Legislation proposes way to improve student transportation

Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 5:45 AM

Help alleviate the shortage of school bus drivers in Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – Legislation designed to help alleviate the shortage of school bus drivers in Kentucky and improve student transportation has been introduced during the 2024 General Assembly.

Sen. David Yates, D-Louisville, is the main sponsor of Senate Bill 92, which he calls, “A common sense solution to improve the student transportation issue that we are facing throughout the commonwealth of Kentucky.”

In the wake of issues surrounding the Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) transportation system, leading to several days of canceled classes, Yates says he also found that rural districts were experiencing similar problems, although perhaps not on the same scale. Therefore, he says he has been working with Sen. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, on a solution, to make things safer, faster, and more cost-efficient.

“We do that by allowing non-CDL drivers to drive non-CDL vehicles,” Yates said during a Monday afternoon press conference. “We know that we have routes all throughout the commonwealth of Kentucky that are not efficient. Sometimes you have a handful of students that are going way out into the rural areas, or you’ll have a whole busload of students waiting for one or two at the bus compounds.”

He says his bill would allow non-CDL vehicles to be used for transporting students to and from school. “Multi-passenger vans, and other smaller vehicles which don’t require a CDL. We know we have a huge shortage of CDL drivers, and we have a huge shortage of bus drivers. Right now, the trucking industry also has a shortage, leading to competition for CDL holders. So, we want to make sure we have our kids safely and efficiently in a cost-effective manner.”

For urban areas, SB 92 promises more efficient and safer routes in densely populated regions and alternate routes for specialized schools. Meanwhile, in rural areas, the bill allows for the use of smaller, more appropriate vehicles on less populated routes, addressing the unique challenges these communities face.

The bill has been assigned to the House Transportation Committee but has not yet been posted for possible action.