Support Safe, Limited Workday Parking for School Bus Drivers
The Issue
Letter to the Ordinance Committee
Date: August 6, 2026
To: The Bridgeport City Council, Joint Committee on Ordinances
From: Bridgeport School Bus Drivers & Concerned Residents
Subject: Petition for Amendment to Chapter 10.12 (Commercial Vehicle Parking Regulations) – School Bus Neighborhood Layover Provision
To the Honorable Members of the Ordinance Committee,
We, the undersigned school bus drivers and residents of the City of Bridgeport, respectfully petition the City Council to amend Chapter 10.12 of the Bridgeport Municipal Code ("Stopping, Standing, and Parking Generally"). While we fully support the City’s efforts to reduce neighborhood blight and congestion caused by un-utilized commercial trailers, the blanket ban on overnight and daytime neighborhood parking heavily penalizes local school bus drivers during their standard split-shift midday layovers.
Currently, Bridgeport public school drivers operate on a strict split-shift schedule, completing morning runs by 9:00 AM and resuming afternoon drop-offs until 6:00 PM. The prohibition on parking any bus type on public rights-of-way prevents drivers from returning to their own homes to rest, use facilities, or eat lunch between shifts. This logistical strain negatively impacts driver morale, worsens local workforce retention, and forces unnecessary, emissions-heavy idling or deadhead driving back to central depots.
Therefore, we formally request that the Ordinance Committee draft and introduce a School Bus Neighborhood Layover provision to Chapter 10.12, utilizing the following safety-minded parameters:
1. Permit-Based Access: Allow Bridgeport-resident school bus drivers to register their address and employment with the city and obtain a resident placard
2. Strict Time Limits: Limit neighborhood street parking eligibility strictly to school hours, between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
3. No Overnight Parking: Explicitly maintain the absolute ban on overnight neighborhood parking for these commercial vehicles.
4. Safety & Traffic Compliance: Require all permitted school buses to be parked completely clear of intersections, crosswalks, hydrants, and school zones, ensuring the flow of traffic is never obstructed.
Carving out this narrow, time-restricted provision supports our local workforce while entirely preserving the neighborhood aesthetics and safety goals of the commercial parking ordinance. We look forward to discussing this matter at your next committee meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Angelina Van Norden
726
The Issue
Letter to the Ordinance Committee
Date: August 6, 2026
To: The Bridgeport City Council, Joint Committee on Ordinances
From: Bridgeport School Bus Drivers & Concerned Residents
Subject: Petition for Amendment to Chapter 10.12 (Commercial Vehicle Parking Regulations) – School Bus Neighborhood Layover Provision
To the Honorable Members of the Ordinance Committee,
We, the undersigned school bus drivers and residents of the City of Bridgeport, respectfully petition the City Council to amend Chapter 10.12 of the Bridgeport Municipal Code ("Stopping, Standing, and Parking Generally"). While we fully support the City’s efforts to reduce neighborhood blight and congestion caused by un-utilized commercial trailers, the blanket ban on overnight and daytime neighborhood parking heavily penalizes local school bus drivers during their standard split-shift midday layovers.
Currently, Bridgeport public school drivers operate on a strict split-shift schedule, completing morning runs by 9:00 AM and resuming afternoon drop-offs until 6:00 PM. The prohibition on parking any bus type on public rights-of-way prevents drivers from returning to their own homes to rest, use facilities, or eat lunch between shifts. This logistical strain negatively impacts driver morale, worsens local workforce retention, and forces unnecessary, emissions-heavy idling or deadhead driving back to central depots.
Therefore, we formally request that the Ordinance Committee draft and introduce a School Bus Neighborhood Layover provision to Chapter 10.12, utilizing the following safety-minded parameters:
1. Permit-Based Access: Allow Bridgeport-resident school bus drivers to register their address and employment with the city and obtain a resident placard
2. Strict Time Limits: Limit neighborhood street parking eligibility strictly to school hours, between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
3. No Overnight Parking: Explicitly maintain the absolute ban on overnight neighborhood parking for these commercial vehicles.
4. Safety & Traffic Compliance: Require all permitted school buses to be parked completely clear of intersections, crosswalks, hydrants, and school zones, ensuring the flow of traffic is never obstructed.
Carving out this narrow, time-restricted provision supports our local workforce while entirely preserving the neighborhood aesthetics and safety goals of the commercial parking ordinance. We look forward to discussing this matter at your next committee meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Angelina Van Norden
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Petition created on August 23, 2026