According to figures from the Central Indiana Educational Service Center, the nonprofit now handling busing for the district, 1,800 students have signed up to ride buses as of Wednesday, leaving an additional 4,200 students riding in cars, 6News' Kara Kenney reported.

Franklin Township's roads, many of them with little shoulder space, will now have to accommodate all the parents who did not pay the $475 per child for bus service.

"Oh, it's going to be horrible. Everybody's going to be late for school," said Sarah Stanley, a mother of three who said she can't afford to pay the bus fee.

Franklin Township has hired security company Protection Plus at a rate of $1,000 a day to help with traffic control.

"That's a temporary situation," said Superintendent Walter Bourke. "They will only be here the first four to five days of school."

The school corporation will also use school police, school employees and work with Indianapolis police, which will have 20 officers on standby when school begins.

The three intersections of most concern are at Franklin and Edgewood roads, Franklin and Southport roads and Southport and Shelbyville roads.

Traffic is expected to be especially gridlocked along Franklin Road, home to both the middle school and high school.

"It'll be a hassle," Bourke said. "Parents need to know the traffic will be heavy."

Bourke is asking parents to find out what their schools' pickup and drop-off procedures are and leave a little extra time.

The number of bus riders will jump to 2,400 by Aug. 17, after a surge of parents signing up after last week's deadline to be picked up by the start of school.

More Information: Check School Bus Routes