Bus Route Extension/Stop Relocation

Requirements for School Bus Route Extensions | Requirements for School Bus Stops | Process for Evaluation 

Requirements for School Bus Route Extensions

The Anchorage School District Transportation Department establishes school bus routes to serve eligible students within the natural attendance areas of District schools. In order to be eligible for transportation students must live more than one and one half (1.5) miles from school or live in an area which has been determined to be hazardous by the Districts Hazardous Transportation Committee. Safety of students is the primary concern when establishing school bus routes and student pick up locations.

Some roads within the boundaries of the Anchorage School 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 extension is approved.

• The pickup point requiring duplicate mileage must serve at least three students and be at least one mile one way from the main route; or the pickup point requiring duplicate mileage serves a minimum of fifteen (15) or more students.
  
  
• The entire route must be over regularly maintained roads, having at least a gravel surface, which is under the supervision and all weather maintenance of the Alaska Department of Highways, the Municipality of Anchorage or a Local Road Board.
  
  
• Adequate turnaround space for transportation vehicles must be available on the route.

School buses are designed to provide safe transportation for students. However, the potential for accidents increases dramatically if buses are routed on roads with unsafe conditions or roads not adequately maintained, especially during the winter months.

The design and handling characteristics of school buses are radically different from other vehicles on the road today.  An empty full size school bus weighs in excess of 10 tons (over 15 tons fully loaded) and has a significantly higher center of gravity than an automobile, SUV or light truck.  Because of the differences in vehicles used for student transportation the Anchorage School District considers a number of additional factors when evaluating a road for a school bus route extension:

Access
Areas with limited access (one road in and out) are not desirable.

Grade
Residential and collector streets with a grade in excess of 10% will not be considered for school bus service. Grades between 6% and 10% will be evaluated to determine if school bus service can be provided in a safe manner. The severity and length of the grade will be considered in conjunction with all other factors.

Recovery Area
Roads with steep grades must have adequate area to recover from a skid should the bus loose traction while traveling up or down a grade.

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.

Sharp Curves
Tight curves which 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 loose traction and will be grounds for denial of an route extension.

Sight Distance
There should be sufficient sight distance, especially on hills, curves and at student loading zones so that other traffic can be seen.

Steep Embankments
Embankments along the sides of the road can cause a hazard should the school bus loose traction.

Winter Maintenance
All roads on school bus routes must be maintained to provide safe access for school buses especially during the winter months. If maintenance is an issue the District will monitor winter maintenance one complete winter prior to initiating bus service.

Please contact Pupil Transportation at 742-1200 for Request for Change of School Bus Stop Forms