Transportation Update Atlanta Board of Education Work Session

June 3, 2019

Agenda

Purpose Provide a general overview of the Transportation Department

Current challenges and proposed resolutions

On-going initiatives

Roadmap Current status and focus areas

Next steps

Administration’s Summary Understanding of efforts contemplated to improve service

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General Overview

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Trips SY17-18 SY18-19

Home to School/School to Home (Runs) ~235,800 ~228,240

Day Trips (School Day 9:30 am -1:00pm) 4,804 4,594

Evening Trips (3:00pm – Midnight ) 1,781 2,133

Weekend Trips (Saturdays and Sundays) 848 845

Holiday Trips (Non-school days) 153 110

Total Runs/Trips ~243,386 ~235,922

Buses422Routes293 Miles Travel Daily21,215

Students Transported Daily32,069

Special Needs: ~990 Student Riders Transitional/Homeless: ~645 Student Riders

Transportation4:00 am – 11:00 pm

MARTA Passes~59,800Source: Office of High Schools

School Bus Fleet

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CURRENT STATUS

Year Age Count

2001 18 Years Old 9

2003 17 Years Old 7

2006 13 Years Old 12

2007 12 Years Old 32

2008 11 Years Old 632009 10 Years Old 172

2010 9 Years Old 34

2011 8 Years Old 33

2012 7 Years Old 15

2013 6 Years Old 7

2014 5 Years Old 10

2015 4 Years Old 7

2016 3 Years Old 21

Total 422

Average Age 9.7 Years

FALL 2019 PROJECTED STATUS

Year Age Count

2007 12 Years Old 29

2008 11 Years Old 632009 10 Years Old 128

2010 9 Years Old 34

2011 8 Years Old 33

2012 7 Years Old 13

2013 6 Years Old 5

2014 5 Years Old 10

2015 4 Years Old 7

2016 3 Years Old 21

2019 New 49

Total 392

Average Age 8.1 Years

• 49 new buses on order. Expected delivery: June 2019

• 79 buses are slated for disposal/auction (summer 2019)

(422 + 49) -79 = 392

Homeless Student Transportation

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Student CountAverage Total

Daily Ride Time

APS Student From

APS Boundary 405 3:03

DeKalb Boundary 74 4:45

Fulton Boundary 57 3:14

Clayton Boundary 15 4:11

Douglas Boundary 2 4:51

Henry Boundary 2 5:32

Fulton Student

APS Boundary 42 3:26

DeKalb Student

APS Boundary 15 3:50

Cobb Student

APS Boundary 6 4:07

Clayton Student

APS Boundary 24 4:14

Douglas Student

APS Boundary 3 4:00

Grand Total 645 3:24Earliest pick up time: 4:30 a.m.

Latest drop-off time: 6:47p.m.

McKinney-Vento Act

McKinney-Vento Act

School Stability

• Homeless children and youth can remain in their school of origin for the duration of homelessness and until the end of an academic year in which they obtain permanent housing.

• LEAs must make best interest determinations about school selection that presume that staying in the school of origin is in the best interest of the child or youth; consider specific student-centered factors; prioritize the wishes of the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth; and include a written explanation and right to appeal if the LEA determines that school stability is not in the best interest of the child or youth.

• The definition of school of origin now includes both the designated receiving school at the next grade level (if there is a feeder school pattern), and preschools.

• Transportation to the school of origin is required, including until the end of the academic year when a student obtains permanent housing (if it is in the student’s best interest to remain in that school).

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Call Center Operations

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Source: Cisco Contact Center Reporting

Year

Total Calls Presented

Calls Handled Calls AbandonedAverage

Queue TimeAverage

Handle Time

English Spanish Total English Spanish Total English Spanish Total English Spanish English Spanish

2017-2018 44,500 1,441 45,941 31,578 1,085 32,663 12,922 356 13,278 4:04 3:56 3:09 6:05

2018-2019 33,471 728 34,199 25,950 427 26,377 7,521 301 7,822 3:05 3:32 3:45 3:57

Transportation Call Center 404.802.5500

5:30 am - 7:00 pm (school days)

Transportation Challenges: National School Bus Driver Shortage

Bus Driver shortages are affecting school districts across the nation.

As of Friday, May 10, 2019 APS has approximately 55 bus driver vacancies.

