NYC secures long-term investment in bus transportation for students

NEW YORK, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Tuesday that the city's Department of Education (NYCDOE) has reached a tentative agreement with Reliant Transportation for an acquisition of its school bus operating assets, including a fleet of about 1,000 vehicles and all equipment and intellectual property necessary for the bus services.

The agreement represents a long-term investment in school bus transportation that will provide greater stability, flexibility, and oversight in school bus service in the years ahead, said a government press release.

"We are doing everything we can to guarantee safe, fast, and reliable bus service for the students who need it most," said the mayor. "This agreement delivers on that promise and makes a lasting investment in our school communities for years to come."

In September, the city filed for incorporation to establish NYCSBUS (New York City School Bus Umbrella Services, Inc.), a not-for-profit institution to oversee school bus inventory and employees. Reliant specializes in busing for special education students and runs approximately 950 school age busing routes for the NYCDOE annually, approximately 10 percent of NYCDOE's school age busing network.

NYCSBUS will offer employment to the current Reliant workforce and work with labor partners to develop acceptable collective bargaining agreement terms to prevent any workforce disruption.

"So many of our students rely on yellow bus service to get safely to and from school, and this is an important step in securing that service for our students in the years to come," said NYC Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza.

"This is a long-term investment that will gradually phase in and provide greater stability and oversight in school bus service in the years ahead," he added.