The Fort Mill School District is scrambling to address major school traffic changes after its third-party traffic control provider abruptly ended service just days before the start of the new school year.
Major Changes and Public Concerns
On Wednesday, the district announced that while pedestrian crossing guards will remain at painted crosswalks, there will no longer be traffic guards managing vehicle flow in and out of school campuses. This unexpected change prompted the district to implement temporary traffic adjustments, including “right-turn only” rules and revised campus patterns, developed in collaboration with local law enforcement and municipalities.
“These are not permanent fixes, but short-term measures to immediately alleviate congestion,” the district stated, emphasizing that they can only make changes on school property and are relying on local and state agencies to act on public roadways.
This morning, the district followed up with a second statement: “We share the concerns about the traffic situation… and will continue to advocate strongly for additional safety measures from the proper authorities.”
State Lawmaker Steps In
South Carolina House Representative David Martin responded swiftly. In a Facebook post this morning, Martin revealed he was notified of the changes only the day before and was not consulted in advance. By 9:00 a.m., he met with the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) and Senator Michael Johnson to submit an emergency objection and a formal request for immediate safety intervention.
“I’m actively working to find solutions with multiple agencies before school starts next week,” Martin wrote.
In comments under his post, Martin added that the district “has not been provided the support needed by SCDOT,” and local law enforcement currently lacks the staffing to supply additional officers for traffic duty.
With school starting next week, pressure is mounting on local and state officials to address traffic safety before students return. While stopgap traffic patterns are in place, the long-term responsibility for road improvements, staffing, and infrastructure lies with SCDOT and county governments.
The district has urged families to follow the updated traffic flow maps and allow extra time during pick-up and drop-off.