By Kyle Roberts
RUSTON, La. — Starting Monday, Nov. 18, Ruston Junior High will institute a new carline flow in an attempt to address concerns from parents over the timing of the lights near the Buc-ee’s property and the lack of traffic directors moving forward.
The new line will separate car and bus traffic, rerouting the carline through the STEM Center and football parking lots in an effort to ease congestion and prevent close calls at the Tarbutton Road intersection.
LPSB Superintendent John Young acknowledged the frustration families have felt with the carline.
“Number one is keeping everybody safe,” Young said. “I know it’s been a really challenging few weeks and months of school with the traffic. We’re going to try this out to see if we can get some relief for people right now.”
Young said school district employees started out directing traffic at the intersection to keep vehicles moving, but they have had numerous close encounters with buses and cars.
In a letter to Ruston Junior High parents and guardians dated Tuesday and signed by Young and Principal Keshia Baugh, the district said employees who previously directed traffic at the Tarbutton Road intersection can no longer serve in that capacity. The letter said the close encounters unnecessarily put employees, automobiles and buses “in harm’s way.”
The letter also cited congestion. It said cars and buses currently share a similar traffic flow, which adds to backups at arrival and dismissal. By separating the two, the district expects to move vehicles through “in a manner that is much safer and efficient for everyone involved,” the letter said. It asks families for their help in making the transition smooth.
“The reason for this change right now is to separate our car line and our bus line, to move car line traffic and bus traffic in and out in different locations,” Young said. “Relocating our car lines where our bus line is will give us a little bit more space. Flipping the buses around gives them an exit where they can go straight to the light adjacent to the STEM Center.”
Under the new plan, Young said, cars will be double-stacked and will enter on the side of the school adjacent to the football stadium. Vehicles will travel from Tarbutton Road onto the frontage road, through the STEM Center parking lot and back out.
“Cars will exit, and they have the opportunity to go left at the light or back north,” Young said.
The bigger issue, Young said, is the length of the traffic light at the intersection.
“Most parents that come here know it’s about 10 seconds of green right there,” Young said. “Typically in one cycle, we can only get maybe three or four cars and maybe a couple of buses out.”
Young said nearly 40 buses come to the school at both ends of the day, either to drop off students or to pick them up and take them to other schools.
The district is looking to work with the City of Ruston and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development on a longer light cycle, Young said, though some steps, including a traffic study, must be completed first. The letter said the district has worked diligently with the city and will continue to do so, and it thanked families for their patience and understanding.
“If we can get just a longer light cycle, we could probably go back to just normal operation,” Young said. “But in the meantime, until we can get that done, this looks to be a viable option to help us out.”
A handout distributed to parents Tuesday includes the following instructions:
NEW CARLINE ROUTE AND TRAFFIC PROCEDURES
To help ensure a safe and orderly dismissal, all drivers must follow the new carline route and directions provided by traffic personnel.
Step 1: Approach Tarbutton Road
- Cars may approach using either the northbound or southbound lane of Tarbutton Road.
- All vehicles must make a RIGHT/LEFT TURN onto the frontage road.
Step 2: STEM Center Parking Lot
- Continue along the frontage road to the STEM Center parking lot.
- Enter the parking lot and follow the designated circular route.
- Vehicles will travel around the parking lot and exit by making a RIGHT TURN toward the football parking lot entrance.
Step 3: Enter the Football Parking Lot
- Make a right turn into the football parking lot.
- Vehicles will line up TWO CARS SIDE BY SIDE (two-by-two).
- Follow the directions of traffic personnel as you proceed through the parking lot.
Step 4: Merge and Exit
- At the designated location, traffic personnel will direct vehicles to merge into a single line.
- Drivers must follow the directions of traffic personnel and allow vehicles to merge safely.
- Continue toward the designated exit by following traffic light.
