Introduction
Chancellor’s Regulation A-802(Open external link) sets forth the provisions that govern mandatory installation and use of equipment and/or devices for the purpose of recording, reporting, or transmitting information regarding the location of vehicles and/or students.
Overview
The following information delineates the given areas designed to support and provide greater transparency into student transportation, as well as make busing operations more efficient. The focus areas include:
- Routing: upgrade route design and management systems to be more efficient
- Fleet: update the DOE’s vehicle tracking and management systems
- GPS Tracking for Vehicles: provide location data about vehicles while they take students to and from school
- Ridership: verify when and where a student boards and exits a school bus
- Real-time Communications: provide information to bus staff, schools, and families about student transportation to and from school
More information on the initiative can be found on the DOE’s NYC Student Transportation Modernization Plan Page.
Definition of Terms
In order to meet the above requirements, the DOE makes the following technology modules available, designed to meet the needs of all stakeholders.
School Operating Console (SOC): The SOC is the administrative console that will provide school users, school bus companies, and DOE admin users with the ability to view the location of the bus route and ridership information in real-time as well as historically
The SOC will be referred to as the DOE/Schools/SBC Admin Console and will be primarily used for tracking routes, driver subscriptions, and student ridership
Bus Driver App: The Driver App will record the driver, route, and vehicle combination that is performing a route on any given day and obtain the GPS information for the real-time location of the bus on the route
NYC School Bus App: The NYC School Bus App will provide caregivers and students with an easy interface to track the location of the bus for their route and receive notifications about arrival times. Caregivers will use their New York City Schools Account login information to sign into the application
Student Ridership Tracking: Students will be able to scan onto the buses using a paper bus pass or through the student version of the NYC School Bus App. The bus pass will scan using the Bus Driver app or through an external scanner, installed on certain models only. Ridership tracking will allow the Driver App to record boarding and alighting of students, to provide that information real-time to parents, schools, and the DOE, and gather up-to-date information on planned vs. actual ridership and bus capacity utilization
The School Operating Console (SOC) and NYC School Bus App are aimed at supporting your school community by knowing where buses are on their routes, providing greater transparency for caregivers and schools, and improving bus routing efficiency.
Route Manager Pilot
We're excited to announce the launch of the Route Manager Pilot, an essential step as OPT gears up for the anticipated transition to using Route Manager in the School Operating Counsel (SOC) in 2024. This pilot aims to refine our systems, gather feedback, and ensure a smooth transition for all involved parties. Here's a breakdown of what to expect:
Pilot Goals:
Usability and Completeness: We're focusing on ensuring that the Route Manager functions seamlessly from end to end, prioritizing user experience and system integrity.
Feedback: Gathering detailed and actionable feedback from School Users is crucial for refining the system before its full rollout.
We've made significant progress so far:
Live Tracking: Expanded route subscriptions for drivers and NYC School Bus App adoption, along with live tracking abilities for DOE admins and school users.
Via School Operations Console (SOC): Successfully launched and tested key functionalities, including Student Management, Stop Assignment, and Route Manager.
Continuous Improvement: Embracing a "test, learn, and iterate" approach, prioritizing feedback for product enhancement.
Pre-Production Milestone:
In November, critical functionalities will move to a pre-production environment, ensuring a smooth transition while maintaining SOC production capabilities. This live pilot will test end-to-end flows of student assignment and routing.
Pilot Details:
Pilot Phase 1 (January 2024):
- Participants: 19 schools are actively involved.
- Actions Taken: Everyone received system access and underwent comprehensive training. Each user logged in to assign students to stops and participated in Feedback sessions.
- Updates: Regular updates and demonstrations were provided as new features were integrated into the system.
Pilot Phase 2 (May 2024):
- Participants: Expansion to include all public and charter schools.
- Actions Planned: Each participant will receive system access and comprehensive training. Participants will independently assign students to bus stops. Feedback will be collected through surveys and feedback sessions.
- Continued Engagement: All pilot participants will stay informed about new system features.
Pilot Phase 3 (September 2024):
Expansion: Non-public schools will be included in the pilot.
Thank you to everyone who is participating in this crucial pilot. Together, we're shaping the future of pupil transportation in NYC!