The School Committee finally backed down and revised the redistricting map to keep our kids out of that dangerous commute. I am drained from this fight but I am relieved that we kept these children safe. Stay alert to ensure this new plan remains in place for the long haul.
May 7, 2020
Final supporters
School Committee Members,
The Hardy Map 3 requires current Upham residents south of Lowell Road between Sprague Road and Cliff Road to attend Sprague, and we are requesting this be revisited. We recognize the need to distribute residents to the various elementary schools in order to maintain a minimum building usage capacity when redistricting from 7 to 6 schools. However, requiring students who prefer to walk or bike to school to cross a busy highway such as Route 9 with vehicles traveling at speeds of 50 mph, is short-sighted.
Other areas of town have students who walk either over or under a bridge to cross Route 9; thus, keeping children far from dangerous highway traffic. That infrastructure does not exist in a pedestrian commute to Sprague from the households north of Route 9. Sidewalks along Route 9 at no point account for pedestrian safety (i.e. guardrails) and are not continuous. While a crossing guard is present at the Kingsbury Street crosswalk and some middle and high school students cross there, even the majority of older children are driven to school due to these Route 9 safety concerns.
Logically, residents in this area will commute to Sprague via car or be required to pay for the bus. The only logical way to get to Sprague is to use the Oak Street interchange. This is a treacherous and difficult turn to make regardless of the time of day, especially during morning rush hour. As was highlighted in the redistricting forums, Oak Street is already considered by residents to be a dangerous thoroughfare. Hardy Map 3 adds an additional 70+ children to that traffic count. While children from Wellesley Farms are currently attending Sprague and travel Route 9, this new map triples that number of children required to make the same inconvenient commute.
It’s commendable the Redistricting Committee took the time to accommodate feedback from other sections of the community. However, it is unfortunate that this section of the Upham area is greatly disadvantaged by the new Hardy Map 3. Other areas of Town are concerned with traffic and walkability; we are equally as concerned.
We support the safety of our children, and everyone who drives through our community.
We support of a map that keeps the current Upham district attending elementary school north of Route 9.
Updates
February 11, 2020
The school committee continues to ignore the basic reality of these traffic patterns and the safety risks for our kids. I am exhausted by the technical excuses but I am not stopping until the plan for these routes is rewritten.
Reached 100 supporters
February 11, 2020
71 Comments
When we moved to Wellesley 9 years ago, we specifically purchased our home BECAUSE our children could ride their bikes to school (Upham), which they did regularly with working parents. Crossing Route 9 is an accident waiting to happen. Thank you for your consideration.
I have 3 active boys that would like to be able to ride their bike to school one day. The town has always supported that ideal. That does not happen crossing Route 9 in elementary school. This is simply a safety issue. Please amend the Hardy map for the children. Thank you for your consideration.
I strongly oppose redistricting elementary students across Route 9. Requiring families to cross Route 9 during peak hours will only exacerbate traffic, create additional bottlenecks, and create even more safety concerns. The safety of our elementary students should be the priority!
675 Worcester St Actually living on Rt 9 and seeing how fast all the cars drive by my house is terrifying and to think children will have to cross this to get to school safely everyday is just as terrifying. Sometimes it takes me 10 minutes to get out of my driveway due to the speed of vehicles or traffic.
This map sacrifices safety for others’ convenience. Anyone who treats rte 9 like anything other than the state highway that it is, has never watched their child attempt to cross it during a busy morning commute. Preposterous that this continues to be treated as if it is trivial.
Having neighborhood schools is essential. No kids should cross Rte 9 to go to elementary schools.
The neighborhood schools model necessitates that the school is in the neighborhood area. Don't make families cross Rte 9.
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The School Committee finally backed down and revised the redistricting map to keep our kids out of that dangerous commute. I am drained from this fight but I am relieved that we kept these children safe. Stay alert to ensure this new plan remains in place for the long haul.
