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It’s no secret that the traffic at Nashua High School North is absolutely horrible at the end of every school day. When the bell chimes at 2:03 pm every student and staff member knows that the school day is over. It’s also at this time when a majority of the roughly 2,000 students and staff in the building leave at once.
It should also be noted that there is only one way in and out of the school for both students and staff. Needless to say these factors have created extremely congested traffic at dismissal.
However, traffic is not the only terrible part of leaving Nashua North each day, the student parking lots have become a problem as the need to get out of school has caused many students to carelessly rush out the building, leading to conditions many students would describe as unsafe.
This issue has not gone unnoticed. Administration has hired a crossing guard to help regulate traffic, however this safety measure has only upset students more rather than relieving the problem at hand.
So why are students saying that the introduction of a crossing guard isn’t working? And what does the North community have to say about the traffic?
The introduction of a crossing guard came as a surprise to many students this school year. His arrival in early October sparked mixed reactions among student drivers. On one hand you have students who are happy with the change.
Luke Frenette, a junior at Nashua North says, “It makes getting out much better, before nobody would let each other merge and it was a mess.”
On the other hand, some students feel the crossing guard has made things worse.
“The crossing guard has almost no point because teens are more angry due to the increased traffic, and so many more near accidents are happening because of it. Also the exit he blocks off causes so much traffic that I almost get into an accident every time I leave,” said junior Victoria Ellspermann.
Kathleen Schreiner, also a junior, added her perspective.
“If I get stuck waiting in traffic for the buses to pass I’ll just put my car in park to save gas, I can’t afford to pay the extra money I’m wasting by sitting there. However, I will say that traffic has recently been getting better.”
There are many opinions about the crossing guard and the overall traffic situation at Nashua North. However, some students and staff are looking to find solutions to this dilemma.
“ The crossing guard could genuinely work well if it was a system where every 10-15 cars and 4-5 buses could go,” said junior Leo Nichols
“I feel like a back and forth type of thing where it’s being controlled so no one is pushing out in front of buses, but enough where the buses and cars can get out without having to worry about being late to their destination. Though the buses won't like it, it’s better for the drivers and more or less a compromise.”
Mrs. Jones, a social studies teacher at Nashua North, believes that infrastructure changes could help.
“Having a more direct, one way rotary with not so many exits could create better traffic flow, and painting lines to make the exits and entrances more obvious.”
It’s never been a secret that when leaving Nashua North right after school you will encounter horrendous traffic. In years past it’s been due to student drivers rushing out of the building to beat the buses’ 2:15 pm departure, all just to make it to work, sports, other extracurriculars, or back home on time.
However, after the introduction of a crossing guard, many student drivers are angry and upset that they are unable to leave in time for their after school activities. The ratio between students liking versus disliking this change is small, and many members of the Titian community have something to say about the end of day traffic and the crossing guard causing it.
