Traffic Challenges on First Day of School in Bloomfield Hills

New schools, new schedules, new traffic patterns.

Officials with both the Bloomfield Hills Schools and Bloomfield Township said no major incidents or problems were reported on the first day of school Tuesday. But traffic was definitely impacted on Lahser Road through the morning and afternoon rush hours as parents and students traveled to or from both campuses of the new Bloomfield Hills High School.

The district posted traffic maps to its website and lined the streets surrounding both the main and ninth grade campuses with signs warning of delays. They said to expect an adjustment during the transition of a consolidated high school, but also emphasized students should take the bus.

"There will be less congestion, it will be safer and it's available for them all year," district spokeswoman Shira Good said recently. The BHS has 21 consecutive years of perfect inspections, and some parents said they were compelled to take advantage of the service after just one day.

"Quite a different experience taking Lily to BHHS this morning than it was dropping her off at Lahser last year," wrote Deb Trombly Ochs on the district's Facebook page. "I'm guessing many parents echoed what I said to my daughter as I dropped her off today: 'you will be taking the bus this year!'"

Still, some parents sounded off on the delays.
"The bus missed our neighborhood completely and left all the students stranded. Then when we finally showed up late, they got barked at! Nice start!" wrote Michele Tucci.

"Hopefully it will be possible to do that and make it to school on time as the school year falls into a groove. Today was not that day," Ann Bieneman wrote.

What to know?

• Parents dropping off in the morning or picking up in the afternoon should enter at the south end of the main campus and drop off behind the building. 
• Transportation plans for both campuses, and bus schedules are available on the disrict website.
• All seniors parking in the main campus lot must display a senior parking pass.
• Senior students parking at Model must have a Model parking pass which can be purchased in the main campus main office.
• All shuttles to offsite locations, including the 9th grade campus, will leave by 7:10 a.m. In addition to the website, the entire shuttle schedule will be posted  in the main hallways of both buildings.