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Gov. Deval Patrick and his administration are investing in three programs to support alternative fuel vehicles and related infrastructure across Massachusetts, including the launch of an electric school bus pilot program. The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources will provide $1.8 million in grants for eight electric school buses with vehicle-to-grid capability.
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Several Massachusetts legislators are renewing efforts to require seat belts in large school buses. Four bills are currently under consideration in the state Legislature.
Read More →School bus operator North Reading Transportation will pay the penalty to settle EPA allegations that it violated federally enforceable motor vehicle idling limits in Massachusetts. EPA officials say that the company has responded quickly and has already implemented a number of idle-reduction measures.
Read More →After walking off the job on Tuesday, the approximately 300 drivers have returned to work and yellow bus service has resumed for Boston Public Schools. The union that represents the drivers says they agreed to return to work after the contractor that serves the district agreed to meet to discuss driver grievances.
Read More →The drivers, who serve Boston Public Schools, are members of United Steelworkers of America Local 8751, and officials for the district say the strike appears to be connected to the union’s opposition to changes underway from the district’s contractor, Veolia Transportation. The strike impacts nearly half of the 33,000 students who receive yellow bus service.
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After the explosions at last week's Boston Marathon, eight school bus drivers from AA Transportation stepped up to shuttle people away from the site. Company President Ron Ernenwein commends the drivers for their actions, noting that "not one person opted to go home, complained the assignment was too hard or took a break after the 18th hour of shuttling."
Read More →Under the five-year contract, Boston Public Schools will continue to own the district’s school bus fleet. Veolia Transportation will be responsible for all aspects of operations, including safety performance, training, hiring and management of employees, and vehicle maintenance.
Read More →The purchases will be put off this year due to anticipated budget cuts stemming from the federal sequester. Officials at two agencies that run Head Start programs in the state say that they don’t yet know the extent to which their budgets will be impacted. The Patriot Ledger reports that the sequester reduced the budget for Head Start by 5%.
Read More →The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles suspends all of Ride-Rite Medi-Van Co.'s school pupil transportation licenses, and the company will be required to pay $100 per suspended registration for each of the vehicles. Michael Tantillo was allegedly drunk when he transported a special-needs student for four hours, and he did not have a school bus driver’s license.
Read More →A petition to set aside $316,250 in Lexington, Mass., town funds to reduce the fee from $550 to $300 per student is approved at a meeting in April. As of this month, ridership at Lexington Public Schools is reportedly up to 37% from 33% last year.
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