The area to be served by the bus must met the criteria listed above and be
reviewed by Transportation Department to determine the safest location for the
school bus stop. The following items are considered when adding or relocating a
school bus stop.
Distance to the child's home - on regular routes students may,
depending on conditions, be required to walk up to 1.5 miles to the school bus
stop.
Distance to closest stop - the District attempts to locate
school bus stops no closer than 1/8 mile apart. Experience has indicated that
bus stops located close together make motorists impatient, resulting in more
cars passing stopped buses.
Visibility - on highways where the speed limit is forty (40)
miles per hour or more, no bus will stop on a curve or a hill where visibility
is not at least 500 feet. Three hundred (300) feet minimum visibility is
required on all other roads and highways.
Waiting area - areas which have a safe location off the roadway
for students to wait for the bus are preferable.
Grade - school bus stops must be located on flat ground. During
the winter months it is difficult for children to board and exit the bus when
parked on a slope. Locating of a school bus stop on a slope increases the
potential for a child to slip and fall under the school bus.
Road maintenance - as stated above, the road must be maintained
by the Alaska Department of Highways, the Municipality of Anchorage or a Local
Road Board.
Street lights - wherever possible school bus stops will be
located in close proximity to a street light.
Width of street - school bus stops will be located only in
areas where streets are wide enough to safely board and discharge students.
