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‘BPS transportation is failing us’: School bus delays have Boston parents calling for change
Thousands of students don't get to school on time every day because of delayed buses, officials said.
Boston Public Schools says its bus system is hitting record highs for on-time arrivals, but many families say the day-to-day experience is far from smooth.
At a Boston City Council Education Committee hearing Tuesday, parents, city leaders, and transportation officials described a system still plagued by delays, missed pickups, and inconsistent service — issues that have persisted for years despite repeated efforts to fix them.
What the data shows
The district defines “on-time performance” as a bus arriving before the first bell in the morning, or within 10 minutes after dismissal in the afternoon.
Boston contracts with private bus operator Transdev, which has managed the system since 2013. Under its contract, the company is supposed to meet a 95% on-time performance benchmark.
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But according to BPS data shared at the hearing, buses have fallen short — averaging about 93% on-time in the morning and 88% in the afternoon in March. On-time performance at the start of the 2025-2026 school year and through the fall was the highest on-record for BPS for both the morning and afternoon.
But even small percentage gaps can affect thousands of students, councilors said.
“93% on-time in the morning means 1,330 students were late… in the afternoon… 2,280 students every single day are not getting home in time,” Councilor Erin Murphy said at the hearing. “That’s thousands of students every day — and that’s the best we got?” Murphy sponsored the hearing, along with Councilors Ed Flynn and John Fitzgerald.
A costly system under scrutiny
Boston’s school transportation system is one of the largest and most complex in the country, officials said, serving roughly 19,000 students across more than 200 schools each day with a fleet of over 620 buses.
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It’s also expensive — the district’s transportation budget has grown to more than $200 million for the upcoming fiscal year, even as overall student enrollment declines.
Council President Liz Breadon called the situation “a serious” and “unacceptable” problem, urging the district to “do better.”
The issue has drawn heightened attention in recent years. In 2022, transportation failures were one factor that nearly led the district into state receivership, prompting city leaders to commit to improving reliability.
The BPS district can fine Transdev a $500 penalty if it misses a daily trip or is more than one hour late to a stop.
What officials say
School transportation leaders say there have been improvements long-term, and point to investments in technology like GPS tracking and ongoing efforts to hire and train more drivers.
But they also acknowledge ongoing challenges — including driver shortages, absenteeism, traffic, mechanical issues, and route complexity — and say recent increases in “uncovered trips” (trips without a driver or bus available at the scheduled time) are a serious concern.
“This is not good enough,” said BPS transportation director Dan Rosengard. “If you’re a student on one of the buses that is consistently arriving late, the system is failing you.”
What parents are experiencing
Families who testified described a very different reality behind the averages.
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“This past year has been the worst by far,” said Lori Murphy, a Roslindale parent. “We’ve had more than 20 days of cancellations or significant delays… that is a month of school.”
Parents said they are routinely forced to scramble for backup plans — coordinating carpools, missing work, or paying out of pocket for rideshares.
“We’re essentially building our own backup transportation system,” said Marie-Frances, a BPS parent.
Others described the toll on students — especially those with special needs — when buses are late or don’t arrive at all.
“It destroys the stability required for my son to settle in and learn,” said Cheryl Buckman, a Boston parent of a child with autism.
We want to hear from you. Are your children experiencing school bus delays in your district?
How often is your child’s bus late or canceled? How is it affecting your family’s schedule, work, or school day? Have you had to find or pay for alternative transportation?
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