NYC approves 3-year school bus contract: What this means
NYC panel to vote on 3-year school bus contract amid parent complaints
Some parents argue the deal shouldn’t move forward until service improves, citing chronic delays and missed pickups affecting thousands of students, including 68,000 children with disabilities. FOX 5 NY's Linda Schmidt has the latest.
NEW YORK - After weeks of tension and parent frustration, New York City has approved a new three-year contract for its school bus companies.
The deal covers transportation for about 150,000 public school students, including roughly 68,000 children with disabilities.
What we know:
The decision, made Wednesday night, follows heated debate over persistent service issues, with many parents complaining that buses are often late or fail to show up altogether.
Advocates had urged the city to delay the vote until bus companies could guarantee improvements such as reliable routes, better communication, and air conditioning on vehicles during warmer months.
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City officials defended the deal, saying the contract renewal ensures stability for families and avoids disruptions to transportation services.
They also emphasized that ongoing oversight will hold bus companies accountable for performance and safety standards.
For now, the vote offers relief to parents who feared potential service interruptions come January.
But many say they’ll be watching closely to see if the long-awaited contract delivers on its promises — and gets New York City’s yellow buses running on time.
The Source: This is based on information from NYC school buses and The Panel for Educational Policy.