LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It's been almost one week since school opened for Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), and parents said its now time for them to do something about long car lines that are wrapped around buildings and stretching into neighborhoods.
"From day one it's gotten a lot better don't get me wrong, I wish it could improve a little more," JCPS parent Chris Medina said.
Medina said the traffic jam on Hess Lane at Audubon Elementary was not the best on the first day of school.
"For two kids all day dropping them off and picking them up I was in my car for at least four and a half hours," he said.
JCPS told WHAS11 this week Audubon Elementary is a school without a crossing guard.
Families dropping off and picking up have been taking cues and directions from staff in the parking lot. It's something Medina said that has helped the lines coast along quicker.
"So right now two kids in the afternoon I'm about two hours right now," said Medina.
By 3:51 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, WHAS11 saw the last cars in line for pick-up.
With more cars on the road this year JCPS said families who qualify could be given gas money for their trouble.
Those stipends will be will be $5 a day for most families and $10 for families whose students qualify for free and reduced lunch.
Sign-ups for stipends will start in late August with payments scheduled the week of Sept. 9.
"I'm not worried about that part I just, you know, want everything to be fluent for everybody," Medina said. "And I know we're holding up neighborhoods and businesses it's just a lot."
Henry Ford Jr. is a grandparent who isn't pleased with how the lines are going.
"I didn't leave here until 4:15 and so that's ridiculous," said Ford. He has teamed up with another family to carpool. "Basically they take and I pick up but gosh the first couple of days."
Ford said Wednesday afternoon has been the smoothest so far, but he's looking for a better solution.
He said stipends are nice, but it's not enough.
"That helps but I just assume they keep their money and solve the problem," said Ford.
He's most concerned about the flow of traffic since there is no crossing guard.
"We're talking about kids here, their safety as well, and I don't want that to happen to my grandson or it's going to be trouble," Ford said.
JCPS said they are evaluating car lines at all JCPS schools, and while they have already seen improvements at some schools, they said it will take some time to work out all the issues.
They asked for patience as they continue to adjust traffic patterns.
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