Transportation Department

Transportation Department Policy Regarding Bus Routes and Bus Stops

The Fremont Public Schools Transportation Department is providing this document to acquaint you with policies and procedures related to bus routes and bus stops. Our primary goal is the safe transportation of students to and from school.

Transportation Department Policy

Fremont Public Schools shall be responsible for transporting children from their assigned bus stop to school in the morning and returning them to their assigned bus stop after school. Each child will be assigned to use a specific bus and bus stop location. A child will not be permitted to use any other bus or bus stop without permission from the Director of Transportation. The Director of Transportation may grant permission for a pupil to ride a different bus or use a different stop. Such permission may be granted only upon receipt of written request from a parent(s)/guardian(s) to the Director of Transportation. This request must be received 3 days prior to the date of change requested. The purpose for which special permission is requested shall be:

To relieve a temporary situation that would otherwise work a severe hardship on a pupil in getting to and from school.

For such other emergency or unusual reason as shall be approved by the Director of Transportation.

 The requested change must not result in the overcrowding of any bus; alterations of any regular bus route, bus stop or time schedule; or in any other way interfere with the regular operation of the transportation system.

Transportation of eligible children to and from school is a privilege to be enjoyed only as long as the child accepts responsibility for his/her conduct, carefully follows all rules and regulations, displays respect at all times for the bus driver and responds to the directions and requests of the bus driver.

Transportation is provided for students attending schools within the District residing more than one and one-half mile walking distance to school and students living within one and one-half mile of their school who would be subject to hazardous traffic conditions if they were to walk to school.

A road condition is considered hazardous under the following conditions:

Students must walk along or across a freeway, an expressway, an overpass, an underpass or a bridge where no walkway is provided.

Students must cross an uncontrolled major traffic artery.

Neighborhood streets without sidewalks are not considered hazardous to pedestrian traffic.

Transportation services must be efficient and cost effective. It is also important that parents and/or guardians assume the responsibility of safety at bus stops, including getting children to and from bus stops.

School bus stops are situated so as to allow students to wait off the main road way for the bus if at all possible. Stop locations are determined by analyzing all or some of the following:

Population density within a given neighborhood

Traffic patterns

Sidewalk locations

Bus Stop Walk Range

The bus stop walk range is defined as the maximum walking distance from a student’s residential address to the student’s assigned stop location.

High School and Middle School student may be required to walk up to one mile to a bus stop and Elementary students may be required to walk up to one-half mile

Stops are spread as far apart as policy will allow in order to decrease the number of stops each bus will make on its route, thus minimizing riding time for students. Stops are not placed at dead end streets whenever possible to minimize bus accidents while backing. (Backing is a very dangerous maneuver for a school bus)

Transportation routes are re-evaluated and adjusted prior to the start of school each year, and as necessary during the school year, to provide the best service for all eligible students. Routes are subject to change as required by considerations pertaining to student load and bus capacity, total ride time, arrival time at school and bus route coordination with the bell times of the schools.

We are constantly evaluating bus stop locations so as to be as efficient and fair as possible. All requested changes must be made in writing. No phone request will be considered. All requests will be reviewed. This process may take up to two weeks. Requests for stop location changes or additional bus stops on a route, are evaluated according to policy regarding stop location and “stop range” walking distance as defined above. The highest priority will be given to stop change request that meet the following conditions:

The student's walk to stop is in excess of the “stop range” as stated above

The student's walk to stop is hazardous as defined above

The stop location is in close proximity to a hazard that could compromise the safety of students 

If you are a School of Choice student who is in need of transportation, we will provide transportation to and from the closest established bus stop location to your residential address. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) are responsible for your transport to and from said bus stop.

If you are new to the District (or to a particular school), and are eligible for transportation services, but do not have a bus stop within the “stop range” walking distance for the student's school level please call the Transportation Dept. at 924-4390 to request a stop.

Transportation forms are available at all the schools as well as the Administration Building and Transportation Department. A form can even be printed off this web site and filled out at home and sent in with your child. Please note that it may take 3 – 5 days to make a route change (or longer at the beginning of the school year, or if the new stop will significantly change the times for the other students on the route), so you may have to make arrangements for your child to get to and from school during this time.

If changes in school bus routes do affect the times for others students on the route all parents must be given adequate notice.