Statewide routing software proposal pitched as optional tool to improve bus efficiency

Department and Legislative Services Office analysts described a request for a statewide contract for student transportation routing software that would be optional for school districts and charters. The department’s stated goal is to improve route accuracy, better track miles and ridership, and save operating dollars by producing more efficient routes — a benefit officials said smaller districts and charters often cannot achieve on their own because commercially available routing systems can be cost‑prohibitive.

Superintendent Crishfield told the committee that districts using routing software already produce more efficient routes and that a statewide, optional contract is intended to make that capability available to districts that cannot afford it on their own. Gideon Toleman, the department budget official who handled technical questions, said many districts and charters currently lack routing software and that the proposed contract would provide those districts an opportunity to adopt modern routing tools.

Committee members asked whether the request depends on legislation and whether the department has issued an RFP. The department replied that the proposal is contingent on legislative action tied to the budget and that no RFP has been issued; staff said they had researched the market but had not entered procurement without legislative authorization. Several members asked for numbers: how many districts already use routing software and how many could use it; the department said they would provide that information to the committee.

No formal action or vote was recorded; committee members flagged the item as contingent on bill passage and asked staff to supply district‑level counts and a procurement timeline if the committee chooses to advance funding.