Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) announced on Sept. 11 that three new bus pickup locations will serve students living in the historic Stop Six neighborhood. The stops, placed on Vel Drive, provide transportation for children attending Maudrie M. Walton Elementary, Dunbar High School, Young Men’s Leadership Academy and J. Martin Jacquet Middle School.
Parent advocacy leads to change
For more than two years, FWISD mother Adrienne Haynes urged the district to bus her children and their neighbors rather than force them to walk through active construction near Loop 820. Haynes filed petitions, called district officials, and worked with the parent‑advocacy group Parent Shield Fort Worth to highlight the safety concerns.
In August, Haynes raised the issue at a community meeting with board managers Laurie George and Luis Galindo. George confirmed that hazardous‑route transportation would be considered at the board’s Sept. 8 meeting. When Haynes reviewed the proposed list, she discovered that the Stop Six area was missing.
Board action and district response
On Sept. 8, the FWISD board of managers approved the 2026‑27 hazardous‑route designation, allowing transportation for students who face dangerous traffic or a high risk of violence while walking to school. The district’s spokesperson, Evan Anderson, said the new stops make any student living within two miles of the affected campuses eligible for bus service.
Director of Transportation Rufus Huckaby inspected the area and noted significant construction, barricaded walkways and two crossing guards directing students under the Loop 820 bridge at Ramey Avenue. After meeting with Parent Shield on Sept. 10, the district mapped the stops, assigned a bus and set pickup times. Haynes recalled being told the service would begin the next day, and the district delivered on that promise.
Details of the new service
The three stops are each designated for a specific school: one for Walton students, one shared by Dunbar and Young Men’s Leadership Academy, and one for Jacquet students. Anderson did not disclose the exact number of newly eligible students, but confirmed that the stops will eventually be incorporated into existing bus routes and added to the official hazardous‑route list for state transportation funding.
Haynes expressed relief that the district moved from providing transportation on a case‑by‑case basis to offering a neighborhood‑wide solution. “I was ecstatic,” she said, noting that the rapid response gave her hope for continued progress. She emphasized that the effort is not finished, urging the district to ensure safe transportation options for Stop Six children attending other schools or programs.
Community impact
The Stop Six area is historically Black, with Black students comprising a majority at Walton and Dunbar and roughly 40% of enrollment at Jacquet and Young Men’s Leadership Academy. By adding these hazardous‑route stops, FWISD addresses longstanding safety concerns and supports families who previously faced dangerous walks through construction zones.
FWISD’s actions align with Texas law, which permits districts to request additional transportation funding when walking exposes students to hazardous traffic conditions or a high risk of violence. Hazardous traffic conditions can include freeways, expressways, bridges and other major roadways.
Local officials and parents hope the new service will set a precedent for other neighborhoods facing similar challenges. As Haynes put it, “Parents can’t stop until someone’s listening.”
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
