Parents of Pioneer Valley High School students are voicing their concerns over the traffic congestion in campus parking lots and surrounding surface streets during pickup and drop-off times.
The Santa Maria Police Department says there has always been a lot of congestion on campus when the school day begins and ends, which causes drivers to speed, stop on the roadway to pick up their student or park in nearby neighborhoods.
One officer attributes the traffic to everyone getting to the Pioneer Valley campus around the same time due to the bell schedule.
Police suggest alternative methods to get to school, including carpooling and other forms of transportation.
“Finding a different alternative as a ride, maybe a bus, bicycle, friends or family, if parents aren't able to get here in a timely manner and they get caught in a rush forcing them to speed, stop on the street, or pick up in the neighborhoods that are north and south of the school,” said Officer Daniel Martinez of the Santa Maria Police Department.
The other places police suggest to pick up or drop off students are the entrance north of the Edwards Community Center building before the school’s performing arts center or the parking lot entrance near the football field.
