The Transportation Department is responsible for transporting all eligible students to and from school; for the repair and maintenance of all county own vehicle assets and for purchasing additional and replacement vehicle assets as needed to support the school division's overall mission objective.

The department is comprised of four functional areas: Administrative, Operations, Maintenance, and Transportation Analysis.

The Administrative Function provides day to day direct guidance and supervision over the functional areas. The Administrative function conducts annual evaluation and develops and implements corrective actions as required. The administrative function is also responsible for ensuring the department is in compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations governing school and municipal transportation operations.

The Operations Function is responsible for providing safe and reliable school bus support to the day-to-day home to school transportation needs and for all field trips and other extracurricular activities. Operations is also tasked to recruit, train, and evaluate all school bus drivers. Operations personnel respond directly to the concerns of all school principals and the general public.

The Maintenance Function is responsible for providing quality maintenance and repair of all county owned vehicle assets. In addition, this area is also responsible for determining appropriate specifications for purchasing new vehicle assets.

The Transportation Analysis Function is responsible for routing and rerouting school buses to accommodate growth and redistricting as needed. This function also maintains a student data base which is used to assist in determining long range planning objectives.

Albemarle County Public Schools Transportation Services seeks to add value to the overall educational experience of our students by providing appropriate, safe, and efficient transportation that meets the needs of our students.

Transportation views parents and guardians as our partners, and we look forward to working with you to provide opportunities for your child’s educational endeavors to be successful.

• The links below provide information regarding student safety rules and procedures for the transportation process.

 

• Parent Guide to Transportation  
• Guia para Padres sobre el Transporte Escolar​
• Bus Rules and Procedures
• School Closings & Delay Information
• Student-Related Policies from Transportation Operations Manual
• Students Transporting Personal Belongings

 

RETURN TO SCHOOL PLAN    

• Transportation Health and Safety Plan NEW!!

 

Pre-K - 5 Afternoon Bus Stop Supervision

Albemarle County Public Schools Transportation allows parents to choose supervision requirements for children in grades 1-5 (either yes or no). Pre-K and Kindergarten students must have supervision, meaning someone must take them to and from the bus stop. This person should be of at least middle school age and should not be another student riding the bus. Middle school and high school students do not require supervision. Because children mature at different ages and several factors influence whether or not it is safe to leave children home alone, the parent ultimately decides if and when their child can be left home alone or escorted to and from the bus stop.

Please contact the Office Associate at your child’s school to update PM bus stop supervision information. If your student requires supervision, a maximum of three (3) names may be entered into PowerSchool. This may not be an older student riding the bus for Kindergarten and Pre-K students. It may be an older elementary student for first through fifth grade students requiring supervision. If one of the three listed on the school bus manifest is not able to pick up the student that day, simply call your school and ask for a bus pass. This will notify the driver of the change.  If a student goes home with another student (space permitting), the supervision status of the host student will be followed unless indicated otherwise on a bus pass.  Parents are responsible for notifying the school of the supervision status in this situation.

Alternate Pick-up/Drop-off Location

• Alternate Bus Stop Request Policy

To request an alternate bus pick-up/drop-off please fill out the form below in its entirety and submit to the school’s front office. School staff will inform of approval or non-approval. The process of assigning and approval normally will take up to 5 schools days and the form must be renewed annually. At the beginning of the school year, assignment and approval may take up to 15 school days due to the need to evaluate the capacity of alternate buses and the availability of a bus route at the desired alternate stop.

• Alternate Bus Stop Request Form
• Solicitud Para Parada Alternativa de Autobús

The safety records of the following carriers were reviewed and approved for use in the 2022-23​ school year on August 29, 2022. Please enter trips using these carriers in Triptracker to make sure approval was not rescinded due to safety issues subsequent to the initial approval. Also, these carriers are aware that the ACPS Transportation Department may perform spot inspections of their vehicles and records.

