Ridge High School Traffic Study on Monday Agenda

A subject that has sparked debate and dissention at multiple meetings this year — how to route traffic and reduce jam-ups at during the morning rush hour — is expected to be addressed next Monday during a traffic consultant's report.

The report, produced by consultant Gary Dean of Dolan and Dean Consulting Engineers, is scheduled to be presented at a special school board meeting at 7 p.m. next Monday, June 25, school officials said. The meeting is scheduled to be held at Ridge High School, off South Finley Avenue, by the Lake Road intersection.

The public is invited to attend the meeting. School officials said this Monday they are hoping to come up with an action plan in order to allow time for any alterations on the school property to be implemented during the summer, when school is off.

A decision by the school district's administration and through the Homestead Village for dropoff by the Cedar Hill School, which borders the rear of the school building, enraged residents of that neighborhood. The neighbors say Homestead Village is bearing the brunt of poor traffic planning at the high school as school officials try to come up with a solution to daily traffic jams by the school entrance on weekday mornings.

Speaker after speaker pleaded with the school board and also township officials to somehow halt busing through what they say is their quiet residential area with narrow streets. The also cutting through to reach a "short cut" from the back of the high school. As of the end of this school year, the morning bus dropoff at Cedar Hill still is in effect.

In March, the at the school, and possibly separating routes for school buses from private vehicles on the property.