News & Insights

Often, transportation contracts specify that school districts have the responsibility to establish bus stops. This is typically done in consultation with the school transportation provider; however, the school district usually has the final say on the bus stop location. As contractors know, it is not uncommon for the transportation contractor or the school district to receive complaints about the location of bus stops from parents or students. A typical complaint is that the location of the school bus stop is unsafe because the walking route to the bus stop is dangerous. Notably, the law permits school districts to submit walking routes to their local PennDOT engineering district for an evaluation. The PennDOT engineering districts will consider factors such as whether there have been pedestrian accidents along the route, how many cars drive by, whether there are railroad crossing that must be crossed by the student, and if sidewalks are present, among other factors. Upon review, PennDOT will certify the route as either safe or unsafe. Contractors should keep in mind that the request for an evaluation must come from the school district.

Need help starting the conversation with your school district about safety and bus stop location? Reach out to our team of experts.