After months of discussion regarding the current school bus stop at the intersection of Route 15 and the Atkinson Road in Dover-Foxcroft we parents and neighbors in the area brought forth their safety concerns to the SAD 68 school board for the second time on Dec. 3.

We feel the bus stop should be located on the Atkinson Road and not on Route 15. There are many safety issues involved. An inspection has been done by the Department of Transportation that said the bus stop is safe as far as the sight distances and if people travel at the speed limit. The DOT engineer observed that there were several people going over the speed limit. This is one of our concerns.

Another of our concerns was the traffic congestion caused by the parents’ cars parked at the intersection while waiting for the bus to pick up and drop off our children. Dennis Dyer, Dover-Foxcroft police chief, attended the Dec. 3 meeting and commented that he agreed that the parked cars on the Atkinson Road at that intersection are a concern for both the people sitting there and the people coming on and off Route 15. He also stated that we have other bus stops in town that are as dangerous.

The board and parents both have children’s safety in mind, but it is most important to choose the option that is the safest for the children as well as the people traveling on Route 15. So, for those of you who have come by the vehicles parked on the Atkinson Road near the bus stop, please use caution when coming off Route 15 as well as coming onto Route 15.

Jim Ellis

Brenda Oldfield

Ron Oldfield

Dover-Foxcroft