How About Some Traffic Problems In Lakewood?

Lakewood's Private Orthodox Jewish Schools are planning to proceed with a "no-busing" drill today and Thursday. According to the Lakewood Scoop, Rabbi Moshe Zev Weisberg, said that while progress is being made in talks with the Lakewood School Board and the New Jersey Department of Education, they need to show how the elimination of courtesy busing will impact the Township every day.

In a quote given to the publication, Weisberg said, "Similar to a fire drill, this is no cheap stunt. Rather it is a real life simulation of what may actually happen in September on a daily basis. While we regret the inconvenience it may cause to residents and those passing through the town, it is in our opinion, the best way to prepare for the very real possibility of almost 10,000 children (both public and non-public) taking to the streets or their family cars in September."

Township Police are also gearing up for what could be a traffic nightmare. Police Chief Rob Lawson told the Lakewood Scoop "that officers will be stationed at more than twenty key intersections to make sure they're not blocked and that the flow of traffic is uninterrupted. The Ocean County Sheriff Department will be on hand to assist with the traffic, the Police Chief said."

Cuts to courtesy busing for public and non-public school students from grades 4 to 12 are a part of a $151 million dollar school budget approved by a state monitor who was assigned when the district announced a $5 million dollar budget deficit.

Courtesy busing cost the district and estimated $4 million dollars annually.

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