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Caroline schools say single maintenance bay for 77‑passenger buses is inadequate; board hears $3.4M expansion estimate
Summary
Transportation staff told the school board their maintenance facility has one heavy-bay for the district’s large 77-passenger buses and needs multiple bays. Board discussion flagged fleet inspection cadence (45 days) and the need for at least 3–4 bays; an expansion estimate of roughly $3.4 million was cited for a larger project.
Caroline County Public Schools’ transportation director told the school board Tuesday that the division’s vehicle maintenance facility is undersized for the growing fleet of 77‑passenger buses and that a single service bay for heavy vehicles creates operational risk. The board received a preliminary construction estimate tied to a larger expansion and discussed short-term and long-term options.
Why it matters: State inspection rules require buses be serviced at regular intervals (the transportation director said roughly every 45 days), and a growing fleet of large-capacity buses has put the district under operational strain. When a bus requires inspection or repair, the director said, having a single heavy-bay can place vehicles out of service and affect routes.
Transportation director Mr. Childs told the board the division will receive an additional 77-passenger bus soon but currently has limited heavy-bay capacity. “One bay would not cut it,” he said, describing the practical effects on fleet uptime and scheduling. Board members and staff discussed whether adding a single bay would be a temporary fix or whether a three- to four-bay facility is required for reliable operations.
Architectural estimates provided during the meeting suggested a full expansion and deferred-maintenance remediation of the transportation building could be in the neighborhood of $3.4 million, staff said, though those figures remain preliminary and contingent on program scope, site work, and procurement.
Next steps: Board members noted the transportation facility is county-owned and that capital funding and coordination with the Board of Supervisors will be required. Staff asked the board to include the transportation project in upcoming capital discussions and to work with the county on funding options; the board signaled support for further study and requested more detailed cost, scope and schedule information.
Ending: Staff will return with a refined scope, prioritized needs (short term vs. long term), and funding options to support a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors and to inform the district’s CIP submission.
