BPS transportation officers say 66% of the district’s morning buses arrived on time on the first day of college, a efficiency price they’re lauding as the very best on file, however one that also wants enchancment.
Roughly 94% of the buses arrived inside half-hour of the bell, with 85% arriving quarter-hour earlier than courses began, in response to information from the district’s transportation workplace. Over 20,000 college students boarded the bus to get to high school.
Officers had been nonetheless accumulating the efficiency price for the afternoon runs earlier than the Herald’s deadline. The district has an enrollment of over 40,000 college students.
“This is a strong foundation to continue building on and we look forward to continued improvement in the days and weeks ahead,” officers stated in an announcement Thursday afternoon.
“This notable improvement,” they added, “displays our crew’s devoted efforts to handle operational challenges via reforms and system-wide enhancements, applied over the previous a number of years, together with stronger contracts, improved staffing, and modernized expertise throughout our system.
Earlier than Thursday, the very best first-day on-time efficiency price got here within the 2023-24 college 12 months at 64%. Final 12 months began shakier than typical, at a startling 34%, coinciding with the implementation of a brand new GPS monitoring system that allowed dad and mom to see real-time info on their youngsters’ buses
Enhancing the on-time efficiency has been a key point of interest for metropolis officers, with the district being mandated to succeed in a 95% general clip in an settlement with the state to keep away from a receivership in 2022.
The settlement expired on the finish of final college 12 months.
Officers have pointed to the district reaching a 94% month-to-month on-time efficiency price in March and June, which they’ve stated are the “strongest monthly results since the (COVID-19) pandemic began.”
Forward of the brand new college 12 months, BPS officers introduced sweeping transportation security modifications prompted by the loss of life of 5-year-old Lens Joseph. The kid was fatally struck by his bus driver in Hyde Park in April.
A report launched final week particulars suggestions for transportation oversight and security measures within the aftermath of Lens’s loss of life. The beneficial modifications applied embody unannounced spot checks of driver certificates, extra full-time security trainers, metropolis oversight of Transdev’s incident and different information, and extra.
BPS bus transportation is supplied by the contractor Transdev, which independently hires and employs drivers. Town renewed a five-year contract with Transdev in 2023.
“We also recognize that further progress is needed,” officers stated of the morning efficiency on the primary day. “BPS remains committed to building on this momentum and will continue working closely with Transdev, our bus drivers and bus monitors, and our school communities to ensure every student arrives safely and on time to class and home every day.”
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