Student Transportation

Everyone entering an SD42 facility or boarding the bus 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 encouraged to practice hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. 

Bus drivers, teachers, and students in kindergarten to Grade 12 may choose to wear masks or face coverings when they are on the bus.

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 transportation department directly at 604.466.6295 or by email at transportation@sd42.ca.

Bus transportation is offered for eligible students attending:

• Blue Mountain Elementary
• Garibaldi Secondary
• Highland Park Elementary
• Pitt Meadows Secondary
• Webster’s Corners Elementary
• Whonnock Elementary

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 kilometers from their catchment area school;
• All other resident students (grades 4-12) who live farther than 4.8 kilometers from their catchment area school.
   

Transportation will be provided to eligible students with special needs* 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 this does not include the French Immersion catchment.

* Ministry categories of students with special needs applicable for transportation:

• 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.

Students with Special Needs

Students with special needs can also register for transportation on the parent portal. Transportation fees for students with special needs are the same as those for other eligible riders. Registration deadline is June 30, 2023.

International Students

International students (non-resident) will need to fill out a paper application form through the international education department @ 604.466.6555 (ask for Lucie Bertrand). Transportation fees for international students are the same as those for students meeting the eligibility criteria above. ​Registration deadline is June 30, 2023.

 
Late Registrants

Registrations received from eligible riders after June 30, 2023, will be considered late. If there are available seats on existing routes, late registrants will be accommodated on a first come first seated basis.

 
Courtesy Riders

Registration for ineligible/courtesy riders will open September 1, 2023. 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 ineligible students. The provision of additional bus service would be made after considering the following factors:

• The amount of available seating space on the bus;
• That there is no modification of the existing bus route;
• Siblings of eligible students with special needs will have greater priority;
• Distance from school on the basis that students who live furthest from the catchment school will have the greater priority;
• The age of the student on the basis that younger students will have the greater priority.

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.

Eligible students must register for student transportation by June 30, 2023. The school district cannot guarantee regular bus service for students who miss the June 30, 2023, deadline.

Parents or guardians are required to apply for service each year during the application period. Parent portal (https://parents.sd42.ca/) registration for ALL student transportation for eligible students will be open from noon, May 15, 2023, to June 30, 2023.

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 cancellation of transportation services for the student.

School Bus routes and roster confirmations will be made before August 30, 2023.

Transportation fees for eligible riders for 2023/24 are as follows:

• First child – $330
• Second child – $330
• Third child plus – $105

Transportation fees for ineligible/courtesy riders for 2023/24 are as follows:

• First child – $400
• Second child – $400
• Third child plus – $130

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 of Education hardship policy.

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

All fees are due August 15, 2023.

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

Transportation Fee – Low Income Waiver Form

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 2023/24 is June 30, 2023.

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 30th, 2023.

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 kilometers from their catchment area school.

ALL OTHER STUDENTS (Grades 4-12) who live farther than 4.8 kilometers 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
• Highland Park Elementary
• Whonnock Elementary
• Webster’s Corners Elementary
• Pitt Meadows Secondary
• Garibaldi Secondary

What if I have one child in Grade 1 and one in Grade 6 and we live 4.2 kilometers 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 as eligible students. You must register both of your children by the June 30th, 2023 registration deadline.

I live 3.5 kilometers 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 2023/24 are $400 for the first child, $400 for the second child, and $130 for the third child +. Please register on the parent portal between September 1 and September 7, 2023, 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 15th, 2023.

Are fees prorated?

Transportation fees are not prorated. Annual transportation fees for eligible riders for 2023/24 are $330 for the first child, $330 for the second child, and $105 for the third child +. Annual transportation fees for ineligible/courtesy riders for 2023/24 are $400 for the first child, $400 for the second child, and $130 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.

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.

How does COVID-19 impact student transportation?

Everyone entering an SD42 facility or boarding the bus 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 encouraged to practice hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. 

Bus drivers, teachers, and students in kindergarten to Grade 12 may choose to wear masks or face coverings when they are on the bus.

Will the transportation fees I have paid for 2023/24 be refunded if the district is unable to offer transportation services for part of the 2023/24 school year due to COVID-19 restrictions?

The fees collected do not represent a recovery of the cost of student transportation. This is an administrative fee and refunds will not be issued for partial use or partial availability of service.