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District proposes trimming one bus route after analysis showed many underfilled runs
Summary
Maple School District staff told the board that route analysis found low ridership on many runs and proposed consolidating eight routes into seven to save fuel and staffing costs while avoiding major schedule changes; the board approved reducing one route for further planning.
District staff presented a transportation analysis showing many bus runs operate with low occupancy and drivers are often crisscrossing the district. Staff said a mock reconfiguration indicated the district could reduce eight general routes to seven while maintaining start and drop-off times for most students.
The presenter cautioned that the route network is a complex operational puzzle—multiple family drop-offs and widely dispersed stops complicate any consolidation—but emphasized potential savings in fuel and staff costs if routes are rebuilt and ridership is increased. A board member asked staff to avoid creating excessively early pickup times or late drop-offs; staff said they would target no pickups before 6:15 a.m. and no drop-offs after 5:00 p.m. on affected routes.
The board voted to approve beginning the consolidation process with the reduction of one route and asked staff to continue detailed route planning and community communications ahead of any fall schedule changes.
