Falling Branch Elementary, Megabus stop are uneasy pair
CHRISTIANSBURG — Among the half dozen people waiting Tuesday for the afternoon Megabus run to Washington, D.C., no one seemed inclined to mistake nearby Falling Branch Elementary School for a bus station or a rest area.
Yet once every week or so, that’s exactly what happens, Montgomery County school officials say. In a time when school security is scrutinized ever more heavily, Falling Branch Elementary School’s location on an interstate exit — and next to a state park-and-ride lot that serves as a bus stop for regional and long-distance service — presents a challenge.
“We’re in a unique spot,” Falling Branch Principal Julie Vanidestine said Monday.
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Simple… Move the park and ride to exit 118 c in the vacant Harley Davidson lot. Win-win situation.
Comment by Mike — February 13, 2013 @ 5:17 am
I always thought it very strange that a public elementary school was sited and built where it is at Falling Branch. A major interstate, the terminus of the 460 expressway, a massive industrial park – those did not seem to be appropriate ‘neighbors’ for a local school. It is a given in planning that park and ride and commuter bus services WOULD be located there, at the junction of two of our major transportation routes. A school on the other hand? No.
The school needs to post a very LARGE sign at the entrance to the parking lot – School Property. Do Not Enter Unless School Business. Then they need to install a buzzer system on the front door for entry. Then the bus lot needs to install some sort of portable potty.
Comment by Reality Is Real — February 13, 2013 @ 8:45 am
Twice I have been approached while picking up my child from Falling Branch by people who got off the bus. One person was looking for Dish Network and then asked for a ride once I told her. The other person had gotten off the bus and wanted a ride to Dublin. I was coming out of the school with my child both times. We do live in a society where people are just too unpredictable and a stranger approaching you at the car like that is a little scary. Especially when I had my child with me. I apologized to both of these people and quickly got into my car.
Comment by Annie — February 13, 2013 @ 10:31 am
There is reason for concern, having seen some of those riding the bus.
Comment by david — February 13, 2013 @ 12:11 pm
As a parent of a 6 year old, my first thought was, “have they thought about maybe, ummmm, LOCKING THE DOORS???” Seems that would be the easiest and safest way to keep unwanted trespassers out.
Comment by Ray Martin — February 13, 2013 @ 12:28 pm
As a parent of a child at Falling Branch, I would like to address the previous comments. First, there is a “VERY LARGE” no trespassing sign at the entrance of the school and it has been there for 2 years. There is also a portable toilet at the part-n-ride, but that has not stopped the riders from coming down to the school. Secondly, the school was built BEFORE the I-81/460 cloverleaf interchange and before the large wall along the interstate was built. When Falling Branch was built, it was a neighborhood school. Maybe VDOT should have looked at where the school was located before they put in the interchange. Lastly, the doors are locked at the school. It still does not deter the riders from entering school property. The only solution is to move the park-n-ride to another location.
Comment by Angela — February 13, 2013 @ 4:47 pm
The doors are not locked, reason why “they” enter the building and must be told to leave. Has the school board been proactive in their approach…no, because the school does not exist within the limits of Blacksburg.
Comment by Concerned — February 13, 2013 @ 11:16 pm
The Megabus (started Nov 2010) and the Smart Way Connector Bus (started July 2011), which both stop at Falling Branch, provide a great service to local Christiansburg and Blacksburg residents and cash-strapped VA Tech students, and are the only intercity options in the area.
The Megabus takes persons non-stop to Union Station, DC, where riders can transfer to other services (metro subway, Amtrak, VRE commuter rail, buses) and local transit links to cheap flights at all three DC airports.
The Connector Bus (Fri – Sun) connects to Amtrak at Lynchburg and the US’s 2nd fastest growing state-supported train (2012) and to DC, NY, and Boston in a single day.
Partly because of the success of the Connector Bus (now running with 4 times the expected number of riders), Amtrak worked with Norfolk and state rail officials to return passenger rail to Norfolk after 35 years (Dec 2012) one year early.
Guess what? Amtrak’s top VA priority is extending passenger service to Roanoke, and the General Assembly is today considering bills that will expedite the process by providing money for operating expenses and infrastructure improvements.
Fortunately, following up on the many excellent suggestions should solve the problem identified at the Park and Ride.
Comment by Dan Peacock — February 14, 2013 @ 2:24 pm
All good comments, all valid comments, the discussion will lead to a solution. Roanoke Times did its job.
Comment by Love It Here — February 14, 2013 @ 4:52 pm
The comment about the school not being in Blacksburg has nothing to do with the discussion as:
The School is located in Christiansburg.
The School Board is located and meets in Christiansburg.
The Bus Stop is in Christiansburg.
So that has nothing to do with Blacksburg.
Please – keep on topic.
