JCPS reports big gains in bus punctuality, outlines new routing system and camera plan ahead of Aug. 6 start

Jefferson County Public Schools told the Board of Education on July 21 that bus service is markedly improved since the 2023 transportation crisis and that the district is rolling out a new routing system to sustain gains.

The transportation presentation said AM drop-off on time rose to 99.5 percent this year, while average PM "clear time" has improved from about 7:06 in the crisis years to roughly 5:40, and total late-minute counts have fallen substantially. "This year, our metric was 99.5% drop off on time," the transportation presenter stated, summarizing the district's operational metrics.

Why it matters: bus performance affects families' ability to rely on schools for timely start and dismissal, and the district tied its progress to investments in routing software, training and communications that staff say reduce the risk of a repeat of prior disruptions.

What the district will do: staff described a 16-month procurement that selected the Traversa routing system and a staged implementation that used Traversa for special education and select routes this year before rolling the system out to all routes. The presenter said the district will keep its legacy routing software as a backup during the transition. "We landed on the Traversa routing system," the presenter said, adding the district vetted large, complex districts during the RFP.

Staff also described operational safeguards: a pause period during which new stops will not be added through about Aug. 17, a contractual 48-hour notice guarantee when new stops are added (per the Teamsters agreement), route verification quality-control checks, and two additional paid practice days for drivers. The district will stage three full scrimmages of routes (the first on July 31) and meet with principals and drivers to confirm timing.

Families were urged to complete the district transportation verification form and to use the family-facing bus-tracking app the district is promoting; staff said bus-stop assignments will go live on the district platform on July 27 at 10 a.m. The presenter also reminded the public of a state law change affecting stop-arm behavior on undivided four-lane roads and said routing practices avoid sending students across four-lane roads.

Board members asked about stop-arm cameras and TARC service cuts at some high schools. Staff said the district has a contract with a vendor to equip buses with stop-arm cameras and that the arrangement is cost-neutral because the district will receive a share of fines generated by violations. On the TARC question, staff said some high schools lost direct hourly service under TARC route optimization and that the district is working with principals to provide alternatives such as activity buses for extracurricular riders.

The board pressed on driver numbers and whether the district could move to two start times; staff said a rough estimate to reach two start times is approximately 840 drivers and that the current driver pool remains constrained. The transportation team said training, tablets on buses, a centralized routing team and targeted recruitment have increased drivers and readiness; the team reported 671 active drivers with 46 additional drivers in training at the time of the meeting.

What comes next: Board member Everett requested a follow-up report by September or October presenting options if driver counts do not improve, including a menu of possible actions. Staff agreed to return with options and supplemental data.