Student Transportation

To report a late bus, forgotten items on a bus, or problems with pick up, please contact Thirdwave Bus Services directly at 604.247.1221 or by email at dispatch@thirdwavebus.com.

If reporting an absence, text Thirdwave Bus Services at 604.768.3787.

For all other questions, please contact the school district transportation department directly at 604.466.6159 or by email at transportation@sd42.ca.

Regular student transportation is not guaranteed for eligible students who register after the June 26 deadline.

• Parents/guardians of eligible students must register their children for regular student transportation.
• Students registered for regular student transportation in the 2025/26 school year must re-register if they want this service for the 2026/27 school year.
• Registration is done online through the school district Parent Portal (see Registration Step-By-Step Guide). Please register each student individually. Under “1. Residential address,” please use the address where you will be residing on September 8, 2026.

Regular bus transportation is offered for eligible students attending:

• Blue Mountain Elementary
• Garibaldi Secondary (excluding those residing in Silver Valley/Rockridge area)
• Highland Park Elementary
• Pitt Meadows Secondary
• Webster’s Corners Elementary
• Whonnock Elementary

Eligibility

Eligible students for regular student transportation are defined as:

• Resident primary students (grades K-3) and their siblings attending the same school who live farther than 4 kilometres from their catchment area school;
• All other resident students (grades 4-12) who live farther than 4.8 kilometres from their catchment area school.

Transportation will be provided to eligible students with disabilities and diverse abilities* who live within the catchment area for their school but are unable to independently walk to school or use public transportation or are required by the district to attend a specialized program and are unable to walk to school or use public transportation.

Please note that this does not include the French Immersion school catchment area.

* Ministry categories for students with disabilities and diverse abilities:

• A – Physically Dependent;
• B – Deaf-Blind;
• C – Moderate to Profound Intellectual Disability;
• D – Physical Disability or Chronic Health Impairment;
• E – Visual Impairment;
• F – Deaf or Hard of Hearing;
• G – Autism Spectrum Disorder.

International Students

International students (non-resident) will need to fill out a paper application form through the international education department at 604.466.6555. Transportation fees for international students are the same as those for eligible riders who meet the eligibility criteria above. ​Registration deadline is 4 p.m. on June 26, 2026.

School bus routes and roster confirmations will be made the week before school starts. 

Please note registered riders are required to use transportation services on a regular basis. Occasional use of transportation services (i.e. less than 50% per month) may result in the cancellation of transportation services for the student.

 Late Registrants 

Registrations received from eligible riders after 4 p.m. on June 26, 2026, will be considered late.

Courtesy Riders

Registration for courtesy riders will open September 8, 2026. Applications will be considered only if there are available seats on existing routes.

Transportation fees must be paid before a bus route is assigned.

The board, at its discretion, may provide bus service for courtesy students.

Late registrations from eligible riders and ineligible/courtesy riders will be accommodated based on the following criteria and order, provided there are available seats on existing routes:

1. No modification of the existing bus route
2. Greater priority given to eligible students
3. Greater priority given to siblings of eligible students
4. Greater priority given to students living furthest from the school catchment
5. Greater priority given to younger students

Application deadline for late registrations and ineligible/courtesy riders is September 11, 2026.

Parents or guardians who obtain approval to transfer their children to a school other than the catchment area school are responsible for providing their own transportation.

Transportation fees for 2026/27 are as follows:

• First child – $463
• Second child – $463
• Third child plus – $145

Transportation fees are not refundable and will not be pro-rated for late registrants.

Families who experience financial hardship are eligible for a fee waiver under the Board’s hardship policy. The low income waiver form for transportation fees is available within Section 5000 of the Policy Manual on the school district website.

All fees for eligible riders are due August 14, 2026.

Payment

Payment can be made by credit card​ on the Parent Portal, or by cash/cheque drop off at SD42 Maintenance, 23889 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge.

Families who are experiencing financial hardship but do not qualify under the district hardship policy can contact the transportation department at transportation@sd42.ca to make alternate payment arrangements. Payment or alternate payment arrangements must be made prior to your child riding the bus.

• Transportation Fee – Low Income Waiver Form

In accordance with board policy, low income families can apply for a transportation fee waiver.

Transportation Fee – Low Income Waiver Form

Student transportation may be impacted by heavy snowfall. During such conditions, many buses may switch to snow routes, or transportation services could be cancelled entirely.

For information about student transportation during winter weather, visit the “Snow Closure Decision: Snow” tab on our Inclement Weather page.

Individuals entering an SD42 facility should practice health awareness, including staying home when sick.

