HONOLULU — Ray L’Heureux, assistant superintendent at the state Department of Education's Office of School Facilities and Support Services, reports that Oahu’s school bus reform initiative is projected to save $500,000 by the end of the school year, according to a Civil Beat blog post.

The anticipated savings is $100,000 more than what officials originally expected by the end of the 2013-14 school year. Meanwhile, the department is expanding service in the pilot area, which includes about 30 schools, while decreasing the number of buses in the fleet. (The reform in Oahu is part of a statewide plan to overhaul the school bus transportation system, as SBFhas reported.)

L’Heureux also said that because the area represents less than 15% of the entire state’s ridership, the total savings could be significant, according to Civil Beat.

The department is completing the request-for-proposal process for buses serving Oahu schools, which will all be included in the pilot next year. The program will expand to cover the entire state during the 2015-16 school year.

To read the full story, click here.

Other recent news related to Hawaii's transportation overhaul:

• Roberts Hawaii, Ground Transport to bus students in Oahu