New bus turnaround provides safe access for The Learning Lamp program children

The Learning Lamp partnered with the Redevelopment Authority of Somerset County to create a new bus turnaround on the grounds of The Learning Lamp Center for Children.

This is good news for parents, children and drivers along Route 281. The long-awaited project eliminates the need for children enrolled in the center’s before- and after-school program to be picked up or dropped off on the berm of the highway each morning and afternoon.

“I have worked for The Learning Lamp for over 12 years and have stood at the bus stop with the children in all kinds of weather, waiting for the bus to come in heavy rain, deep snow, and bitterly cold winds,” said Natalie Hinton, center director, in a prepared statement.

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Although every effort was made to ensure children’s safety, the situation was less than ideal and presented a genuine safety hazard, Hinton said.

“I have witnessed cars run the bus stop too many times to count, putting kids in danger of crossing traffic to get on the bus,” she said.

Until now, the property didn’t provide enough room for a bus to pull up to the front door and turn around. The Learning Lamp proposed the creation of a bus loop as a safer alternative and approached the redevelopment authority for help.

With Somerset Borough signing off on the necessary permits, the authority applied for and was awarded a $75,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development's Commonwealth Financing Authority Multimodal Transportation Fund. The new access road and bus turnaround project now transports children safely to and from the center’s front door.

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“The new bus loop is a huge blessing that has been a dream for a very long time,” Hinton said. “This bus loop is going to make such a huge difference for the staff and the kids.”

Steve Spochart, the Redevelopment Authority of Somerset County executive director, said the project is a worthwhile one.

“I am excited for The Learning Lamp and the completion of the bus loop project. The authority is proud to have served as the grantee for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Multimodal Transportation Fund monies that were received for this most worthwhile project," he said in an email. "I want to thank The Learning Lamp and its leadership for their perseverance even when it appeared as though the funding might not be attainable and for providing the matching monies for the MTF grant. I’m sure it’s making a difference already with the improved, and much safer, process of dropping off and picking up the children.”

The Learning Lamp is a nonprofit with a mission to engage all children in the support they need to succeed. The programs are affordable and accessible to families of all income levels for students in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and school-age programs. They currently serve 78 children and working parents employed by a combined 107 businesses, human services agencies, government, educational institutions, retail, and other industry sectors, according to the center's news release.

"We’re thrilled that our before- and after-school kiddos now have a safer way to be picked up and dropped off each day," Lisa Stofko, director of community outreach, said by email. "We’re so appreciative of the redevelopment authority for its help. This wouldn’t have happened without that partnership and the grant it was awarded to pay for it."

Madolin Edwards has been a journalist at the Daily American for 38 years, covering school boards, borough councils, sports and new stories. Contact the Daily American reporters at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: New Somerset Pa bus turnaround good news for students, parents