Bus stop signs used sparingly on roads

Q. I was wondering why there are school bus stop warning signs up in some places, but not in others. For instance, I've seen some around Naperville, but not one for the bus stop between Cree Lane and Wendelin Court on Butterfield Road in Wheaton.

--C. B., Wheaton

A. The decision to put up a school bus stop caution sign is up to whichever entity has jurisdiction over the roadway. That could be a municipality, the county, or the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Since Butterfield Road is Route 56, IDOT has jurisdiction.

However, IDOT has a policy not to install school bus stop warning signs on their roads.

Since bus stop locations change every year depending on where kids who need to take the bus live, it would be extremely difficult to do.

"It would be a maintenance nightmare," said Jim Stoner, Pedestrian Safety Engineer with IDOT.

"We'd be a year or two behind trying to keep up with the changes each year."

As a result, IDOT depends on the bus companies and their drivers for safety on state routes.

"Bus stops should be in locations that are visible by motorists," Stoner said.

"If a stop has to be in a tricky area, it's up to the driver to diligently follow all their procedures for a safe bus stop."

Robert Rammer, Director of Communications for Wheaton Warrenville Unit School District 200, says the bus company that each school district contacts with sets up their own routes.

"In the summer, we give the bus company the address of each student that needs to take the bus for the upcoming school year," said Rammer.

"The bus company, independently, figures out the bus routes."

A district can offer helpful feedback though.

"If we get information from parents or the bus company, that a caution sign might be needed, we pass that information along to the appropriate authority," Rammer said.

"We use the signs sparingly," said Steve Cope, Transportation and Traffic Services Operations Manager with the City of Naperville.

"We put them up in non-residential, high traffic areas where motorists might not expect a bus stop."