Parent says fast traffic, poor visibility make the stop unsafe; ASD‑W says it must follow transportation guidelines
Kelsey Brewster is one of many parents concerned about their children’s safety at the bus stop.
Her 7-year-old twins, Layla and Peyton, are currently picked up along Route 585. Brewster said the bus stop has heavy traffic, a blind turn, a narrow shoulder, and wildlife like coyotes that surround the area.
“The district literally expects me to stand on that narrow shoulder with them every afternoon on that blind turn where traffic flies by. Just last year, I had a terrifying experience sitting in my car there when construction truck came flying around that turn. He swerved from hitting me,” said Brewster.
Brewster has suggested that Anglophone School District-West (ASD-W) move the bus stop 0.7 kilometres up the road to Airport Road. However, the district responded that it couldn’t extend it because of its policies.
Paul MacIntosh, ASD-W Director of Communications, said around 19,000 students travel over 36,000 kilometres. Because of this, they rely heavily on transportation policies that shape how they deliver safe, consistent service across a large system.
“Airport Road is a dead-end road with relatively light traffic. Under ASD-W’s transportation guidelines, families are responsible for getting students to and from designated bus stops up to 1.0 kilometre from their homes. This is actually a shorter distance than the 1.5 kilometres permitted under New Brunswick Regulation 2001-51 of the Education Act.,” said MacIntosh.
Brewster says the district recently allowed a 0.3-kilometre bus extension up Westview Street in Jacksonville.
This is Brewster’s second request to change locations. Last year, she was left with no solution and hopes one will be brought forward this time. She said the district sent the Director of Finance to assess the stop, rather than a transportation or senior official—which MacIntosh said were sent to evaluate the stop.
Brewster believes the district is focusing on money rather than the children’s safety.
“They just hide behind the rulebook and give a blanket “no” instead of actually looking at the real danger on the ground. I feel like they care more about saving a buck than keeping my kids safe, especially when they turn around and make exceptions for other streets without giving any explanation,” said Brewster.
MacIntosh said that although the district can’t accommodate every household, it still prioritizes children’s safety.
“We recognize that families may have concerns about particular bus stop locations, and student safety remains central to our transportation decisions,” said MacIntosh.
“However, operating a system of this size requires us to establish consistent service standards, and unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to provide door-to-door transportation for every student.”
However, Brewster’s argument isn’t just about accommodation. She wants her daughters to be safe.
“My fight is 100% about safety, not convenience. That turn right at Airport Road is a total blind spot with fast traffic on Route 585, and Airport Road itself is heavily wooded with lots of wildlife—making it completely unsafe for 7-year-olds to stand or walk there,” said Brewster.
“I only brought up the other street to show that route adjustments are actually doable, and that ASD-West is just hiding behind a rulebook instead of looking at the real hazards here.”
