'It's already a nightmare,' Belmont Police ask parents not to drive kids to school this year
BELMONT - The bittersweet 'so long' to summer feels a little extra bitter in Belmont. That's because parents and neighbors are bracing themselves for brutal traffic when the school bell rings.
"Going on Concord Ave, it's already a nightmare. Just regular traffic because so many people cut through Belmont from Route 2 to get into Boston, to get to the Pike. That road is almost impassable," one mother told WBZ-TV.
Another middle school parent said that Concord Avenue's weekday gridlock serves as her alarm clock.
"The traffic can start really early, like 6:30, all the way through at least 9:30 to 10," she explained.
Crossing Guard...
Posted by Belmont, MA Police Department on Tuesday, August 22, 2023
It's expected to get even worse this year, when grades 7 and 8 join grades 9 through 12 at the new combined middle and high school.
"One of the main concerns really is I don't know how an emergency vehicle could get through to any of the areas," a Belmont neighbor said.
Belmont police are asking parents not to drive their students, so they don't add to the problem. If families must take their cars, they're asked to park a block away and walk the rest.
"We're fortunate that we're able to walk or bike to the school. It's nice because not only do we get exercise, but it's good for the environment," said a mom walking with her kindergartener downtown.
Belmont says they've seen skyrocketing enrollment over the past six years, with more than 100 students joining the system annually. School leaders anticipate close to 4,900 students by 2024. This year, classes resume September 6.