ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — Safety is the first thing on any parent’s mind when they drop their kids off at the bus stop before school. However, for parents in St. Johns County’s Verano Creek neighborhood, that safety has become a massive concern with the neighborhood’s bus stop placed right alongside U.S. 1, which is one of St. Johns County’s busiest highways.
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“U.S. 1 is a very dangerous road,” Verano Creek parent Mo Petkov told Action News Jax. “I drive it every day to work; [there are people] that are texting, eating, and drinking with both hands.”
“The speed limit is 60 miles an hour,” added neighbor Rober Figlia. “And what car does 60? They’re doing 70 flying up that block.”
Now, parents in the Verano Creek neighborhood like Angel Moran--who has a 5 and 7-year-old who wait at that stop each and every morning--are asking the bus stop to be moved inside the neighborhood onto a residential street.
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“We need to get the kids a safe spot for the bus to pick them up,” said Moran.
However, Verano Creek neighbors told Action News Jax the county said that’s not an option for the non-special needs busses.
“Their argument was there’s nowhere to turn around,” Figlia told Action News. “This is a circle. And the other two busses come in here every day and turn around.”
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Action News Jax also reached out to the district for a response. Director of Transportation Al Pantano said the following in a statement:
“The stop is established within state statute guidelines and best practices. The stop is consistent with transportation services provided by the St. Johns County School District countywide.”
Nonetheless, neighbors told Action News Jax they’ll keep fighting for the relocation of their children’s bus stop.
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