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South Orange‑Maplewood studies bus 'hub' plan to shorten long student rides
Summary
District officials said they are modelling hub stop scenarios (0.75, 1.0, 1.25 miles) to shorten student bus times that can run 35–55 minutes; results are expected next week and could alter routes and stop counts.
South Orange‑Maplewood administrators said the district is testing a transportation 'hub' model intended to reduce long bus rides for some students and find cost efficiencies.
At the town hall, Business Administrator Mr. Moody said the district is examining route optimizations and a hub system that would consolidate stops at larger locations. He described three distance scenarios the district will model — hubs 0.75 miles, 1.0 mile and 1.25 miles from student addresses — and said transportation staff should return data on the scenarios within days.
The move responds to concerns about lengthy ride times. "We have some kids spending anywhere from… 35 minutes to 55 minutes on a bus," Mr. Bing said during the Q&A, noting late arrivals and long travel times for some students.
Cost context: Mr. Bing and Mr. Moody said roughly $10.9 million is budgeted for transportation, covering athletics, field trips, out‑of‑district placements and in‑house needs. Administrators said the district has been fully privatized for regular busing for several years and is exploring whether bringing some buses back or adopting hub stops could reduce long‑term costs.
Community input and timeline: Administrators said they will compare the three hub scenarios once the transportation department provides route data (expected Monday/Tuesday following the town hall) and will present results to the community. Any change to stops or routes would be evaluated for impacts on ride time, punctuality and accessibility.