Buses used for transporting students will be cleaned in accordance with the recommendations made by the BC Centre for Disease Control and/or the Ministry of Education and Child Care

Bus drivers and students are to practice hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. 

Bus drivers, teachers and students may choose to wear masks or face coverings when they are on the bus.

Frequently Asked Questions  

Registration

Do students requiring transportation services need to register every year?

Yes. All riders from kindergarten to Grade 12, including current riders, need to register for student transportation services each year by the registration deadline. The deadline for 2026/27 is 4 p.m. on June 26, 2026.

Please note that, for the safety of all students, students will not be allowed to ride unless they are:

• Registered
• Confirmed a route assignment
• Listed on the bus attendance roster

Late registrations for eligible riders are processed on a first come, first served basis. A student’s seat is not guaranteed if their registration is received after June 26, 2026. 

What are the eligibility criteria?

Only students who attend their catchment area school and meet the distance criteria outlined below are eligible.  (To determine your catchment area, use the school locator on the district website.)

Distance Criteria

PRIMARY STUDENTS (Grades K-3) and their siblings attending the same school who live farther than 4 kilometres from their catchment area school.

ALL OTHER STUDENTS (Grades 4-12) who live farther than 4.8 kilometres from their catchment area school. 

Please note that regular student transportation is not available for students registered in a district program (e.g. French Immersion) offered at a school other than their catchment area school.

Which schools have regular school bus service?

Regular school bus service is only available to the following schools:

• Blue Mountain Elementary
• Garibaldi Secondary (excluding those residing in Silver Valley/Rockridge area)
• Highland Park Elementary
• Pitt Meadows Secondary
• Webster’s Corners Elementary
• Whonnock Elementary

What if I have one child in Grade 1 and one in Grade 6 and we live 4.2 kilometres away from the school they both attend? Would both children qualify?

Yes. Siblings attending the same school who qualify under the eligibility criteria will also be deemed eligible students. You must register both of your children by the June 26, 2026, registration deadline.

I live 3.5 kilometres away from the catchment school. Can my child ride the bus if there is room on the bus?

The Board, at its discretion, may provide bus service for ineligible/courtesy students. Annual transportation fees for ineligible/courtesy riders for 2026/27 are $463 for the first child, $463 for the second child, and $145 for the third child +. Please register on the Parent Portal between September 8 and September 18, 2026, and you will be contacted if a seat is available.

Can I sign my child up to ride the bus part way through the school year (after the registration deadline)? 

Yes, you can register for student transportation part way through the year, but the school district cannot guarantee a seat will be available for your child. If there isn’t a seat available, your child will be put on a waitlist for their assigned route. 

Fees

When is payment due?

Once your application is approved, you will be notified that payment is required. Payment will be due by no later than August 14, 2026.

Are fees prorated?

Transportation fees are not prorated. Annual transportation fees for eligible riders for 2026/27 are $463 for the first child, $463 for the second child, and $145 for the third child +.

Annual transportation fees for ineligible/courtesy riders for 2026/27 are $463 for the first child, $463 for the second child, and $145 for the third child +.

There are no discounts based on when a student starts/finishes riding.

What if I cannot afford the full payment?

The school district has a hardship policy and provides full fee waivers for families who meet the low-income thresholds. See Transportation Fees – Low Income Waiver.

Families who do not qualify for the full fee waiver but are facing financial hardship can contact the transportation department at transportation@sd42.ca to make alternate payment arrangements.

Is there a discount for riders if a ride is not needed daily or only one way?

Because the annual fee ensures only partial recovery of transportation costs, the district cannot provide discounts for part-time use. Registered riders are required to use the bus on a regular basis. Occasional use (less than 50% per month) may result in the cancellation of service.

If the bus service is no longer required, is there a refund?

The school district will only issue refunds if transportation services are discontinued before the end of the first week the child was scheduled to begin receiving this service.

Other

Can my child bring a friend on the bus?

No, only registered riders are allowed on the bus.

Can my child be accommodated if they have different pick-up or drop-off locations?

Contact the Transportation Department at transportation@sd42.ca for confirmation; we will try to meet the needs of the student if possible.

Can I ride on the bus with my child?

No, only registered riders are allowed on the bus. Parents and pre-school children are not allowed on the bus. 

Can my child bring hockey equipment on the bus?

No, hockey equipment is not allowed on the bus. Only items that do not pose a safety hazard and can be held on the student’s lap or under their seat are allowed on the bus.

My child is small.  Can a booster seat be used?

No, booster seats are not allowed because they cannot be secured on the bus. 

Can my child eat or drink while on the bus?

No, children cannot eat or drink while on the bus as it could create a safety hazard.