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Councilors press city on Transdev, school-bus liability and claims transparency
Summary
Councilors used the hearing to press the administration for documents and data about school transportation: whether the Boston Public Schools or Transdev bears liability in crashes, details about an independent review after last year's fatal crash, and data on past payouts and insurance arrangements.
During the Ways and Means hearing on April 23, councilors pressed the Corporation Counsel's Office for clearer answers about school-bus safety, Transdev's role as the contracted transportation provider and who bears financial responsibility after bus accidents.
"I have lost complete faith in Transdev," Councilor Murphy said during questioning, recounting long-term concerns about the contractor's safety performance and urging more detailed follow-up from the administration. The Law Department said an independent report led by attorney Natasha Tidwell followed last year's fatal student crash, that the department participated in the review and subsequently engaged with Transdev about implementing its recommendations.
Councilors asked whether payouts for injuries involving Boston Public Schools buses are handled by Transdev's insurer or by the City. Firestone said the answer depends on the facts of each claim and that there are circumstances where both the Boston Public Schools and Transdev may be named in lawsuits; the City would represent the Boston Public Schools in its official capacity and Transdev would rely on its own counsel for claims it faces.
Firestone said the City is effectively self-insured for many claims and offered a five-year look-back on settlements and payouts on follow-up. He estimated, without committing to a precise figure, that annual payouts and settlements have ranged between about $10 million and $25 million depending on case mix, and confirmed there is at least one matter where claims against Transdev remain active.
Why it matters: questions about operator liability, insurance coverage and settlement amounts relate to student safety, municipal fiscal exposure and the Council's oversight responsibilities. Councilors pressed the Law Department to prioritize outstanding RFIs and 17F requests involving transportation insurance and to identify a point of contact for follow-up.
Next steps: Firestone said his office will follow up with councilors on specific 17F requests, provide a more detailed breakdown of past settlements on request, and help coordinate with the Transportation Department and Boston Public Schools on operational protocol questions raised by councilors.