COMPANY	DOT NUMBER	ADDRESS	PHONE	WEBSITE/EMAIL ADDRESS
Abbott Bus Lines, Inc.	84283	1704 Ganby St NE Roanoke VA 24012	(540) 343-1133	www.abbottbus.com
A Goff Limousine and Bus Co.	1016691	18 New Life Drive Ruckersville VA 22968	(434) 979-5466	www.agofflimo.com
Albemarle Limousine	2428516	175 S. Pantops Drive Charlottesville, VA 22911	(434) 531-5802	www.albemarlelimousine.com
Ambassador Limousine	970138	277 Hydraulic Ridge Rd, #105 Charlottesville, VA 22901	(434) 973-5466	www.ambassadorlimos.com
Blue Ridge Coach Lines	313291	9397 Shady Ln Culpeper, VA 22701	(540) 825-7777	davidmessickjr@comcast.net
Cross Tours & Cross Motor Coach, Inc.	644950	471 Twinkling Springs, Crozet, VA 22932	(434) 365-9571	www.crosstoursmotorcoach.com
James River Bus Lines	121035	915 N. Allen Ave Richmond VA 23220	(804) 342-7300	www.jamesrivertrans.com
National Coach Works/ Martz National	271803	310 Central Road, Suite 7 Fredericksburg VA 22401	(540) 898-6959	www.martzbus.com
Platinum Travel & Tour Co.	1218637	PO Box 414 Montpelier VA 23192	(804) 883-7746	www.platinumtours.travel
Quick-Livick, Inc.	84357	2309 Poplar St Staunton VA 24401	(540) 886-6297	www.quicksbus.com
Virginia Coach Co.	286906	P.O. Box 883 Purcellville VA 20134	(703) 471-6422	www.virginiacoach.com
Winn Bus Lines	121094	1831 Westwood Ave Richmond VA 23227-4338	(804) 358-9466	www.winnbus.com

​​	​Base Rate	​FICA	​Total Rate	​Mileage	​Comment
​Van for County Trip	​$19.45	​$1.49	​​$20.94	​$0.25	​No labor charge if approved school employee drives during school hours
​School Van for County Trip	​$19.45	​$1.49	​$20.94		​No labor charge if approved school employee drives during school hours (charged gas and maintenance)
​Bus for County Trips	​$19.45	​$1.49	​$20.94	​$0.55	​No labor charge if approved school employee drives during school hours
​Assistant for County Trips	$15.42	​$1.18	​$16.60		​
Assistant for Outside Trips	$33.01	$2.53	$35.53
​Bus for Outside Trips	​$35.31	​$2.70	​$38.01	​$1.35	​
​Van for Outside Trips	​$35.31	​$2.70	​$38.01	​$0.61	​
Bus for After School Shuttles	$35.31	$2.70	$38.01	$1.35	Rate for private after school shuttle service
​Maintenance Labor County Vehicles	$45.07	​$3.45	​$48.51	​	​
​Maintenance Labor Outside Vehicles	​$59.93	​$4.58	​$64.51	​	​
​Surcharge for less than 10 days' notice	​$60.00	​	​	​	​
​Surcharge for less than 5 days' notice	​$120.00	​	​	​	​

​​	​Base Rate	​FICA	​Total Rate	​Mileage	​Comment
​Van for County Trip	​$19.45	​$1.49	​​$20.94	​$0.25	​No labor charge if approved school employee drives during school hours
​School Van for County Trip	​$19.45	​$1.49	​$20.94		​No labor charge if approved school employee drives during school hours (charged gas and maintenance)
​Bus for County Trips	​$19.45	​$1.49	​$20.94	​$0.55	​No labor charge if approved school employee drives during school hours
​Assistant for County Trips	$15.42	​$1.18	​$16.60		​
Assistant for Outside Trips	$30.42	$2.33	$32.75
​Bus for Outside Trips	​$42.37	​$3.24	​$45.61	​$1.60	​
​Van for Outside Trips	​$42.37	​$3.24	​$45.61	​$0.63	​
​Maintenance Labor County Vehicles	$48.67	​$3.72	​$52.40	​	​
​Maintenance Labor Outside Vehicles	​$64.72	​$4.95	​$69.67	​	​
​Surcharge for less than 10 days' notice	​$60.00	​	​	​	​
​Surcharge for less than 5 days' notice	​$120.00	​	​	​	​

This page will open https://inside.k12albemarle.org/dept/osp/transportation/Pages/transportation-handbook.aspx in a new window.

2020-21 Training Modules

E-Learning Made Easy

Below are the training modules. Each module has a quiz that takes approximately 10 to 20 minutes to complete. Once completed, the quiz is sent to Training for verification of class attendance.

