Peninsula School District changes bus routes amid driver shortage. Here’s the plan
The Peninsula School District consolidated bus routes this week in response to a national driver shortage. That means some routes went away, some now have more stops, and some students have different pick-up and drop-off times.
The changes took effect Nov. 8, and the new routes will be in effect for the rest of the school year. Transportation director Pam Roland said the district hopes to have more drivers next year and to be able to add more routes.
“Our transportation department will continue to adjust these new routes as the week goes as needed,” Roland said in a statement Wednesday. “As with any change, unforeseen challenges may arise. With the talents of our skilled bus drivers and professional staff, we will continue to remedy situations as they arise.”
Buses that are going away and being consolidated with other routes are:
- Bus 107 for Peninsula High School, Harbor Ridge Middle School and Purdy Elementary
- Bus 102 for Gig Harbor High School, Goodman Middle School and Harbor Heights Elementary
- Bus 118 for Gig Harbor High School, Kopachuck Middle School and Voyager Elementary
- Bus 146 for Peninsula High School and Minter Creek Elementary
- Bus 154 for Peninsula High School, Key Peninsula Middle School and Evergreen Elementary
- Prior to Nov. 8, Bus 151 for Peninsula High School, Key Peninsula Middle School and Vaughn Elementary already consolidated into route 155.
Buses that now have additional stops and different pick-up/drop-off times are:
- Evergreen Elementary 116, 134, 157, 270
- Harbor Heights Elementary 114, 141, 152
- Minter Creek Elementary 101, 147
- Purdy Elementary 104, 108, 127
- Voyager Elementary 132, 143, 158
- Goodman Middle School 138, 145, 150, 152
- Harbor Ridge Middle School 144, 159
- Key Peninsula Middle School 111, 134, 157, 270
- Kopachuck Middle School 119, 126, 133, 135
- Gig Harbor High School 133, 141
- Peninsula High School 111, 116, 134, 157, 159
The district is asking students to be at bus stops 10 minutes early and to be ready for delays as drivers get used to the changes.
More information about the routes, including new drop-off and pick-up times, is available at https://www.psd401.net/departments/transportation.
Other Pierce County school districts are seeing similar fallout from the shortage of drivers. The Puyallup School District told parents last week it plans to suspend routes later this month, and the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District told families earlier this year that it was “highly likely that some bus routes will be affected to some degree on a daily basis.”
The Peninsula district had 74 drivers and four substitutes as of Wednesday, and Roland said they just graduated four new substitutes, who will be able to transport students next week.
The ideal number of substitutes for the district is 12, Roland said.
The district upped the pay for drivers, substitutes and mechanics to attract new employees.
The hiring and training process involves a background check and a commercial driver license with the proper endorsements and medical exam, which Roland said takes four to six weeks to finish.
This story was originally published November 11, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
