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Board hears transportation plan that eliminates three routes and reconfigures transfer hub
Summary
Officials described elimination of three routes, consolidation of special-education trips, a reworked transfer hub grouping buses in threes to reduce student transfers, and the sale of two underused buses.
Little Falls Community Schools’ transportation team briefed the board on planned changes for the coming school year, including the elimination of three regular routes and adjustments intended to improve safety and efficiency.
Presenter(s) explained that Palmer Bus route 18 (an in-town route), route 90 (northwest of Little Falls) and route 55 would be removed from the district’s regular-service roster; students on those runs will be reassigned to other routes or shuttled where appropriate. The district said it changed its registration process this year to route only students who register online, which reduced the number of route riders and enabled the route eliminations. Special-education runs were also reduced from about 20 vehicles last year to an expected 13–16 this year after registration and assignments are finalized.
Transportation staff described a new transfer-hub configuration that groups buses in teams of three so students who transfer move shorter distances across the terminal. The plan includes moving Lincoln Elementary’s bus drop-off/pickup to the south side of the building and introducing tags on backpacks so students are guided to the correct transfer bus. The district also said it will attempt to sell a surplus 77-passenger bus and a 25-passenger bus and that annual vehicle inspections are underway with the Minnesota State Patrol.
Staffers urged parents with questions to contact the transportation coordinator; board members said the changes aim to reduce congestion and improve student safety at transfer points.
