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District finds seat-belt retrofit or purchase not financially feasible; replacement cost estimated at $13.95M
Summary
Transportation director reported SB546 cost estimates: 65-bus fleet, $205,000 per new route bus (rising to $225,000), $40,000 per-bus retrofit; Board determined retrofitting or immediate replacement with seat-belt-equipped buses is not financially feasible, passing the finding 7–0.
Larry Denkins presented a required SB546 cost report on March 16, detailing Pine Tree ISD’s transportation fleet and replacement options. He said the district operates 65 buses (62 standard routes), with most vehicles purchased in 2017 and mid-life in a 15–18 year lifespan. Denkins reported receiving quotes of $205,000 per new HDX route bus with projections to at least $225,000 in coming years; he estimated total replacement at $13,950,000 and retrofit costs at $40,000 per bus.
Denkins told the Board that retrofitting would require parts and installation downtime that would remove buses from service and create logistics challenges. After discussion, the Board voted 7–0 to find it financially infeasible to retrofit or purchase buses with three-point seat belts at this time.
