Mishawaka students face safety issues at Capital Avenue bus stop

MISHAWAKA ‒ Every morning, several Mishawaka middle and high school students dodge the traffic on Capital Avenue. Once they make it across, they stand along the side of the road. The Mishawaka School Corporation does not provide transportation, so these students wait for a Transpo bus that comes to pick them up for school. "They don't shovel anything," said Alyssa Fritz, a 9th grader. "So we got to stand out in the street here and get splashed." Alyssa said she is also afraid of getting hit by one of the cars driving by. "It's not very nice because we don't have a light pole to stand under, so it's kind of dark," added Moira Harlan, an 8th grader. Parents are just as concerned, like Wendy Stewart. She fears an accident is waiting to happen. "My biggest worry is one of them is going to get hit by a semi or a fast-moving car," said Stewart. She said the bus stop, near the intersection of Capital Avenue and 12th Street, is a poor location, especially in winter months. "With the snow and the weather, they have to stand in the street. There's nowhere for them to stand," said Stewart. The lack of lighting worries her too. "The traffic that comes off the bypass doesn't even see the children that are standing out there until they're up on them, because it's so dark," she explained. After reviewing the bus stop, Maurice Pearl, Transpo director of operations, said there is room for the students to stand away from the busy street. He said there does not appear to be a safety risk for the students. However, Pearl said Transpo would address any parent's concerns. Transpo supervisors developed some alternative pick-up plans, which they will present to the Operations Committee Wednesday morning. That committee will determine whether or not to change the bus stop arrangements for the students picked up on Capital Avenue.