Comment by On Topic — February 14, 2013 @ 4:55 pm
My child also attends Falling Branch and I have never seen those doors locked. I must respectfully disagree with Angela on that point. Additionally, to just move the park and ride is not the only solution, it is a solution, but not the only one. To flip the perspective to reflect the larger community, maybe the school board should have planned a fence and relocating the entrance to the school when they knew the highway was coming that way. Only making the point because there are more than one solution and one point of view. We obviously want the school safe, but it needs to be a community discussion.
Comment by Safety First — February 14, 2013 @ 4:59 pm
‘Safety First’, I was referring to the doors other than the front door, which is unlocked. The only solution is to move the park n ride to a different location. Everyone seems to forget that the school was there first! Maybe VDOT and the other powers that be should have thought about that before they put in the interchange AND the park n ride!
Comment by Angela — February 14, 2013 @ 7:23 pm
Hahahaha LMAO…I thought the Burgs were all about public transportation??? Christiansburg funding BT, the smartway and allowing the Megabus to use the spot all “help the enviroment!”
The shear hypocrisy of Montgomery County has increased exponentially over the last decade. Now it seems all people who ride the bus are scary criminals…oooohhhh….
Yet we continue to hear over and over and over how MontCo/burgs are progressive in transportation, open to all walks of life. Well, get this…when you built a bus service up, people may in fact decide to ride the bus.
Perhaps the school, county and residents should have thought about these matters (including tying a low wage industrial park to the adjoining property) before they decided to move forward.
As to the idea to move the stop, people in the residential districts surrounding 81 have the right to live in peace without people approaching them, they paid for their property with the realization that no “bus stop” was in their front yard. Instead all parties UNDERSTOOD that the decision to build a park and ride/bus stop adjacent to the interstate was decided upon years ago in its current location. Property owners should not have to suffer for the bad decisons of leaders past and the all but blantant disgust exhibited by a vocal minority for “persons who ride the bus.”
It is time for the residents of Montgomery County to deal with what they have built and stop trying to pass off their bad decisons on other property owners when it threatens their picket fence affluent non reality.
This, folks, is progress…if the town wants to be progressive they are doing a fine job. Common sense dictates that it could be a bad idea to house a school beside a public transit system that is multijurisdictional.
But tthen again…it is “progressive.” I’ll continue to drive my car to places I need to go and teach my children to stay away from strangers. Personal responsibilty is actually benefical to some.
In short, deal with it, teach your kids and vpbeef up securit, but do not whine about. The spot now, when evryone had a voice earlier.
Comment by Derek — February 14, 2013 @ 9:55 pm
Also, before you respond to my comments, remember this is a community discussion and there are a lot of community members who have opposed this “progress” from the start.
They are just usually drowned out by the drum of “you need to progress” and “don’t be scared of the bus” proponents.
Comment by Derek — February 14, 2013 @ 10:00 pm
Today’s paper reports that they are looking into solutions so let’s all be polite and respectful of each other. We need public transportation and we need schools – both obvious.
“Here first” and whatever aren’t valid points to any discussion. The majority of people remember the days when a school was a welcoming place in the community, not a fortress. Think about if you’ve ever arrived someplace you aren’t familiar with – you naturally seek an “established and safe” point of reference. That’s a school in this case. Sadly due to irresponsible gun laws, etc (an entirely different discussion) our schools now find themselves wanting to become fortresses. That’s the societal situation behind the anxiety of Falling Branch parents. Neither right nor wrong, just the perception we have to grapple with today. So – start with respecting each other in this discussion area. One part of a possible solution is to develop a “physical and visual” barrier between the park and ride lot and the service road leading to the school. VDOT could partner with Montgomery Co. and as we see at many of our local apartment and condo complexes – erect a five to seven foot grass sloped firm which for a walking pedestrian essentially obscures the view of the school from the lot; then add dense planting of pine trees and hedge plantings and you shift the perceived entry way away from the park and ride. Simultaneously, VDOT builds a permanent restroom facility; local information wall with map, contact information, etc. adds a pay phone and simple human nature shifts its focus to that facility.
Personally, I’d reach out the amazing resources we have in this community and make the VT Architecture and Landscape design program take this on as a project. Design it and then have VDOT do it. It isn’t that difficult of a solve.
Comment by Love it here — February 16, 2013 @ 10:41 am
Also, remember that many people who us the park and ride are your friends and neighbors, members of the community who commute to Roanoke and beyond for work. These are hooligans or sinister creatures – they are nice people who’d rather ride the bus than white knuckle their way along 81 every day.
Comment by Love it here — February 16, 2013 @ 10:45 am
Also, remember that many people who us the park and ride are your friends and neighbors, members of the community who commute to Roanoke and beyond for work. These are not hooligans or sinister creatures – they are nice people who’d rather ride the bus than white knuckle their way along 81 every day.
Comment by Love it here — February 16, 2013 @ 10:45 am
mmm duh put in a fence!!!! get everyone to chip in and put in a nice fence, most of them would be too lazy to walk around it.
Comment by daryl — February 16, 2013 @ 12:39 pm