BY CASSANDRA JENKINS
Zooming in
Transportation centers As of Oct. 27
As of October, there are 19 open routes in the district. Melendez said the number of open routes often uctuates between each of the four trans- portation centers. The Woodlands Center—which services 19 schools in both The Woodlands and College Park high school feeder zones—had three open routes as of Oct. 27. The Oak Ridge Transportation Center, which services 16 schools in the Oak Ridge and Grand Oaks feeder zones, also had three open routes. For some parents in The Woodlands, the issues caused by driver shortages appear to be improving. Martha Clayton, a mother of two Buckalew Elementary students in The Woodlands feeder zone, said she has heard minimal complaints this year from parents about transportation issues. Last year, she said she believes the district struggled with late drop-os and pick-ups due to the shortage. “Last year, my kids were late to school. Buses were behind. It was a lot more of a common issue,” she said. “This year, they have only been behind a couple of times. To me, it sounds like [the short- age] has gotten better, and my children have been happy with their bus driver.”
1 Conroe Center • 3 open routes 2 East County Center • 10 open routes 3 Oak Ridge Center • 3 open routes • Serves Oak Ridge and Grand Oaks feeders 4 The Woodlands Center • 3 open routes • Serves The Woodlands and College Park feeders
105
1
336
3083
2
1314
1488
242
Oak Ridge High School feeder
GROGANS MILL RD.
45
The Woodlands High School feeder
3
4
99 TOLL
SAWDUST RD.
College Park High School feeder
Grand Oaks High School feeder
N
SOURCE: CONROE ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
The context
What’s next
CISD voters approved $1.8 billion in projects from a nearly $2 billion bond referendum Nov. 7 that included $22 million for transportation needs such as new buses and transportation center expansion. In 2019, voters approved a $683 million bond package that set aside $20 million dedicated to transportation. Melendez said the average cost of a new bus in 2023 is approximately $149,000. During a presentation to Shenandoah City Council Oct. 25, CISD Superintendent Curtis Null said buses are a continuing need, and they tend to be paid o within 10 years instead of the usual 30 years for bond projects. “Our standard bonds are 25 years in length, but when we ¤nance anything that does not have a 25-year life expectancy, we pay o that item within the life expectancy of that item,” he said. The district needs to replace a third of its eet that is past the industry standards for life
Bond funds spent on transportation
Looking forward, Melendez said his goals for the future of the transportation department are to ll all route vacancies with good drivers, stay up-to-date with technological advances and continue to update infrastructure. Melendez also said he is anticipating the opening of the East County Transportation Center in spring 2024. The center will serve as a permanent building for transportation employees in the district who have been operating out of portable buildings. Bus driver hiring event • Nov. 28 • 9:30-10:30 a.m. • Oak Ridge Transportation Center, 27110 Geffert Wright Drive, Spring
2019 • $8.5 million to purchase new buses • $11.5 million for general transportation needs • $5 million added later from the general fund for projects 2023 • $12 million to buy new buses • $10 million to expand and renovate the East County Transportation Center
SOURCE: CONROE ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
expectancy, Melendez said. In addition to new buses, the East County Transportation Center expansion will provide 100 more parking spaces, he said.
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THE WOODLANDS EDITION
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