Baltimore group seeks solutions for school transit
A community event aims to develop ways to cut down on long transit rides and taxi costs for students. Baltimore City Public Schools will provide seed funding for the best proposals.
An event in Baltimore on Saturday aims to develop ways to cut down on long transit rides and taxi costs for students.
BALTIMORE — A community activism group is calling on Baltimore residents to come up with ways to make school travel more efficient for the city’s students.
The group, called Hack Baltimore, will hold a brainstorming event on Saturday. The gathering is expected to bring together transportation and safety advocates, community activists, students and education officials to discuss the transportation challenges that Baltimore City Public Schools and its students face.
In announcing the event, Hack Baltimore pointed to examples of students enduring long commutes or expensive taxi rides to and from school.
“Tisha lives far from public transit, but by law the Baltimore City Public Schools must provide transportation. The schools pay for a taxi to drop her off and pick her up,” the Hack Baltimore announcement says. “Because she is an elementary student, Tisha’s mother has to accompany her. The result is two round-trip cab fares.”
In all, the school district reportedly spends about $5 million per year on taxis, mostly for homeless students.
Another student highlighted by Hack Baltimore, Samuel, spends more than three hours a day traveling to his high school on a transit bus, a subway and then another transit bus.
With those types of transportation situations in mind, community members will convene at the Baltimore Design School on Saturday to try to develop new solutions for student travel. At the end of the event, Baltimore City Public Schools officials will choose the best proposals, and the district will provide seed funding and other resources to help develop the ideas into prototypes.
Selected teams will have 60 days to turn their proposals into prototypes, which will then be demonstrated to school district officials. According to Hack Baltimore, the most promising projects will be put into effect at the beginning of the 2015-16 school year.
While the Hack Baltimore announcement focuses on the use of public transit and taxis for student travel, Baltimore City Public Schools also uses yellow school buses for some students. For example, elementary school students who live more than 1 mile from their neighborhood school qualify for yellow bus service.
Transit passes are given to middle and high school students who live more than 1.5 miles from their school.
For more information on the Hack Baltimore event, go here.
More Management
How to Build a Better Driver Training Program
Ready to boost up your school bus instructor training? Here’s how to pick the right talent and improve recruitment, retention, and safety.
Read More →
CALSTART and Forth Combine to Form Catalyst Mobility
The new name represents a renewed vision for the nonprofit focused on advancing clean, equitable, and affordable transportation solutions that move people and goods.
Read More →
What Makes a Great School Bus Driver Trainer?
Choosing the right school bus driver trainer takes more than experience. Learn six keys to selecting and developing trainers and evaluating program effectiveness.
Read More →
School Bus Contractors Expand Through New Deals, Acquisitions & Partnerships
STA's Canadian division acquires Ontario-based G&L Stevenson Transport while Durham School Services adds a new district contract in California, First Student adds a New Jersey contract, and Minnesota Coaches acquires Halo Transportation.
Read More →
Logan Bus Company Rolls Out AI Phone System for NYC School Bus Families
A summer pilot found that AI agents could handle most routine calls, freeing up time for customer service staff to focus on emergencies and complex family concerns.
Read More →
From Intent to Impact: What I Learned About Leadership from TAPT
A Texas transportation supervisor shares lessons on self-awareness, accountability, managing stress and building trust — and why investing in leadership development matters at every stage of your career.
Read More →
NAPT Names 2026 Award Recipients, Hall of Fame Inductee
Who earned national recognition for their work in student transportation? This year, NAPT named five recipients of its 2026 awards for service, safety, and leadership, plus its newest Hall of Famer.
Read More →
2026 State of Student Transportation Report
Driver shortages. Rising costs. Growing safety expectations. More data, but not enough time to act on it. The 2026 State of Student Transportation Report reveals what transportation leaders say is putting the most pressure on their operations—and where they’re investing next. See how your priorities compare.
Read More →
How to De-Escalate an Angry Person: 5 Steps for Handling Workplace Conflict
What makes emotions run high, and how should you handle an angry colleague or parent? Follow these steps for staying calm, listening, showing empathy, and resolving conflict.
Read More →
What Readiness Looks Like This School Year
Learn about the challenges shaping the 2026–2027 school year, from persistent driver shortages and budget pressure to technology and readiness gaps. See how school districts are responding and adapting in Zonar’s 2026 Back-to-School Readiness Report.
Read More →