Some Levittown Parents Say Hempstead Turnpike Is Too Dangerous For Their Kids To Cross
LEVITTOWN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Some parents in Levittown say Hempstead Turnpike has become too dangerous for their teenagers to cross.
"I want my kid on a bus, it's ridiculous," said Wendy Lantigua, who started a petition to get buses for all Division Avenue High School students living south of Hempstead Turnpike.
The petition got more than 200 signatures in two days, 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reported.
Currently, buses are only provided for high school students who live at least a mile and a half away from school.
"I have no problem with my daughter walking two miles to school," Lantigua said. "I did it when I was growing up, she can do it too, but I didn't cross Hempstead Turnpike."
Lantigua said her daughter, who is a freshman, is too scared to cross Hempstead Turnpike, which is among the state's deadliest roadways.
"She's afraid to walk to school by herself," Lantigua said. "She told me that she will absolutely figure out a way to get a ride."
Eight pedestrians have been killed since the state began a $2 million safety overhaul of the 16-mile-long road in 2012, Newsday reported in June. In the most recent incident, Bryanna Soplin, a 13-year-old girl with Down syndrome, was crossing Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown when she was struck and killed on June 15.
"They are installing speed cameras supposedly to keep the kids safe. Use some of that revenue to get a few more buses to saves the lives of our kids," another parent, Pamela Mojica, said.
When asked about the petition, Levittown school officials said they are looking into adding another crossing guard, Rivera rpeorted.
"Student safety is our top priority, but as per district policy these students live within the walking distance parameters and busing is not available," Dr. Tonie McDonald, Superintendent of Levittown Public Schools, said in a statement.
McDonald said there is a crossing guard at Division Avenue and the school has asked police to conduct a traffic study to explore the possibility of adding another crossing guard at Gardiners Avenue.
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