BPS buses ran 86% on time in the morning in the first month, short of the 95% goal, as councilors take up Transdev's record

Boston Public Schools buses got students to school on time 86% of the time in the mornings during the first 24 days of the school year, Boston.com reported on Sunday, citing district data. That is two points lower than the same stretch last year, and short of the district's 95% target. Afternoon buses averaged 83%, up one point.

For the more than 18,000 students who ride yellow buses, a late bus can mean missed class time, and families of students with disabilities have told the council they are hit hardest. The City Council's Committee on Education scheduled a hearing for 2 p.m. Monday on transportation performance, contractor accountability and corrective action (public notice; meeting page). This story was written before the hearing began. We will report on what was said once the city posts the recording.

What the new numbers show

From Boston.com's analysis:

• Mornings. The first day was the worst, at 61%. The first five days averaged 78% and the last five averaged 90%. The best mornings reached 93%. 96% of buses arrived within 15 minutes of the bell.
• Afternoons. The first day was 73%. After the first four days, afternoon performance did not drop below 80%. 94% of buses arrived within 15 minutes.
• Context. Since 2017-18, the first-24-day morning average has been 83%, so this year is above the long-run average but below last year.
• The fleet. Transdev, the district's contractor since 2013, has 730 drivers, 650 bus monitors and 750 buses this year across 609 routes, the site reported.
• Fines. The contract lets BPS charge Transdev $500 for each "blown trip," a trip that is uncovered or more than an hour late. The district fined Transdev more than $400,000 for March through June, according to WBUR figures cited by Boston.com. It is not clear whether fines are being charged this school year. BPS did not comment before publication.

Boston 25 News reported the same figures Monday, along with a BPS statement that it would continue to monitor on-time performance and push for continuous improvement.

What our records add

The order. City Councilor Erin Murphy filed the hearing order, docket 1920, on Oct. 5, with eight co-sponsors: Benjamin Jacob Weber, Brian Worrell, Ed Flynn, Enrique Pepén, Gabriela Coletta Zapata, John FitzGerald, Julia Mejia and Miniard Culpepper. The council referred it to the Education Committee, chaired by City Councilor Julia Mejia, on Oct. 7. The Nov. 4 council agenda already lists it under "Matters Recently Heard – For Possible Action" (agenda). On recent agendas, items under that heading have stayed in committee.

How the benchmarks work. At the committee's March 31 emergency hearing on bus delays, a district transportation official explained that the contract's 95% benchmark grew out of a 92% level the system had hit before the contract, and confirmed the $500 penalty per blown trip in answer to questions from City Councilor Benjamin Weber (watch at 1:56:23). That earlier order, docket 0374, filed by Murphy and Flynn in February, is still in committee.

The budget questions. At an April 16 Ways and Means hearing, City Councilor Sharon Durkan pressed BPS on whether it was fining Transdev for late buses and no-shows (watch at 1:24:00). Murphy has described the bus operation as a system costing close to $200 million a year.

What's next

The full council meets Wednesday, Nov. 4, at noon. The Education Committee's next posted hearing, on Nov. 9, is on how BPS staff cuts affect students with disabilities (docket 1333). Written testimony on bus service can go to ccc.education@boston.gov, according to the hearing notice. Transdev's current five-year contract began in 2023, Boston.com reported.