Calabasas wants more school buses

By Michael Picarella pic@theacorn.com

The Calabasas City Council recently approved a budget that would provide more transportation for kids going to school. According to Calabasas Mayor Pro Tem Barry Groveman, a final decision, based on how residents respond to the idea, will determine the outcome. He hopes to have more buses on the streets by September, he said.

Groveman and other city officials hope to reduce traffic on city streets, especially before and after school. Many residents have complained about gridlock, particularly around campuses.

The city would seek a maximum capacity of two kids per bench in its buses, not three kids per bench, Groveman said. "The buses will have chaperones and video cameras so that we can have orderly, safe buses that parents can be comfortable with."

More and safer school buses would enhance ridership, Groveman said.

Groveman and city staff have been meeting with Durham school bus representatives and discussing possibilities. Groveman has confidence in the program’s success, even if there are flaws.

"This will be a promise delivered," Groveman said. "I’ve been very frustrated that the bus system fell apart for schools because costs kept going up. We wound up with a very low ridership and a lot of traffic."

The city, Las Virgenes Unified School District and the Durham bus company worked to make the buses more affordable.

Through help from private entities, research, LVUSD and Durham, Groveman said, the council could earmark about $1.5 million from its mitigation funds for the program. "We were able to approve a two-year program for the introduction of the buses where the goal will be to go from the 20 percent ridership now to as high as we can by reducing the costs dramatically," Groveman said. The groups found ways to reduce the normal fee of about $400 per student per semester to $99 per student per semester, he said.

"If you take an earlier bus (in the morning), it’ll be $49 per kid per semester," Groveman said, adding that the city now must promote the program to maximize public participation.

"If we had about 10 buses, and if we can get the word out—it won’t happen overnight—and have a successful campaign and bring the buses back, every bus that then is filled is taking cars off the road and is a much better way to go," Groveman said. "It’s much better for traffic, much better for the environment and much better for convenience."

For this to happen, residents must embrace the concept, Groveman said. "This is a community effort. We all have to do our part," he said.

For details about the school bus program, call the Calabasas Traffic and Transportation Department at (818) 878-4225.