TRANSPORTATION ROUTES AND SERVICES

100   Establishment of Regular Routes

1.  A regular pupil transportation route may be established if
     (a) Fifteen or more pupils reside more than one and one-half miles from the attendance center to be served by the route, measured from the closest point of the school property to the closest point of the residence property using a route which a student could actually walk to the location. Students will not be required to cross private property without the permission of the property owner.
     (b) Some roads within the boundaries of the District are not considered safe for school bus operation.  The District attempts to establish school bus routes that will serve students in a timely fashion on all days when school is in session.  The following requirements must be met before a route is approved.  The entire route is over regularly maintained roads, having at least a gravel surface, which are under the supervision and all-weather maintenance of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, a public utility district, a municipality, a borough service area, or any other agency supported by public funds; adequate turnaround space for transportation vehicles must be available on the route.
     (c) Because of the differences in vehicles used for student transportation the District considers a number of additional factors when evaluating a road for a school bus route.
         1) Access – Areas with limited access (one road in and out) are not desirable.
         2) Grade – Residential and collector streets with a grade in excess of 20% will not be considered for school bus services.  Grades between 10% and 20% will be evaluated to determine if school bus service can be provided in conjunction with all other factors.
          3) Recovery Area – Roads with steep grades must have adequate area to recover from a skid should the bus lose traction while traveling up or down a grade.
         4) Road Width – The road must be built and maintained to a sufficient width to allow a school bus and another vehicle to pass without leaving the roadway.
         5) Sharp Curves – Tight curves that require the bus to enter the oncoming lane of traffic are unacceptable.  Curves at the end of a steep grade can cause a serious safety hazard should the school bus lose traction and will be grounds for denial of a route extension.
         6) Sight Distance – There should be sufficient sight distance, especially on hills, curves, and at the student loading zones so that other traffic can be seen.
         7) Steep Embankments – Embankments along the sides of the road can cause a hazard should the school bus lose traction.
         8) Winter Maintenance – All roads on school bus routes must be maintained to provide safe access for school buses especially during the winter months.  

2.  A transportation route must be free from duplicate mileage unless
     (a) The pickup point requiring the duplicate mileage serves at least three pupils and is at least one mile one way from the main route; or
     (b) The pickup point requiring the duplicate mileage serves 15 or more pupils.
     (c) The pickup point requiring the duplicate serves a minimum of one student per mile.

3.  A regular transportation route may serve students attending private schools, provided there is space available.  Routes may not be modified to accommodate private school students.

4.  A regular transportation route may serve students attending charter schools, provided there is space available.  Routes may be modified to accommodate charter school students.

130   Hazardous Routes

1. Those routes within one and one-half miles of an attendance center which cannot be safely traveled by children because of traffic, weather, or other hazards may be designated by the school board as hazardous routes.

2. The school board shall approve hazardous routes on an annual basis.  A hazardous route designation applies only during the period that the hazard exists and for a maximum of one school year.

3. The Superintendent shall make recommendations to the school board each spring for the following school year.

 
140   Modification and Termination of Routes

1. The district may extend an existing regular route if
     (a) The extension is more than one mile and one way from the existing route unless it will serve 15 or more pupils; and
     (b) The extension serves a minimum of one student per mile; and
     (c) The extension is over regularly maintained roads as required under section 100 (1)(b) if it is to be added to a regular transportation route.

2. The District shall discontinue service:
     (a) For an existing regular or other conveyance route, when only ten or fewer pupils have been transported on that route for a period of two consecutive months;
     (b) For route extensions, if the average number of students to be transported falls below one student per mile or less during two consecutive months.

3. Route extensions apply only during the school year in which they were established.

160   General Provisions for Regular and Other Conveyance Routes, Route Extensions and In-Lieu-Of Agreements 

1. The passenger capacity of a pupil transportation vehicle is determined based on the manufacture’s rated capacity, calculated using a 13-inch seating space, for elementary school children and two-thirds of the manufacturer’s rated capacity for students in middle, and high school.  A school bus may not be loaded at more than 10 percent above capacity.  Passengers may not be permitted to stand when the school bus is underway.

KETCHIKAN GATEWAY BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
Adoption Date:  2/20/04
Revision Date: 1/14/2015