With winter well under way, the commute to and from NT’s east campus is not as easy-going as it is during warmer months. Both teachers and students frequently get stuck in the slow crawl of cars trying to drop off or park on the streets surrounding the Winnetka Campus.

Traffic on the surrounding streets of the campus is often congested, causing students to be tardy. Sophomore Athena Rai mentioned the affects of the weather, “Yes the weather affects me greatly. When it is snowing or raining, people opt for cars as transportation, causing the roads to be much more crowded.”

Junior Jessica Jeon agreed that the winter weather can make her late. “The weather is a huge factor, there are already so many cars in my way and then if it is snowing or raining everyone has to drive more carefully and it gets backed up.” Jeon brings up a good point; the weather means that people have to drive slower, which causes a longer commute time.

Physical Plant Services Custodian and overseer of the traffic around New Trier, Erik Munson, also feels that the weather takes a toll on school commuting. He says that if it is raining or snowing, he does not want students to stand on the sidewalks waiting to cross for very long, because he does not want them getting wet or being struck by a car.

Junior Cheyenne Cox  agreed that the weather plays a big role in getting to school. “The weather totally affects me. We try to leave at least five minutes earlier but we shoot for ten minutes earlier.”

Cox continued to say that it all comes down to the last minute while getting to school. “If I am a minute later, then traffic is really bad. Some mornings are a lot worse than others.”

Munson says that the first priority of the PPS custodians is to keep all students safe and to keep the flow of traffic moving. Besides the weather conditions, it seems that there are always too many cars around the school. Munson says that the best way for cars to keep moving is for the parents to pay attention and to be patient. Often it seems that parents are not listening or paying enough attention to what is going on or where they are being directed to go.

Many kids also have to factor in walking time from wherever they are dropped off. The First Bank and Trust and the 7-11 on Green Bay Road, the Metra parking lot, and Elder Lane parking lot on Sheridan Road are common places students get dropped off away from the school.

Jeon explained how traffic can be confusing there too. “It is just a long line all the way to Essex, so even if there is a break in cross traffic [at Abottsford and Essex], we cannot go and have to wait.”

Junior Maggie Best gets dropped of at the 7-11. “Never get dropped off by 7-11. It is freezing in the morning and sight he snow and ice. It takes twice as long to get to school.” The ice on the sidewalks causes a more cautious trek to school, and a more lengthy one, Best continued to explain.

Best says that the train is probably the best way to get to school if you live close to it. The train is generally consistent. Jeon disagrees; “There is no easy way to get to school.” She feels that every way to get to school comes with a bit of a struggle.

Rai believes school provided transportation is a reliable way to commute. “I think busses are convenient.” Many students park at the Northfield Campus and shuttle to avoid the crowded roads in Winnetka.