The number of noisy school buses from New York driving through a quiet Mahwah neighborhood have dropped off dramatically since News 12 New Jersey first reported the issue on Friday.
That's according to homeowners on Martis Place who have watched the school buses use their neighborhood as a turn around to get back to New York.
Donna Davino lives along Martis Place at Reid Court in Mahwah and had been documenting 18 to 20 school buses per day on her street starting at 7 a.m.
"There’s been a great improvement," said Davino.
Those buses are now turning on Miller Road, the next street down, which ensures the buses no longer have to perform any K-turns in a cul-de-sac. Davino and her neighbors say they didn't appreciate the noise from the buses, as well as the safety concern as buses performed turns in cul-de-sacs in front of homes with children.
Those neighbors also believe the sign at the end of their block banning trucks over 4 tons is being ignored.
“A bus is well over four tons and a bus is on a truck chassis. I’m not sure if you have to be specific and say trucks and buses but as far as I’m concerned, it’s violating the law," said Davino.
Chestnut Ridge Transportation operates those buses for private schools in Suffern, New York. The homeowners on Martis Place did not get any alert or notice from the company that drivers would be taking another route but they hope the change is permanent.
The mayor of Mahwah is also trying to help make the route change permanent.
Mayor Jim Wysocki tells News 12 New Jersey he is enlisting the help of Rep. Josh Gottheimer and contacting officials in Rockland County.