District credits 'Safe Start' changes with sharp rise in bus ridership and on‑time performance
Transportation staff reported ridership grew from about 47,000 to 61,416 daily after moving from a four‑tier to a three‑tier routing system; morning on‑time arrivals rose from about 83% to 98% and PM pickups improved to 88% as the district pursues routing technology and driver incentives.
The full story
David Noland, who presented the Safe Start initiative update, told the board the district’s transportation redesign has driven substantial gains in both ridership and punctuality. "This year it's at 61,416 riders," Noland said, calling the roughly 14,000‑student increase a 31% rise in ridership over the prior year. He attributed the gains to moving from four tiers to three in routing, better route stability for drivers and targeted operational changes.
Sign up to keep reading.
Your free newsletter brings you what your city council, county, and school board discussed and decided.