Sacramento, California – Last week, a familiar school-day challenge came into sharp focus in Sacramento’s District 1: the heavy traffic and congestion surrounding Heron School and NP3.
Councilmember Lisa Kaplan, joined by Team Kaplan, Public Works Traffic Investigations staff, PTA and PTSA members, and school staff, visited the campuses to examine the ongoing concerns where they occur each day.
The on-site visit brought together the people who see the traffic conditions from different angles. Parents and school representatives understand the daily arrival and dismissal patterns. Public Works staff bring experience evaluating traffic issues. Kaplan and her team have been working to connect those concerns with possible improvements and additional safety measures around the schools.
For families, congestion near a campus is not simply an inconvenience. Busy school zones affect students walking or being dropped off, parents trying to move through crowded areas, and staff members working to keep daily routines orderly. The visit at Heron School and NP3 centered on those continuing challenges and the need for practical solutions shaped by the people directly affected.
“Keeping our students, families, and school staff safe has always been a priority,” Kaplan said, adding that she is proud of the collaborative conversations already taking place to identify possible traffic solutions and further safety measures in and around the schools.
The gathering also reflected a broader approach to neighborhood concerns: meeting people where the issue is happening, hearing their experiences firsthand and involving several departments in the effort to improve conditions. Kaplan described such partnerships as essential because traffic and safety concerns around schools cannot be solved by one person or one group alone.
“These are exactly the kinds of partnerships that matter — bringing people together, listening to concerns directly on the ground, and working across departments to improve daily quality of life for our neighborhoods,” Kaplan said. “No one person has all the answers so, that means working together!”
Kaplan also credited Public Works teams for their involvement during the visit and in the continuing discussion. Their participation comes as attention remains focused on how school traffic patterns can be made safer and more manageable for everyone moving through the campuses each day.
According to Kaplan, her continued advocacy has also helped strengthen collaboration with the Sacramento Police Department and Parking Enforcement. Those partnerships are intended to increase visibility, encourage better compliance and respond to ongoing traffic and safety concerns around Heron School, NP3 and other campuses in District 1.
The effort does not suggest that every challenge has already been resolved. Kaplan acknowledged that additional work remains, while pointing to the communication among city staff, school communities and residents as an encouraging step.
“More can always be done, but I’m encouraged by the teamwork, communication, and shared commitment to making these school zones safer and more manageable for everyone,” she said.
The visit ended with a continuing message rather than a final answer: improving safety around schools depends on steady involvement. Kaplan thanked parents, staff members and community residents who continue to raise concerns, participate in conversations and support work aimed at creating safer daily conditions for students and families across District 1.