May 7, 2020
Final supporters
School Committee Members,
The Hardy Map 3 requires current Upham residents south of Lowell Road between Sprague Road and Cliff Road to attend Sprague, and we are requesting this be revisited. We recognize the need to distribute residents to the various elementary schools in order to maintain a minimum building usage capacity when redistricting from 7 to 6 schools. However, requiring students who prefer to walk or bike to school to cross a busy highway such as Route 9 with vehicles traveling at speeds of 50 mph, is short-sighted.
Other areas of town have students who walk either over or under a bridge to cross Route 9; thus, keeping children far from dangerous highway traffic. That infrastructure does not exist in a pedestrian commute to Sprague from the households north of Route 9. Sidewalks along Route 9 at no point account for pedestrian safety (i.e. guardrails) and are not continuous. While a crossing guard is present at the Kingsbury Street crosswalk and some middle and high school students cross there, even the majority of older children are driven to school due to these Route 9 safety concerns.
Logically, residents in this area will commute to Sprague via car or be required to pay for the bus. The only logical way to get to Sprague is to use the Oak Street interchange. This is a treacherous and difficult turn to make regardless of the time of day, especially during morning rush hour. As was highlighted in the redistricting forums, Oak Street is already considered by residents to be a dangerous thoroughfare. Hardy Map 3 adds an additional 70+ children to that traffic count. While children from Wellesley Farms are currently attending Sprague and travel Route 9, this new map triples that number of children required to make the same inconvenient commute.
It’s commendable the Redistricting Committee took the time to accommodate feedback from other sections of the community. However, it is unfortunate that this section of the Upham area is greatly disadvantaged by the new Hardy Map 3. Other areas of Town are concerned with traffic and walkability; we are equally as concerned.
We support the safety of our children, and everyone who drives through our community.
We support of a map that keeps the current Upham district attending elementary school north of Route 9.
Updates
February 11, 2020
The school committee continues to ignore the basic reality of these traffic patterns and the safety risks for our kids. I am exhausted by the technical excuses but I am not stopping until the plan for these routes is rewritten.
Reached 100 supporters
February 11, 2020
71 Comments
We moved to the Upham area so our kids could walk to school. All 3 have since walked and been driven to/from WMS & WHS, crossing Rt 9. Based on our experience, this part of Rt. 9 is extremely unsafe for pedestrians (and challenging for cars); there's no way additional foot or car traffic should be added, especially for elementary age kids.
When we moved to Wellesley 9 years ago, we specifically purchased our home BECAUSE our children could ride their bikes to school (Upham), which they did regularly with working parents. Crossing Route 9 is an accident waiting to happen. Thank you for your consideration.
I have 3 active boys that would like to be able to ride their bike to school one day. The town has always supported that ideal. That does not happen crossing Route 9 in elementary school. This is simply a safety issue. Please amend the Hardy map for the children. Thank you for your consideration.
I strongly oppose redistricting elementary students across Route 9. Requiring families to cross Route 9 during peak hours will only exacerbate traffic, create additional bottlenecks, and create even more safety concerns. The safety of our elementary students should be the priority!
675 Worcester St Actually living on Rt 9 and seeing how fast all the cars drive by my house is terrifying and to think children will have to cross this to get to school safely everyday is just as terrifying. Sometimes it takes me 10 minutes to get out of my driveway due to the speed of vehicles or traffic.
This map sacrifices safety for others’ convenience. Anyone who treats rte 9 like anything other than the state highway that it is, has never watched their child attempt to cross it during a busy morning commute. Preposterous that this continues to be treated as if it is trivial.
Having neighborhood schools is essential. No kids should cross Rte 9 to go to elementary schools.
The neighborhood schools model necessitates that the school is in the neighborhood area. Don't make families cross Rte 9.
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We moved to the Upham area so our kids could walk to school. All 3 have since walked and been driven to/from WMS & WHS, crossing Rt 9. Based on our experience, this part of Rt. 9 is extremely unsafe for pedestrians (and challenging for cars); there's no way additional foot or car traffic should be added, especially for elementary age kids.