Route Planning



Introduction

The Transportation Department of the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario strives to provide a safe, comfortable, efficient, reliable and cost-efficient transportation system to serve all the needs of all students within the school board’s jurisdiction.


Philosophy

The Transportation Department of the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario continues to be a leader in the province of Ontario in delivering safe, efficient, reliable and cost effective transportation to our students by:

a)   Maximizing the use of each school bus to achieve efficient transportation services.

b)   Maximizing financial resources allocated to the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario in a way which exemplifies fiscal responsibility.

c)   Ensuring effective communication to all stakeholders.

Annual Plan

The planning cycle is formalized to ensure transportation staff have a clear understanding of the expectations in evaluating existing routes and runs.  This plan also includes the principles required for the modification of routes and runs to maximize efficiency for the next upcoming school year.

A detailed yearly plan has been formulated, identifying specific tasks, responsibilities, and delivery dates for the purpose of obtaining September startup requirements and monthly objectives.


Route Optimization

Routing Schemes
When planning for the next school years transportation requirements, particular attention is geared toward different routing strategies.  Routing strategies may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Reassessment of stop locations

• Combine when possible different schools/programs to maximize bus utilization

• Capacity review

• Design runs to travel the most logical and efficient path

• Adjustment considerations for pick-up and drop-off windows

• Examine various run type options, i.e., double, triple, combination, shuttle, transfer, and perimeter bus runs.

Bell Times
The Transportation Department has a leading role in evaluating school bell times on an annual basis to assess opportunities for operational and financial efficiencies.  As part of the evaluation process, consultation with coterminous boards, bus operators, superintendents, and principals is critical in identifying opportunities and operational impact.  Consultation with stakeholders addressing the rationale and impact of future changes facilitates system-wide consensus.


Software Utilization

MapNet Transportation software has a component that allows for automated routing – route optimization.  Another component available in MapNet, which assists in the delivery of the most efficient route, is Autocord.  This module presents options for analyzing bell times, resetting trip time windows, and planning timed routes.