Reasons cited nationally for shortages:- Robust economy (candidates have more choices)- Student behavior- Background Checks (criminal history)

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Bus Driver Shortage: Immediate Actions

• Multiple Bus Driver Recruitment Events

• Targeted APS Bus Driver Recruitment Marketing and Communications Campaign Local Networks, Hyper-local digital, Digital

outdoor boards, social media, yard signs & Atlanta radio

• APS CDL Permit Assistance Program Developed and operated by APS (Adult CDL

Literacy Program)

The district has taken several immediate actions to recruit and attract bus drivers including:

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Challenges: Traffic Density

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Traffic Density: Grady Cluster- 05/13/19, 7:30 AM

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Traffic Density: Grady Cluster- 05/13/19, 8:30 AM

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Traffic Density: Grady Cluster- 05/13/19, 9:00 AM

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SY18-19 On-Time Performance

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ClusterSY18-19

AMOn-Time %

SY17-18AM

On-Time %

Carver 98% 98%

Douglass 93% 87%

Grady 91% 92%

Jackson 93% 87%

Mays 97% 95%

North Atlanta 93% 94%

South Atlanta 97% 97%

Therrell 97% 97%

Washington 92% 94

Other Programs 88% 74%

Single-Gender Schools 85% 93%

Based upon assigned buses completing assigned routes

School TypeSY18-19

AMOn-Time %

SY17-18AM

On-Time %

Elementary Schools 92% 92%

Middle Schools 96% 97%

High Schools 95% 93%

Overall Dept. % 94% 93%

*On-Time KPI Performance Legend

Below Average < 80%

Average 80%

Above Average 95%

*Based on Industry Standard

Internal Audit Recommendations: December 2018

Summary of Recommendations Next Steps/Corrective Actions 1. Ensure adherence of the Georgia Code Title 20:

• Driver annual physical examinationImplementation of Image Director document solutions application – October

2019

2. Ensure all bus operators attend required annual training Completion of annual training will be tracked via MYPLC professional development platform

3. Ensure completion of dry runs (practice routes) Written attestations from each driver

4. Ensure adherence of policy EBC-R(2) Security- Fleet Safety Control Program Process to complete and ensure monthly MVR checks Implemented –February 2019

5. Ensure bus operators complete pre and post trip inspections Hiring of additional bus operator supervisors –increase oversight capacity

6. Prioritization schedule for work orders Fleet Focus Software implementation underway –August 2019

7. Ensure proper information technology security controls Refresh of privileges and passwords –completed

8. Ensure 20-day DOE Inspections Revised inspection accountability process implemented –August 2018

9. Ensure annual GDOT inspections Reduce bus usage during month of March so that buses are available for inspections

10. Ensure annual emissions testing New department head process implemented – 100% of vehicles tested in January 2019.

11. Ensure ASE Certifications No longer a district requirement

12. Implementation of standard operating procedures Under development

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SY19-20 Improvement Strategies Dependent upon FY20 Budget Approval

On-Time Performance • Select schools will open their doors 15 minutes earlier

• Brandon Intermediate and Primary • Smith Intermediate and Primary

• Grady and N. Atlanta Clusters – four additional buses each• Bus stop pick-up times could change by as much as 5-7 minutes (earlier)

Bus Fleet Maintenance• Fleet Staff Work Calendar: 252 to 262 Days

Human Capital Management • Hire dedicated Transportation Personnel Generalist• Hire additional supervisors

Reduce supervisor to employee ratio from 1:120 to 1:60

Communications/Customer Service • Bus Tracking Application • Transportation Call Center “Let’s Talk” Implementation

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Walkability Efforts

Grady Cluster• Community Members invested in the walkability of their Neighborhoods to

Howard

• Exploring alternatives to school buses • Safe Routes to Schools

• Beltline/trails

• Bicycles

• MARTA

APS and Ga Tech Walkability Collaboration• District Walkability Mapping

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Needed Decisions

BOE decisions related to the construction of a new transportation facility

Possible locations owned by the district• Former Bankhead Courts Property (3475 Donald L. Hollowell Parkway)

• Former C.M. Pitts Property (2210 Perry Boulevard)

Discussions and decisions will be a part of the district’s facilities master planning efforts

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Estimated Cost: $8M (Included in SPLOST 2017 Program)

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