For high school students at Aiken High School, the days of catching the bus home right after school and in front of the building are a thing of the past.With the elimination of XTRA bus routes that were used exclusively for students and took them directly to and from school, Aiken students now have to walk to the corner of Hamilton and Belmont avenues to catch city buses on their regular routes.WLWT was at dismissal Wednesday and watched as groups of students made their way to the bus stop, crowding onto the sidewalk by Grace Episcopal Church. Aiken Principal Lisa Votaw was helping supervise students Wednesday afternoon, along with a crossing guard -- a new addition and a school resource officer who splits his time between several schools."Just trying to keep our babies safe. It's not the optimal position, but all we can do is what we can do and try to be preemptive and proactive to try to keep the kids from getting hurt," Votaw said. "Cars coming down Hamilton Avenue, they just fly! And it would really just take one distracted driver to really create a traumatic scene."Votaw said school leaders are watching the busing situation daily and trying to tweak and make it safer and better."Bring back the XTRA routes," she pleaded. "We're definitely concerned."A spokeswoman for Metro tells WLWT currently, there are no plans or timelines on if or when XTRA routes could be reinstated this school year, because their "decisions are driven by our workforce."The company estimates it needs between 70 and 100 drivers to restore all the XTRA routes.They are currently hiring and offering $1,000 sign-on bonuses.J. White has been watching Aiken students closely over the last week from the steps of Grace Episcopal Church. "Looking out for the kids because there are so many of them," she said. "It has been a rough one week almost, because some of the kids try to get on the bus and they just can't get on the bus 'cause there's not enough room."White is a longtime educator herself, a teacher of 53 years. Currently, she teachers at a private school. She is worried for students' safety. Last summer, she was part of protests at the same corner and said several cars went over the curb while they were standing there."So I'm really worried about that many young people standing out here," she said. A railing in front of the church is damaged. Church members say a car jumped the curb and ran into it last week. White said cars speed down Hamilton Avenue at all times of day."It's a roadway from point A to point B, not the Indianapolis Speedway," she said. "This is just like the perfect storm for a major mess if somebody doesn't get a handle on it."School board member Eve Bolton, who lives nearby, called the situation "an accident waiting to happen."She also has major concerns about CPS students waiting for buses in inclement weather and the amount of time kids spend waiting along city bus routes. The school board's student transportation policy reads that "transportation vehicles shall arrive and depart school within 15 minutes of start and completion of the school program."WLWT timed how long it took to get the group of students on buses at the stop for Aiken. It took approximately 35 minutes."I'm afraid that this is all part of the SORTA/Metro business plan," Bolton said. "I think they've made choices, and our kids are not the priority."The latest meeting between the SORTA board, which oversees Metro, and Cincinnati Public Schools is set for next week. Councilman David Mann, who chairs the budget and finance committee, invited both groups to attend Monday afternoon's meeting "to discuss the many concerns being expressed about the abrupt changes in transportation for older school children."
For high school students at Aiken High School, the days of catching the bus home right after school and in front of the building are a thing of the past.
With the elimination of XTRA bus routes that were used exclusively for students and took them directly to and from school, Aiken students now have to walk to the corner of Hamilton and Belmont avenues to catch city buses on their regular routes.
WLWT was at dismissal Wednesday and watched as groups of students made their way to the bus stop, crowding onto the sidewalk by Grace Episcopal Church.
Aiken Principal Lisa Votaw was helping supervise students Wednesday afternoon, along with a crossing guard -- a new addition and a school resource officer who splits his time between several schools.
"Just trying to keep our babies safe. It's not the optimal position, but all we can do is what we can do and try to be preemptive and proactive to try to keep the kids from getting hurt," Votaw said. "Cars coming down Hamilton Avenue, they just fly! And it would really just take one distracted driver to really create a traumatic scene."
Votaw said school leaders are watching the busing situation daily and trying to tweak and make it safer and better.
"Bring back the XTRA routes," she pleaded. "We're definitely concerned."
A spokeswoman for Metro tells WLWT currently, there are no plans or timelines on if or when XTRA routes could be reinstated this school year, because their "decisions are driven by our workforce."
The company estimates it needs between 70 and 100 drivers to restore all the XTRA routes.
They are currently hiring and offering $1,000 sign-on bonuses.
J. White has been watching Aiken students closely over the last week from the steps of Grace Episcopal Church.
"Looking out for the kids because there are so many of them," she said. "It has been a rough one week almost, because some of the kids try to get on the bus and they just can't get on the bus 'cause there's not enough room."
White is a longtime educator herself, a teacher of 53 years. Currently, she teachers at a private school. She is worried for students' safety. Last summer, she was part of protests at the same corner and said several cars went over the curb while they were standing there.
"So I'm really worried about that many young people standing out here," she said.
A railing in front of the church is damaged. Church members say a car jumped the curb and ran into it last week.
White said cars speed down Hamilton Avenue at all times of day.
"It's a roadway from point A to point B, not the Indianapolis Speedway," she said. "This is just like the perfect storm for a major mess if somebody doesn't get a handle on it."
School board member Eve Bolton, who lives nearby, called the situation "an accident waiting to happen."
She also has major concerns about CPS students waiting for buses in inclement weather and the amount of time kids spend waiting along city bus routes.
The school board's student transportation policy reads that "transportation vehicles shall arrive and depart school within 15 minutes of start and completion of the school program."
WLWT timed how long it took to get the group of students on buses at the stop for Aiken. It took approximately 35 minutes.
"I'm afraid that this is all part of the SORTA/Metro business plan," Bolton said. "I think they've made choices, and our kids are not the priority."
The latest meeting between the SORTA board, which oversees Metro, and Cincinnati Public Schools is set for next week. Councilman David Mann, who chairs the budget and finance committee, invited both groups to attend Monday afternoon's meeting "to discuss the many concerns being expressed about the abrupt changes in transportation for older school children."
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