 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
Important Changes to Bus Routes for Middle & High School Students Living on Cul-de-sacs The 2006-07 bus stops for Middle and High school students living on cul-de-sacs have changed. It is critical that those residing on cul-de-sacs take note of the new routes. This measure addresses travel time, fuel cost, and the cost avoidance of additional buses. Over the last few years, the district has been faced with an increase in the number of residential homes with children, and new developments being constructed. This has all resulted in an increase in the length of each bus run and an increase in the number of miles traveled. Unless this issue is addressed, the cost to provide transportation to the students of the district within the allowed time frames will only increase. The bus routes in Region 15 have become longer and, if the number of stops are not reduced, one of two things will result. First, if the same number of buses are kept in operation, the length of the bus rides will increase. The students will be required to be at bus stops earlier, and they would potentially be getting home later. At the high school level, it would result in earlier pick-ups; we currently have pick-ups starting at 6:20 AM. Secondly, we could be faced with acquiring additional buses, thus additional costs, to accommodate the time constraints that we are faced with in delivering our students to the schools in the AM and home in the PM. The cost of fuel has increased, and by consolidating the bus stops, we will be saving the taxpayers money by reducing not only the number of miles traveled by each bus, (annual distance traveled on cul-de-sacs for HS and MS is approximately 23,700 miles) but by reducing the number of stop and go’s that take place on each run. All of which consumes fuel. We are looking at a savings of approximately $15,000 in fuel costs alone. By consolidating the bus stops, we will be able to accommodate more stops in the future on certain runs, which would result in avoiding the cost of additional buses. The current cost of a bus is approximately $50,000 per bus. This does not guarantee that we will never be faced with adding additional buses to the fleet due to new construction, the location of the students, or the change in the academic day, but it does provide us time before such a need becomes part of the operating budget. Since this step results in the elimination of approximately 250 stops per day, there are many benefits to the district as a whole. The reduction in travel time, the cost of fuel, and the cost avoidance of additional buses, are all beneficial to the district. We are very concerned with the safety of our students both on the bus and those waiting for the bus or getting off the bus. If anyone has any concerns about safety issues at the new stop location, please contact Keith McLiverty at the Central Office, 203-758-1743. |
|