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Palmdale outlines transportation plan, projects $5.4M AB 181 reimbursement and plans fueling/charging upgrades
Summary
Transportation director Francisco Padilla presented the district's 2026-27 transportation service plan for AB 181 reimbursement, reporting roughly 124 buses, about 2,300 students transported, a projected $5.4 million reimbursement and plans for an above-ground fueling/charging station, hiring a district mechanic and facility upgrades.
Palmdale School District's transportation director told trustees on March 12 that the district anticipates up to $5.4 million in state reimbursement for the 2026-27 school year under eligibility criteria established by Assembly Bill 181 and shared a multi-year plan to improve fleet maintenance and yard infrastructure.
Francisco Padilla said the district operates about 124 buses (including specialty buses such as a science bus and a technology bus arriving soon) and transports roughly 2,300 students on 17 general-education routes and 43 special-education routes. Elementary eligibility is based on a 1.5-mile radius from a student's home school boundary and 2 miles for middle school; qualifying pupils receive free home-to-school transportation at no charge.
Padilla described eligibility and outreach efforts for pupils with disabilities, homeless students and foster youth, noting coordination with special education teams and the use of in-house yellow school buses where feasible; mileage reimbursement is offered as an alternative when necessary.
The district's planned uses for the expected reimbursement include hiring a district mechanic, building a four-bay garage for enterprise and specialty buses, purchasing shop equipment and tools, and studying alternative fuels for an above-ground fueling station and charging infrastructure. Padilla said the district had purchased about 4.5 acres for bus parking and is projecting carryover funds to support yard improvements and shop equipment.
Padilla also described enterprise operations that provide transportation services to other districts and agencies and suggested the district could achieve greater self-sufficiency and eventually reduce general-fund pressure on bus replacement by growing enterprise revenues.
Board members praised the vision and asked clarifying questions about covenant and cost projections; Padilla said the plan includes outreach to stakeholders and two consultation meetings with classified staff, administrators, transit authorities and air-quality districts as required by AB 181.
The board received the transportation service plan and will use it to support the district's application for state reimbursement and to guide yard and fleet investments.
