LIBERTY — Longtime traffic problems near Morgan Elementary School are unlikely to get better before the start of next school year.

Principal Derek Distefano said the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Rowan County Sheriff’s Office and Rowan County Fire Department have all analyzed the procedures of Morgan Elementary’s carpool routine.

“They have walked the parking lots, and I cannot recommend a safer alternative to our traffic pattern,” Distefano said.

The traffic problem, as described by area resident Judy Hoffner, involves people parking on the road from the school to Stokes Ferry Road. To pass, a driver must get in the other lane on a two-lane street, Hoffner pointed out. But there is a hill blocking vision, making it dangerous to pass and increasing the potential for accidents. Hoffner said she feels in danger when driving in the area.

According to DOT Division 9 Traffic Engineer John Couch, the traffic issue at Liberty Road and Stokes Ferry Road is an example of congestion seen at older schools that relied on bus systems.

Now, more parents drive their children to school, Couch said.

“This is a tragedy waiting to happen,” Hoffner said. She visits her husband weekly at the nursing home at the VA Medical Center in Salisbury. Hoffner said she believes Morgan Elementary should change its carpool routine.

“Why are these kids not riding buses like we had to?” Hoffner asked.

Distefano said that a meeting about carpool safety was held last school year. People involved in the meeting, as well as Distefano, came up with the traffic plan in use today and don’t plan to change it. The traffic routine involves parents parking on the side of Stokes Ferry Road, causing some congestion.

“For now, everyone should obey the traffic laws as posted,” Distefano said.

According to Rowan County 911 Director Allen Cress, there have been three accidents on Liberty and Stokes Ferry roads in the previous five months — on April 20, March 30 and Jan. 29. All involved minor injuries.

In May 2018, Hoffner was in a wreck on Stokes Ferry Road. She was headed to Salisbury when a Lincoln Town Car turned left at St. Matthews Church Road and hit Hoffner on the driver’s side, pushing her and the vehicle and totaling her 2006 Honda CR-V. 

Hoffner said she is a previous employee of Morgan Elementary and is familiar with the school and the area. She said there is a baseball park across the street from the school.

“Why can’t that be used for parking?” Hoffner asked.

Morgan Elementary is one of the older schools in Rowan County.

“These older schools simply do not have the space requirements on campus to handle the vehicles waiting to pick up or drop the kids. Thus, they are electing to park on the side of the road and in many cases in the travel lanes” Couch said.

Hoffner still believes that the road is “a dangerous place” and something needs to be done about it.

“Unfortunately, the N.C. DOT does not have any enforcement powers to prevent this from occurring. We have to rely on law enforcement to remove any obstruction created by parents parking in the travel lane,” Couch said.

Couch said it is up to Morgan Elementary to find more space on campus for parking or to adjust the carpool routine. The DOT has offered to help put a plan in place so that the community can continue to be safe, Couch said.