
Yellow bus transportation is a convenient and affordable way to get around, especially for students and commuters. Yellow buses are typically large, yellow vehicles with multiple seats, often used for school transportation and public transit.
The American School Bus Council estimates that over 480,000 yellow buses are on the road in the United States, serving millions of students each day. Many of these buses are equipped with safety features such as seatbelts and cameras.
Yellow bus transportation services are often regulated by local and national laws, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) rules for school bus safety. These regulations aim to ensure the safety of passengers and drivers on the road.
Take a look at this: Yellow Transportation
How Does My Child Travel to School?
If you're wondering how your child will get to school, the district has a system in place for open enrollment and magnet schools.
Students in these programs will be transported on yellow buses if their school is more than 1.5 miles from their residence.
You can track your child's bus arrival time using the Traversa Ride 360 app, which automatically updates your arrival time if the bus is early or late.
The app also lets you track the bus from the depot to your child's stop and from school to their drop-off location in the afternoon.
To get started, simply download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and sign up in just a couple of minutes.
If you need help creating an account, you can download instructions in English or Spanish.
All eligible students can ride CDTA tripper buses and regular CDTA routes, and they can ride with or without an activated student ID/swiper card for the first two weeks of school.
After that, only eligible students with an activated student ID/swiper card will be able to ride without paying a standard CDTA fare.
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School Bus Operations
The district contracts with First Student Inc. to provide bus transportation to eligible elementary children. This partnership helps ensure students arrive at school safely and on time.
The district oversees the transportation of nearly 5,000 children each school day, using both First Student yellow buses and CDTA vehicles. These buses travel to 80 schools in Albany and the surrounding Capital Region.
To help navigate the bus system, CDTA offers a Trip Planner tool on their website. This tool can help you find the best bus route to get where you need to go.
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Transportation Eligibility Guidelines
Transportation Eligibility Guidelines are in place to ensure that students get to school safely and efficiently. Students in grades 1 through 6 who live 1.5 miles or more from school are eligible for Yellow Bus Transportation.
For students in grades 7 through 12, a free Student Fare Card is provided if they live 1.5 miles or farther from school.
The Department of Transportation Services uses a web-based routing application called COMPASS to map routes based on eligibility information. This application helps determine final transportation assignments for students.
Most regular education students will be placed at a neighborhood stop, which is usually within 1.5 miles from their home.
Students With Disabilities will be assigned a stop based on their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). In most cases, the stop will be a curb-to-curb pick-up at the home.
Special education students receive transportation if their residence is less than 1.5 miles from school, and if their IEP requires specialized transportation regardless of the distance from home to school.
Here's a summary of the eligibility guidelines:
- Yellow Bus Transportation: grades 1-6, 1.5 miles or more from school
- Student Fare Card: grades 7-12, 1.5 miles or more from school
- Special education students: residence less than 1.5 miles from school, or IEP requires specialized transportation
Route Schedules
Route Schedules are a crucial part of school bus operations, and CDTA has got you covered. You can find route schedules and directions for various buses on their website.
CDTA offers several bus routes, including the #805 route, which has a description and schedule available online. The #106 Uptown Belt and #100 Mid City Belt routes also have schedules and maps that can be accessed online.
The #803 route has a description and schedule, and the #801 route has directions, a schedule, and map available. It's worth noting that the 801 Yellow route serves students at both Myers Middle School and William S. Hackett Middle School in the morning and afternoon.
You can also find route schedules and directions for the #806 route, which serves William S. Hackett Middle School. The 801 Yellow route also serves students at Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School in the morning and afternoon.
Here are some key bus routes and their schedules:
- #805 route description
- #805 route schedule and map
- #106 Uptown Belt route schedule and map
- #100 Mid City Belt route schedule and map
- #803 route description
- #803 route schedule and map
- #801 route directions
- #801 route schedule and map
- #806 route directions
- #806 route schedule and map
CDTA Student Transportation
CDTA buses offer transportation to middle- and high-school students, accepting the district swiper card on all buses during the school year.
The district swiper card allows students to ride the bus Monday-Friday from the time CDTA service begins, providing transportation to after-school programs anywhere in the city.
Students must have their passes with them at all times and will be required to swipe their card through the fare box to get on a CDTA bus.
The current one-way fare is $1.50, so it's a good thing students have their passes.
Students in grades 7 through 12 who live 1.5 miles or farther from school are eligible for free Student Fare Card.
Free Student Fare Cards are a great perk for eligible students.
CDTA uses a web-based routing application called COMPASS to map routes based on eligibility information in the system.
COMPASS helps determine final transportation assignments for Philadelphia resident students.
All regular education students will be placed at a neighborhood stop, which is usually within 1.5 miles from the student's home.
Students With Disabilities will be assigned to a stop based on their Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
In most cases, the stop will be a curb-to-curb pick-up at the home, where the bus will meet the student at the curb/sidewalk in front of the stop.
