WOODBRIDGE, N.J. — Parents at the Sept. 18 Woodbridge Township Board of Education meeting urged the district to provide bus transportation for students who currently walk to Forest Middle School, citing unsafe sidewalks, heavy traffic and an absence of crossing guards.

Bridget Farber of Fords said her daughter and about 40 classmates must walk roughly 1.7 miles to Forest Middle and that some routes lack sidewalks and crosswalks. "My daughter has to call me every day while I'm at work when she walks home. She's nearly been hit by a car twice," Farber said.

Board members and staff described how busing eligibility is determined under New Jersey law. An official explained the statute referenced at the meeting — 18A:39-1 — establishes that for elementary pupils (K–8) the statutory distance threshold is 2.0 miles and for secondary pupils (grades 9–12) it is 2.5 miles; short-distance walkers inside those thresholds are ordinarily not given district bus service. The board noted the transportation office uses a detailed field-evaluation form that considers roadway width, traffic speed and other hazards when assessing specific stops.

Officials said sidewalks and crossing-guard placement are municipal responsibilities for many roads, and urged residents concerned about specific intersections to file requests with municipal traffic safety authorities. The superintendent and transportation supervisor also offered to rerun route evaluations and review the site with municipal officials and the transportation department to determine whether extraordinary circumstances exist that would change a student’s eligibility for transport.

Board members acknowledged the district faces broader infrastructure limitations and budget constraints if it were to provide district-funded courtesy busing for students already inside the statutory walking distance.

No board vote was taken; transportation staff said they would recheck routes and respond to the parent’s follow-up request.