Bus Parking Update

Bus Parking Update - 9/22/2017

We wanted to update you on the status of bus parking.  As you know, we reviewed several options over the spring and summer and are currently working with the town to approve a three year lease with HDR Holdings, located at 526 Boston Post Road, to park the buses beginning in July 2018.  This is a short-term solution and we continue to explore the possibility of a permanent, town owned site to park the buses in the future.  The School Committee is committed to taking all appropriate steps to continue to park the school buses outside of residential areas.

Thank you for your input and particularly your patience during this process.  As always, please don’t hesitate to contact the School Committee with any questions.

Bus Parking Update - 5/8/2017


The question of where to park school buses has been an unexpected, but rather urgent, matter before the School Committee these last several months.  We know for many in the community, especially those who live in neighborhoods near sites that have been mentioned as possible parking lots, this has caused considerable concern and anxiety.   We would like to take this opportunity to update the community on the status of the bus parking issue.  


Most towns have their bus company provide parking (at considerable expense).  Before turning to this option, the Committee has undertaken an effort to find less expensive alternatives.  We are committed to finding the best alternative for the town as a whole, considering the cost of the various options and also their impact on neighborhoods and school children.


Below you will find a timeline of the process to date and what to expect going forward.  To go directly to “next steps” and summary, click here.  For documents related to bus parking, click here.


October 2016-present


  • October 2016 – The School Department knowing that the school buses must be moved from their current parking site on Route 20 in Wayland by June 2018, expanded their school bus transportation service bid for the period FY2018 to FY2020 to include a price for storing buses out of town.  One bid response was received: First Student’s price bid for storing the buses at one of their sites totaled an additional amount of $241,000 per year.

  • November 2016 - The School Committee felt the quote was a large amount of money to be charged to the operating budget each year and decided to explore the option of storing the buses on town-owned land.  The School Committee contracted with The Engineering Corp (TEC), an approved town vendor, to look at various town-owned sites and whether they would be feasible sites to park the buses based on a general set of criteria.  

  • December 2016-January 2017 - The School Department met with a WRAP committee representative as well as many other committees and department directors in town to discuss the pros and cons of the various potential sites identified by TEC.

  • January 2017 – present - The School Committee received public comment from many residents concerning the various town-owned sites being considered.

  • March 2017 - The School Committee, realizing there are many obstacles to storing the buses in town, requested the School Department to prepare a Request for Proposal (RFP) to be advertised and distributed to private organizations, non-profit organizations, and municipalities in Wayland and surrounding towns for possible leasing of commercial land to store the buses.  This RFP will be distributed in May with a proposal due date in June 2017.

  • May 2017 – The RFP to lease land will be distributed, the old town dump site will be evaluated in conjunction with the DPW as a possible location, and any other possibilities identified to park the buses will be reviewed.


Next steps:


  • June & July 2017 – The School Committee will review the proposals received for leasing land for bus parking, the evaluation of the old town dump site and any other town sites under consideration.

  • August 2017 – The School Committee will review all the options for bus parking.


In summary, the School Committee has made no decision yet as to where the buses will be stored after June 2018.  Upon completion of our fact finding, the Committee will evaluate the options and make a decision.  We appreciate your support as we strive to balance the needs, concerns and fiscal constraints of both the School Department and community.


Please don’t hesitate to contact any of us with concerns or questions.  


School Committee

Ellen Greico, chair

Nate Buffam

Jeanne Downs

Kim Reichelt

Kathie Steinberg

 

Posted: May 8, 2017

 

Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.