Traffic Plan
In our continuing effort to improve safety on our campus, we will continue our drop off and pick up plan when school is in session. After consulted traffic safety experts who spent time on our campus observing the morning drop off and afternoon pick up of our students. These experts agreed that the Huron Parkway entrance, both in the morning and afternoon, poses a dangerous threat to our students with the mixing of bus and car traffic. The mornings, as many of us experience, are extremely chaotic with buses and parents dropping off students creating many close calls as our students navigate their way to the school.
All car pick up and drop-offs will occur at the south circle off Fuller Rd. All bus drop off and pickups will occur on the Northeast circle drive off Huron Parkway. Only buses and authorized vehicles will be allowed to enter via the Huron Parkway entrance. We know this created a change in commuting behavior last year. We are asking all of our families and students to continue to follow the drop-off and pick up plans to ensure student safety.
As a reminder, if you are coming from the north or south on Huron Parkway you can turn onto Fuller Rd. and turn right into the school drive. If you are coming from the east on Fuller Rd. you will need to turn left into the school at the signal and drop your student off in the student parking lot. There is no left turn at the entrance between the athletic fields further up Fuller Rd. Students who drive to school will follow the same route as in past years either parking in the senior lot or the student lot entering at either Fuller Rd. entrances.
We ask everyone to work together to follow this new drop off and pick up plan. Working together we can better ensure the safety of our students.
FAQs
Q: What is the new Huron drop off and pick up plan?
A: Only Buses will now enter at the first northern drive on Huron Parkway. Cars will use the Fuller Rd. entrances and exit for drop off and pick up.
Q: What hours will this be enforced?
A: 7:00am – 4:0pm
Q: Can staff enter off Huron Parkway to park in the staff lot near the library?
A: Yes, staff is considered driving an “Authorized Vehicles” and generally staff arrive before the buses in the morning.
Q: Why are these changes being made?
A: The conflict of buses and cars, especially during the morning drop off, creates an unsafe situation for everyone. Daily we see students walking in between buses and cars endangering themselves as they cross. Additionally cars are observed weaving in and out of the buses creating another potentially dangerous situation. Best traffic safety practices on school campuses recommend dividing bus and car traffic during pick up and drop off times.
Q: Did a traffic safety expert develop this plan?
A: Yes, OHM Advisors, a traffic safety consultant, developed this plan and the lead consultant specializes in traffic safety on school campuses.
Q: Will the timing of the light at Fuller Rd. be changed to allow for more cars to enter and exit onto Fuller Rd?
A: Yes, the City of Ann Arbor has changed the timing at this light to allow longer exit and entrance times between 7:15-8:00am and 2:15-3:00pm
Q: The traffic on Fuller Rd. is already bad. Won’t this change of forcing more traffic on to Fuller Rd. create a worse situation?
A: We understand the amount of traffic on Fuller Rd going east and west is already heavy especially in the morning. We ask parents to please plan additional time to drop off your student, especially in the morning to address any potential traffic back ups. The Ann Arbor Police will have staff on site monitoring traffic the first few weeks of school. We ask for patience, as we believe this traffic plan will be successful if everyone follows the plan and builds some additional time into their morning schedule.
Q: How do I get to the student drop off area via Fuller Rd.?
A: As a reminder, if you are coming from the north or south on Huron Parkway you can turn onto Fuller Rd. and turn right into the school drive that loops around to the drop off area. Please do not drop your student off until you have reached the loop. If you are coming from the east on Fuller Rd. you will need to turn left into the school at the signal and drop your student off in the student parking lot. There is no left turn at the entrance between the athletic fields further up Fuller Rd.
Q: My student is in band and I would normally drop him or her off at the back band doors. How can I do that now?
A: Dropping off students at the back band doors created additional hazards as the buses and cars were trying to leave the Huron Parkway loop. You now can drop your student off on the Fuller Rd. circle where they will need to walk up to the back band door or you can turn right off the circle entrance near the football stadium and drop off closer to the band doors and proceed out to Huron Parkway.
Q: I park in the student parking lot near the baseball field. Can I still park there?
A: Yes, you can still park in this student lot. But you need to enter off Fuller Rd. and take the school drive to the right near the football stadium to reach this student parking lot. You can exit the lot onto Huron Parkway after school.
Q: Can I drop off my student in the student lot near the signal on Fuller Rd.?
A: Yes, you can pull into the lot and drop off your student in this student lot. Please remember to be careful and watch for students walking from this lot. Drop off your students in the far north end of the lot. You can then exit at the Fuller Rd. signal.
Q: I am a senior and want to park in the senior lot. How do I get there?
A: Just as in past years you can enter at either of the Fuller Rd. entrances, depending on what direction you are coming from.
Quick Reminders:
- Buses only at the Huron Parkway entrance.
- Cars only at the Fuller Rd. entrance.
- Drop off and pick up with student safety in mind!
- Help our River Rats follow this plan!