Analysis of transportation network design strategies for forced transfer busing.

666483839Final report; July 2008-Dec. 2009.PDFTech ReportMBTC DOT 3011School busesSchool bus passengersSchool bus driversStudentsArkansasMack-Blackwell National Rural Transportation Study Center (U.S.)Mason, Scott J.Pohl, Edward A.Mack-Blackwell National Rural Transportation Study Center (U.S.)United States. Dept. of Transportation. Research and Special Programs AdministrationNTL-PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION-Bus TransportationNTL-PLANNING AND POLICY-PLANNING AND POLICYUS Transportation CollectionForced transfer busing occurs primarily at the elementary school level when students are busedto an alternate school when their geographically-assigned school is full at their specific gradelevel. Ineffective forced transfer busing can result in extra student travel time and inefficient useof often scarce transportation resources. In fact, some force transferred students regularly arriveto their alternate school after morning classes have started due to inefficient transportationpractices. We examine various forced transfer busing network design strategies using actualpublic school system data from two school districts to assess various proposed solutionmethodologies effectiveness at developing practically implementable busing solutions in arealistic amount of time. In addition, preliminary models and analysis are presented for specialneeds busing problems in one local school district such that student travel time is minimized forthese often medically-fragile children