With the new school year just days away, the Portage la Prairie School Division is putting the final touches on its fleet of buses, emphasizing rigorous maintenance and significantly improved route efficiency.
Under the direction of Supervisor of Transportation Adam Thompson, the division has worked to ensure students will spend less time on the bus while riding in vehicles that meet the highest safety standards.
The division’s two full-time mechanics have been the backbone of the summer preparation, performing scheduled routine maintenance on the entire fleet. This diligent work ensures every bus is in peak condition for the first day of class.
Adam Thompson outlines the comprehensive process, explaining, "We have two full-time, dedicated mechanics that work for us, and they run those buses, taking care of them all year round. There's not a thing that we miss on them; we have a scheduled routine maintenance of all of them. We do two safeties a month for each bus, and we just continuously do safety checks."
This maintenance includes everything from essential mechanical work to cosmetic details.
The list is extensive, with Thompson able to give plenty of examples of what they check: "Tires, changing tires, oil changes, safeties like I mentioned, suspension issues, cracked windshields, chips, stone chips, painting, making sure all the decals are clearly legible and not torn or ripped, windshield wipers."
Streamlining bus schedules for shorter rides
A major focus this year has been the meticulous, hand-drawn restructuring of bus routes. The goal was to increase efficiency and drastically reduce ride times for students across the division.
"We've had a lot of kids move on, graduate, move out of the division, and a lot of kids are starting school. So we want to keep it balanced," says Thompson. "So we aim to not have a student on the bus for more than an hour. That is our aim and our goal, and to safely transport those students as best we can."
The efforts have yielded impressive results. Thompson highlights a significant improvement: "We don't have a student on the bus before 7:20 in the morning, where, before, we were picking up kids at 7:05. There are some students that are on the bus for 40 minutes less than they were last year."
Enhancing safety and accessibility on wheels
The division’s buses are equipped with important safety features, including a crossing bar that extends from the front bumper. This device encourages children to cross far enough in front of the bus to be visible to the driver, preventing accidents.
Furthermore, the fleet includes buses with new wheelchair lifts, ensuring accessible transportation for students with disabilities.
Thompson also pointed to an external economic factor that will impact future operations. He points out that because of the tariff situation between Canada and the U.S., it will make the purchase of new buses more costly in the future.
Finally, Thompson addressed the need for more drivers to help maintain these efficient routes and services. The division offers full training for qualified candidates.
"If you are interested in working part-time or have a flexible schedule, we'd love to have you," he says, highlighting the appeal of the position for those seeking employment that fits around other activities.
As construction continues around Portage la Prairie, Thompson asks for patience from the community, assuring families that the transportation team is prepared to handle the challenges and deliver students to school safely and on time.
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