Vineland Officials Look To Make Things Safer At Bus Stops Following Tragedy
By David Madden
VINELAND, N.J. (CBS) - In the wake of a tragic accident a week-and-a-half ago in Vineland, New Jersey (see related story) that took the life of a teenager waiting for her school bus, officials are working to make things safer.
The effort is led by the city's Mayor, Ruben Bermudez, who plans to sit down with school district officials in the short-term to address how to act in the wake of the death of 14-year-old Alexa Strittmatter. He realizes it won't be easy:
"We have 69 square miles in the city of Vineland and that's something we have to look into," Bermudez said. "How best to fit the needs of our children here in the city of Vineland. Keep them safe."
A Cumberland County plan to put a traffic light up near the site of the accident has been put on the fast track, but Bermudez wants to go a lot further than that.
The city has applied for a federal grant to study where street signs, traffic signals and crosswalks might improve things citywide. He will also seek state and federal help in paying for whatever upgrades are needed.
