Calgary Board of Education to reduce bus stops and routes

In order to balance its budget, theCalgary Board of Education says it will bemakingits school bus system more efficient this fall.

The CBE says it will be reducingitsbusroutes and moving from "community-based' to "congregated" bus stops.

But that could meansome students will haveto walk as far as 2.4 kilometres to catch a ride.

"We recognize that's going to pose a challenge for some of our youngest learners," said CBE chairJoyBowen-Eyre.

And although parents may end updriving their kids to these new bus stops,Bowen-Eyresays they'll be located in safer areas with more parking.

Enrolment to increase

"Right now some of our stops are on busy streets or in front of people's homes.Being able to park has posed a serious problem in the past," she said.

The school board currently transports over 37,000 students, butenrolmentis expected to increase by 2,500 overallin September.

Bowen-Eyresays by trimming the number of bus stops and bus routes,thefees parents have to pay for transportationwon't go up.

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Bowen-Eyresays the CBE is also investing in a GPSsystemthat will allow parents to track their child's school busand find out ifit's running late.