 

Behavior Management

CDL - School Buses

Communication

Building Entrance Health Screening

CDL - Passengers

Driver Roles and Responsibilities

CDL - Air Brakes

Characteristics

Passenger Conduct

Unique Responsibilities

FIRE EXTINQUISHERS WITH QUESTIONS

Driving Fundamentals

Pre-Trip Responsibilities

Safe Loading

VAN PRE-TRIP PRESENTATION

Transportation Anti-Racism Training

Special Preparation for Emergencies

Safety and Universal Precautions

Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD)

Slip-Trips-Falls

SPED Assistant Training

Walking for Mental Health

Back Safety

Protective Equipment

KRONOS INSTRUCTIONS

ACCIDENTS-CRASHES

The Confident You

First Aid and Spill Kits

Loving You the Art of Self-Acceptance

Supervisor Skills 101

Transit Buses

Type of Seizures

Ladder Safety

Special Needs Driver and Aide

Understanding the My Calendar page

Weekly Kronos timeline for approvals, signoff and reporting

Spotting it-Stopping it

Traffic Signs Part 1

American Sign Language

Traffic Signs Part 2

No Child Left Behind

What is Team

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021-22 Training Modules

E-Learning Made Easy

Below are the training modules.  Each module has a quiz that takes appoximately 10 to 20 minutes to complete. 

Once completed, the quiz is sent tot Training for verification of class attendance

Exercise At Your Desk

Connecting Mind & Body For Healthy Living

Healthy Eating On A Budget

Managing Emotion in the workplace

How Safe Do You Drive?

Managing Personal Finances

Time Management Tool & Principles

Remote Video Camera Site PPT 4

 

Emotional Eating

Managing Holiday Stress

Staff Change and Stress

Using Reason to Resolve Conflict

Please check for available positions on the HR Website

There are always School Bus Driver Positions available!

Current School Bus Riding Rules:

• Obey Driver at all times.
• Be respectful & On Time.
• Use the handrail.
• Wait for the driver’s signal when loading & unloading the bus.
• Keep hands to yourself & Inside the Bus.
• Face forward & keep aisle clear.
• Walk to, from, and on the bus.
• No electronics when loading or unloading the bus.
• Keep the bus clean. ☺

School Bus Stops:

Be at the bus stop five minutes before scheduled time with school supplies in backpack.

Stops are established in the following manner:

• Bus stops are assigned so that elementary students walk no more than 0.3 miles and middle/high students walk no more than 0.5 miles.
• Rural area stops will be located at the driveway of the student's residence. In accordance with state and local policies, whenever and wherever possible, students will be picked up and dropped off on the same side of the road on which they reside. Every effort will be made to preclude the need for a student to have to cross the road going to or from his or her bus.

Laws pertaining to School Bus Stops:

Virginia traffic regulations 46.2-859 Passing a Stopped School Bus states that "a person shall be guilty of reckless driving who fails to stop, when approaching from any direction, any school bus which is stopped on any highway or school driveway for the purpose of taking on or discharging children, the elderly, or mentally or physically handicapped persons, and to remain stopped until all such persons are clear of the highway or school driveway and the bus is put in motion."

Motorist are not required to stop for a stopped school bus under certain condition but only under these conditions. When approaching a stopped school bus which is stopped on the other roadway of a divided highway or any other type of road or driveway that is separated from the road the motorist is driving on by a physical barrier or unpaved area. Motorist need not stop for a school bus that is loading or unloading passengers from or onto property immediately adjacent to a school if such driver is directed by a law enforcement officer or some other duly authorized uniformed school crossing guard to pass such school bus.

Additional Rules

• Students must not run alongside a moving bus. Wait until it has stopped then walk to the front door.
• Any object that is to be transported on a bus must be able to be held on a student's lap. The aisles on the buses may not be blocked under any circumstances nor can there be objects on the bus that are not secured.
• Based on available space, if a child has a valid bus pass signed by the school, he/she may ride a different bus to an authorized bus stop.
• Vandalism is prohibited. Families are responsible for any damage.
• Students will remain in their seats at all times, keeping all body parts inside the bus.
• No tobacco, alcohol or drugs are allowed on the bus.
• Students using profanity or racial slurs or who fail to follow directions of the bus driver will be referred for disciplinary action.