You can find more information on CDTA's website, including CDTA's Trip Planner tool to help you find the best bus route to get where you need to go.
CDTA's Trip Planner tool is a great resource for finding the best bus route.
Discounted CDTA bus passes are available to all City School District of Albany staff members as well as for students who live closer to school than 1.5 miles and are not eligible for free CDTA transportation to and from school.
To purchase a discounted pass, staff members will need a district pay stub that is less than a month old.
You can pick up a Proof of Enrollment form from the Transportation Department to qualify for a discounted pass.
The passes can be purchased at the CDTA Customer Service Center, located at 85 Watervliet Avenue.
The center is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
You can call ahead with questions at (518) 437-6875 or (518) 482-8822.
Discounted passes are limited to one pass per account and can be purchased for up to three months.
Here is a list of some of the routes that CDTA offers:
- #805 route description
- #805 route schedule and map
- #106 Uptown Belt route schedule and map
- #100 Mid City Belt route schedule and map
- #803 route description
- #803 route schedule and map
- #801 route directions
- #801 route schedule and map
- #806 route directions
- #806 route schedule and map
Delays
Delays can be a major headache for school bus operations.
Typically, delays occur due to traffic congestion, which can be caused by road construction, accidents, or inclement weather.
A study found that traffic congestion can lead to delays of up to 30 minutes on busy school bus routes.
On average, a school bus can travel about 3-5 miles per hour in heavy traffic conditions.
School bus drivers often have to navigate through congested roads, which can be frustrating and time-consuming.
According to the data, about 20% of school bus delays are caused by traffic congestion.
School Bus Issues
School buses have a long history, dating back to the early 20th century.
The first school bus was a converted Model T Ford, which was used to transport students in 1927.
Many schools have safety protocols in place to prevent accidents, such as requiring drivers to undergo regular training and background checks.
School buses are designed to be safe, with features like seatbelts, stop signs, and mirrors to help prevent accidents.
However, mechanical issues can still arise, such as faulty brakes or malfunctioning engines.
The most common reason for school bus breakdowns is fuel system problems, which can be caused by poor maintenance or contamination.
In some cases, school buses may not be equipped with the necessary safety features, putting students at risk.
According to the article, 1 in 5 school buses in the US are over 20 years old, which can increase the likelihood of mechanical issues.
Student Behavior and Safety
If your child misbehaves on the bus, they may have their riding privileges suspended or even revoked permanently. In such cases, you'll be responsible for getting them to and from school.
Pupils are expected to conduct themselves properly on all school-related transportation. Disorderly or insubordinate behavior can lead to suspension of riding privileges.
Students riding CDTA buses must follow CDTA rules and regulations. They're also subject to the CDTA Code of Conduct, which outlines expected behavior for all riders.
The CDTA Code of Conduct can be found online at cdta.org.
Special Programs

Yellow bus transportation offers special programs to cater to diverse student needs. Many schools have implemented programs for students with special needs, providing them with a safe and supportive environment to travel to and from school.
These programs often involve specially trained bus drivers and staff who are equipped to handle students with unique requirements. In some cases, buses are equipped with wheelchair ramps and other accessibility features to ensure equal access for all students.
One such program is the "Special Needs Transportation" program, which aims to provide safe and reliable transportation for students with disabilities. This program involves working closely with parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals to create a tailored transportation plan for each student.
Special Education Students
Special education students have specific transportation needs that are taken into account by the school district.
If you're a special education student, you'll receive transportation to school if your home is less than 1.5 miles away from your school.
Your Individual Education Plan (IEP) is also a factor in determining your transportation needs. If your IEP requires specialized transportation, you'll get it regardless of the distance from home to school.
For more information on special education transportation, call the Transportation Department at (518) 475-6170.
Open Enrollment and Magnet Schools
If you're part of the district's open-enrollment or magnet-school programs, you're eligible for transportation on yellow buses if your school is more than 1.5 miles from your residence.
You can track your bus in real-time using the Traversa Ride 360 app, which allows you to see your bus's location from the depot to your stop and back again.
The app automatically updates your arrival time if the bus is early or late, so you'll always know when to expect it.
To sign up for the app, simply download it from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, and it'll take just a couple of minutes to create an account.
You can also download instructions in English or Spanish to help you get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are yellow buses called?
School buses are officially known as National School Bus Glossy Yellow, a color specifically formulated in 1939. This distinctive color is recognized in both Canada and the U.S.
Do you need a CDL to drive a yellow bus?
To drive a yellow bus, you typically need a CDL with a passenger endorsement, regardless of whether it's empty or carrying passengers. This applies to buses designed for 16+ passengers or those with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more.
How much do schools pay for transportation?
Schools pay approximately $1,152 per student for transportation, including private school students who receive public funding. This figure is based on unadjusted dollars and does not account for inflation.
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