Proposed Bus System Changes Would Save Money, Shift Bell Schedules
Additional Information
Information Provided to the Board (new window)
Listen: Transportation Director Discusses Bus Plan (new window)
Transportation Routing Analysis
| Minutes Bell Schedule Changed |
Number Of Schools |
| 0-10 | 127 |
| 11-20 | 3 |
| 21-30 | 3 |
| 31-40 | 7 |
| 41-50 | 11 |
| Over 50 | 18 |
| Transportation Routing Analysis: Cost Savings |
|
Feb. 8, 2012 - Transportation Department leaders yesterday presented the Wake County Board of Education with a proposal to change school bus routes and schedules beginning in the 2012-13 school year. The move would increase efficiency, accommodate growth and save up to $10 million. The savings and cost avoidance comes at a time when school transportation departments across the country have been forced to confront rising costs for fuel, parts and maintenance.
The proposal will transform bus service in most WCPSS transportation districts to a two-tier system replacing the current three-tier system. In a two-tier system, bus drivers pick up and deliver students to two different schools each morning and return them home in the afternoon. In the current three-tier system, bus drivers pick up and deliver students to three different schools each day. The three-tier system has been in place since 1994. Since then, the number of schools has increased from 94 to 165.
Converting to a two-tier bus system will have an impact on the bell schedules at many schools. "For three-quarters of our schools, bell schedules would change minimally,” said Bob Snidemiller, senior director of transportation operations and finance. "A smaller number of schools would see significant adjustments, so we want to be sure parents and the school board are fully informed of the potential impact as well as the benefits before the board makes a decision."
Check the proposed bell schedule for your child’s school here.
Families are encouraged to review the potential changes and share their feedback through an online survey between Feb. 9-16. In accordance with board policy, the school board must adopt bell schedules for 2012-13 by the end of March. Citizen feedback will be shared with the school board in advance of its Feb. 21 discussion of the issue.
The new transportation routes would reduce the bus fleet by 112 buses for 2012-13 (saving $6 million) and restore school system transportation efficiency to 99 percent (preserving $4 million in state revenue). The plan would add more time between bus runs, allowing bus drivers more time to safely deliver students to school. That additional time would allow buses to absorb new stops without significantly extending student ride times.
- Read the Transportation Department handouts (PDF). Corrections to the proposed bell schedule (light blue backgrounds) were made on Feb. 9.