In accordance with School Board Policy JOF, Security Cameras and Video Recordings, “The Albemarle County School Board authorizes the use of security cameras as a tool for recording activity on School Board property to further protect the health, welfare, and safety of students, staff, and visitors.” 

The Blue Ridge Health District implements a protocol for contract tracing to identify individuals who may have been in close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.  This is done to help control the spread of COVID-19 in our community. To facilitate contact-tracing, school bus drivers are authorized to take a video recording of passengers upon arrival at school in the morning and before departing school in the afternoon when there are different passengers than those listed on the route manifest or when passengers have been instructed to sit in seats other than their assigned seats. 

This video will assist staff in identifying students who may need to quarantine due to potential exposure to another passenger who tests positive for COVID-19. When the ACPS are unable to confirm the location of students in close contact, the whole bus is required to quarantine rather than limiting quarantine to close contacts. 

No videos will be made on days when the school bus driver transports passengers who, normally, ride on that bus and sit in their assigned seats. However, if for any reason, students other than those assigned to a particular bus are transported on that bus, a video will be necessary to monitor the seats students have occupied on their ride to and from school.

School bus drivers will record the video on an ACPS- issued device as needed. The driver will forward to the lead driver, if requested for purposes of contact-tracing. The lead bus driver will delete the video no later than two (2) weeks after receiving it and will not store the video on any other ACPS device or system. In addition, the video may be provided to school administrators who will delete the video when it is no longer needed. The video may not be shared with any person or entity outside of the ACPS.

We've recently made some changes to our walk zones. Please check our Walk Zones page for more information.

Walk Zones

•   Q: When is the deadline to complete the Transportation Request 2023-2024 form for my child? 

A: June 30, 2023

•   Q: Why do I need to complete a transportation request form for my child? 

A: As we prepare for the 2023-24 school year, we need to make sure that we have the most up-to-date information about the transportation needs of every student. Completing a transportation request form will help us plan the most efficient bus routes to serve our students in the new school year.

•   Q: Who is guaranteed transportation service?

A: ACPS will continue to provide transportation for all students we are legally obligated to transport, such as those with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that requires specialized transportation and homeless students.

•  Q: Who is not eligible for transportation service? 

A: If a student does not ride a bus for 10 consecutive school days, we will remove the student from the bus route. Also, bus service is unavailable to students who live in a designated walk zone. Some walk zones will be expanding, and we will reach out separately to all families that are affected.

•  Q: Will my child's bus stop change, even if my child will be attending the same school? 

A: In order for ACPS to best meet the transportation needs of as many students as possible, it is likely that some existing bus stops will relocate. We will reach out separately to all families that are affected.

•  Q: Can my child, who will be a new ACPS student, receive transportation service if I do not register my child to attend school until after           June 30? 

A: Yes. Families have up to  ten (10) days after they register their student for school to request transportation service.

•  Q: If I request transportation for my child, who is a current ACPS student, after the June 30 deadline, can my child still receive service? 

A: Families that request transportation after June 30 will be added to a waitlist, and students will be assigned to a bus route only as space becomes available.

•  Q: If I register my child for transportation prior to the June 30, 2023 deadline, is my child guaranteed service for the 2023-2024 school              year? 

A: Requesting transportation does not guarantee service. Our Transportation Department will follow an equitable process to assign students to bus routes.

•  Q: Should I request transportation if my child might occasionally need bus service?

A: No. Please only request transportation if your student will regularly ride a bus. This allows us to provide consistent and reliable service to those students who need transportation. Due to limited resources, we continue to encourage families to transport their children to and from school, if they are able. 

•  Q: Who can I contact for assistance in a language other than English? 

A: For assistance in a language other than English, please contact our International and English Learner Office at 434-296-6517.

•  Q: Can I fill out one transportation request form for all of my children? 

A: No. Families should complete a Transportation Request 2023-2024 form for each student in their household by June 30, 2023.

•  Q: How can I complete my child's transportation request form?  

A: You can complete a Transportation Request 2023-2024 form for your child in any of the following ways: (1) complete the form through the PowerSchool Parent Portal (or the PowerSchool mobile app); (2) fill out and return a paper copy of the form; or (3) call your child’s school to respond. Paper copies of the form were sent home with elementary and middle school students. You can also contact your child’s school to request a paper form. For detailed instructions on accessing the form in PowerSchool, please view our Transportation Request 2023-2024 Family Response Guide.