Littleton Public Schools’ Transportation now more efficient, more customer-oriented

Littleton Public Schools prides itself on providing excellent transportation services to its families. LPS buses transport approximately 7,500 students more than 4,000 miles each day in 75 district-owned and operated school buses with an outstanding safety record. LPS Transportation Services shares the district’s vision to always look for ways to be more efficient, while keeping in place the services that are most important to the community.

Each year, transportation services reviews the bus routes and makes adjustments for student population and route efficiencies. Thanks to newer, affordable technology, student data from Infinite Campus can now be integrated into the routing process. This system helps pinpoint where even greater routing efficiencies can be found, which results in fuel savings and enhanced safety for students. It also provides better data, which means less guesswork and more precise routing based on where students actually live. This in turn provides better customer service.

The LPS community benefits from these efficiencies in three ways: They save money and help keep current, free services in place; they enhance student safety; and they provide more equity in services for families.

How does this new system save LPS money and keep current services in place?

In these tough budget times, some school districts have been forced to charge their families fees for riding school buses. The Littleton Public Schools Board of Education places a priority on keeping transportation free to families, and also keeping the current level of transportation services in place. The new system helps identify how current bus routes can be changed to be more effective and efficient. As a result, some routes were consolidated, and two bus routes were eliminated, which helps LPS save on fuel costs and drive fewer miles. This cost savings helps to support the Board of Education’s priority for maintaining the current level of free transportation services to families.

How does it enhance student safety?

Because the system allows us to be more flexible, the locations of some bus stops have been moved to safer areas where our bus drivers have better visibility. Some bus stops that had previously been in front of individual residences have also been moved, not only for better visibility, but also as a way for LPS to be a “good neighbor.”

How is it more equitable for families?

The locations of our bus stops have not changed much over the years. The new system provides us with better data and more flexibility, which means that bus stops can be placed where they are needed in a more equitable manner to best serve current families. As a result, there will be more equity in walking distances to bus stops.

If LPS is running two fewer bus routes, how will that affect students?

Some bus stop locations have changed, and the times students need to arrive at their bus stops may have changed.

The length of the bus ride may change for some students.

Buses will be running closer to capacity, which means there will be more students on some LPS buses.

Some schools will have fewer buses serving their students.

What is remaining the same?

School start and end times are the same.

The criteria for eligible riders is the same: for middle and high school students, a walking distance of more than 1.5 miles from the student’s residence to their neighborhood school; for elementary students, a walking distance of more than 1 mile from the student’s residence to their neighborhood school.

 The district’s commitment to providing the best possible transportation services to its families!

Questions? Call LPS Transportation Services at 303-347-4775. Or visit the District website at www.littletonpublicschools.net and look for “Bus Transportation” under the “for Parents” tab.