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Pullman transit crowding, behavior raised by driver; district reviews routes and staffing
Summary
A Pullman transit driver told the board that some student trips to Lincoln Middle and Baldwin High have been overcrowded and disruptive — including an incident involving Axe spray — while transportation staff detailed recruitment, backup driver training and a vehicle fleet that includes three electric buses.
A Pullman transit driver told the school board during public comment that several student runs are overcrowded and that driver and passenger safety have been affected by unruly behavior. Transportation staff then presented the district's route patterns, staffing levels and vehicle fleet status in response to board questions.
Jason Cook, speaking during public comment, said routes carrying Lincoln Middle and Baldwin High students sometimes operate at standing‑room only. "Buses are crowded, and oftentimes, there is only it is very cramped and standing room only," he said. Cook said drivers and transit supervisors have responded to incidents, and he described one episode in which a student repeatedly sprayed Axe body spray on a bus, leaving other riders choking and forcing the driver to stop, open vents and ventilate the vehicle.
Transportation staff (presenting for Justin) outlined the system: about 15 total routes including dedicated in‑town elementary routes, hybrid rural routes and specialized routes for preschool/head start; roughly 831 miles covered daily by yellow buses. Staffing includes a transportation supervisor, assistant supervisor, a mechanic, 16 drivers and five substitutes, and maintenance staff who are CDL‑trained and serve as backup drivers. Staff said they have recruited and trained five new drivers since summer and have invested in local CDL training to reduce the need to send trainees far away.
The district's fleet includes 26 buses and nine auxiliary vehicles (vans, trucks), of which three are electric. Staff said 21 buses are on a depreciation schedule and that the district has worked to align retirements and purchases after a period of being "upside down" on fleet age.
Board members asked about safe routes to school and the process for reviewing walking maps and crosswalks; transportation staff said safe‑routes maps are reviewed annually and that some crossing guard duties and student volunteer crossing programs are funded in part through safe‑routes allocations.
What this means
Staff described a combination of recruitment, local CDL training, and using maintenance staff as contingency drivers to reduce service cancellations. The public comment raises a specific safety concern that the district and Pullman Transit supervisors may need to investigate further.
