPS parent Adwu Uawka was picking up his children in first and third grade. He said this was his second time in a long carpool line today, as he picked up his other child earlier in the afternoon from a different school.
"It has not been easy for parents," Uawka said.
When Brotzge's grandson starts middle school next year, she doesn’t know how her family will navigate the long pick up lines at two schools.
”I don’t know what parents do that have kids going to different schools," Brotzge said.
Uawka is calling for changes to make the carpool process easier.
"Improvement needs to be done," he said.
Traffic congestion on Hess Lane cleared around 4 p.m.
Local homeowners around Audubon Elementary said they're also affected by the traffic jams.
"This road has been absolutely terrible," said Audubon Park resident Judith Basham.
Basham has lived in the neighborhood for years and said the traffic this week has been the worst she's seen.
"More cars are on here than there ever have been," Basham said.
During drop off and pick up, she can see the long lines from her back porch. She said Hess Lane typically sees high speeds, but this week, the two-lane road has been at a stand still.
"Bumper to bumper, they do it all morning long," Basham said. "Just lined up in here to let their children out."
JCPS leaders acknowledged the carpool line backups and noted Hess Lane as a problem area.
"You're talking about a school that was built many, many, many years ago and a lot of things have changed since then," said JCPS Superintendent Marty Polio on Thursday. "Getting cars in and out is never going to be easy right there."
Leaders said it will take a while to come up with a permanent solution, but in the meantime they hope to use JCPS Police to help resolve traffic issues.
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