Superintendent lays out this week’s transportation plan

COLUMBUS — With Polk County Schools buses having to share the road with horse owners and enthusiasts — and, at least on Wednesday, the animals themselves — over the next two weeks during the World Equestrian Games, local officials are leaving little to chance in order to safely get students to and from class.

On Monday, Superintendent Aaron Greene shared with members of the Polk County Schools Board of Education information on the transportation department’s modified bus routes for Wednesday through Friday of this week. Officials are changing several stops in light of potential traffic concerns caused by an influx of visitors to the county for WEG — which began on Tuesday at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring — an event that could bring as many as 400,000 people from across the planet to the community through Sunday, Sept.28.

With school officials anticipating WEG traffic to most severely impact buses picking up and dropping off Polk County Central Elementary School students, leaders have decided to modify these routes beginning on Wednesday, with several buses picking up and dropping off some students at different stops than usual.

Among the roads that buses will not be traveling on Wednesday includes Pea Ridge, Coxe, Floyd Blackwell, McDade, Sandy Plains, Collinsville, Moore, John Shehan, Whiteside, Taylor Watkins, John Weaver, Henry Thompson and Phillips roads; part of Jackson Grove Road; and Pheasant, Tack and Wilkerson Hollow lanes.

The state department of transportation plans to close many roads in the Mill Spring and Green Creek communities that day due to the WEG endurance race, in which riders and their horses will be spread out throughout the area in the only games event that will take place outside TIEC property.

According to the superintendent, the riders will not be required to stop for children on their way to and from the bus stop, as horses are not defined as motor vehicles under the law, Greene said.

“We decided it probably wasn’t a good idea to have kids going down the road at the same time horses are going down the road [as well],” the superintendent said. “We’re not taking any chances, on that side.”

School officials are also modifying routes on Thursday and Friday of this week, with buses not stopping on Floyd Blackwell, Coxe, McDade, Sandy Plains, Pea Ridge, Moore, McDade, John Shehan, Whiteside, Taylor Watkins and Henry Thompson roads, and Breezy Hill Lane.

Depending on the level of traffic the area sees this week, school leaders could resume regular bus routes beginning on Monday.

“We felt like, at least on the front end, we would rather be safe instead of sorry and make sure we have plans, and back off those plans if we have to,” Greene said.

In addition to the modified routes, the district also plans to have an additional school employee on each bus to ensure that students are able to safely get on and off the vehicle. Officers with the North Carolina Highway Patrol have also told the superintendent that police vehicles will attempt to escort buses traveling along Highway 9 as often as possible during WEG.

Though he does not personally anticipate it being an issue, Greene said that, if traffic issues get to the point that it causes gridlock on a particular day, he would reach out to the board to determine if school should be canceled.

For more information and updates on local bus routes, people may visit polkschools.org or may text “WEG2018” to 888777.

Adjusted bus routes, Thursday and Friday

Bus 123: Students on Floyd Blackwell, McDade and Sandy Plains roads should meet Bus 123 at the shopping center next to Deb’s Mini Mart in Green Creek (6539 Highway 9 S.). The bus will leave the shopping center at 6:55 a.m. The bus will return to the shopping center at 3:50 p.m. to drop off students.

Bus 8025 (Pre-K):  WILL NOT RUN ROUTE

Bus 122: Student on Floyd Blackwell Road should meet Bus 122 at the shopping center next to Debs in Green Creek (6535 Highway 9 S.). The bus will depart the shopping center at 6:53 a.m. The bus will return to the shopping center at 3:45 p.m. to drop off students.

Bus 109: Students on Floyd Blackwell Road, Breezy Hill Lane, McDade Road, Pea Ridge Road, Moore Road and Henry Thompson Road should meet Bus 109 at the Sandy Plains ARP Church (350 Sandy Plains Road). The bus will leave the Church at 7 a.m. The bus will return to the church at 3:40 p.m. to drop off students.

Students on John Shehan, Whiteside and Taylor Watkins should meet Bus 109 at Polk Central School bus parking area (2141 Highway 9 S., Mill Spring). The bus will leave the school at 7:20 a.m. The bus will return to the school at 3:35 p.m. to drop off students.

Bus 103: Students on Pea Ridge Road, between Highway 74 and Coxe Road, along with students on Moore and Sandy Plains roads, should meet Bus 103 at the intersection of Wheat Creek Lane and Abrams Moore Road. The bus will leave the intersection at 6:40 a.m. The bus will return to the intersection at 3:40 p.m. to drop off students.

Students on Taylor Watkins and John Shehan roads should drop off and pick up students at Polk Central School.