Transportation

Due to the bus driver shortage, which is affecting our district and other districts, the transportation company contracted by Robbinsdale Area Schools, Durham Transportation Services, shared with us that they are short 12 drivers. We are working diligently to resolve this issue and will continue to provide updates to our families.

Transportation FAQ's

Bus Driver Shortage

What bus numbers are affected by the bus drivers shortage?
Impacted bus numbers include: 1, 36, 63, 206, 212, 226, 230, 233, 238, 244, 245, 246.

My student’s bus didn’t show up but is not listed as one of the bus numbers impacted. What should I do?
Please contact Durham Transportation at 763-504-8105 or our transportation department at 763-504-8179.

When do you expect to have the transportation issues resolved?
We are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible and will continue to update families.

One of my student’s routes was listed as impacted but one was not. Will they still have transportation for the route that is not listed?
Yes, if your student’s route (AM or PM) is not listed as impacted your student will still have transportation on that route.

What information can be shared with impacted families?
We have shared the most up-to-date information we have with families. We will continue to provide updates via email.

What is the district doing to address this issue?
We are having internal conversations daily to discuss a variety of options so we can make sure our busing operation runs much smoother and meets the needs of our students and their families.

How did the transportation department determine which bus routes to cancel?
The Transportation department did not cancel routes, we were unable to staff 12 routes with drivers.

The routes that are filled had already been assigned to drivers who had trained for and practiced their routes. The unassigned routes, by default, became the routes with no bus driver. Our current drivers, many from out of state, are not prepared to change to another route with no notice. Drivers have a lot to be responsible for: knowing the routes, maintaining student safety, keeping order, and of course following traffic laws and laws specific to buses.

What is the process for hiring a bus driver?
This is a two-month process of mandatory training, testing, certification, and finally licensure with a Class A commercial drivers license, with a school bus endorsement and passenger endorsement. Because the State of Minnesota has a backlog of commercial driver tests (they are now scheduling such tests into November), Durham has hired an independent, third-party testing company in Bloomington to help expedite the process.

Is this district reimbursing for mileage or providing bus cards?
We are not providing reimbursement or bus cards at this time. We are currently exploring all options.

Bus Tracker App

Late Bussing or Missing Information

I did not receive a transportation card in the mail. Who should I contact?
This information can be found in Infinite Campus. Instructions can be found here.
If busing information is not listed please contact our transportation department at transportation@rdale.org.

I am missing information on my transportation card. Who should I reach out to?
Our transportation department can assist you. Please contact them at transportation@rdale.org.

Who can I contact about late bussing?
For late buses please call Durham Transportation at 763-504-8105.

Change in Address or Childcare

We are committed to providing a safe experience for students who ride district school buses.

Your students day begins with their journey to school. School bus schedule information is regularly mailed to families in the Robbinsdale Area School district before the first day of school. Eligible students in grades K-12 receive a postcard with the student's bus number, pick-up location and pick-up/drop-off times. If your student gets on a bus at a location other than his or her home address (such as a daycare location), you need to inform your student's school so arrangements can be made for bus transportation.

The district is responsible for students who are riding the bus. If you do not receive a card in the mail before the first day of school, 1) you live within the walk zone of your attendance area school, 2) your child is attending a school in the district that is outside of your attendance area and is not a magnet school, or 3) you have a high school student who travels to and from school via independent means and you have opted out of district transportation. Only students who are eligible for bus transportation to the school they are attending will be able to ride the bus to that school.

Transportation information is also available on Infinite Campus. Click here to access or sign up for Infinite Campus.

Click here to view a brief tutorial video on how to view your student's transportation information in your parent portal account.

Contact Transportation

For late buses and lost items call Durham Transportation: 763-504-8105

For students who receive special education transportation services call:

CST: 612-808-8868 (Van # 106-114)
SAFETREE: 763-316-6432 (Van # T3-21 - T3-31)
e-FFICIENT: 763-251-8100 (Van # T3-01 - T3-12)
Integrated: 651-808-0438 (Van # T3-43 - T3-64)

To update your address or childcare provider, please call our Enrollment Center at 763-504-8080.

For any additional questions please email: Transportation@rdale.org.

Bus Route and Transportation Information

Bus schedule information is mailed to families in the Robbinsdale Area School district before the first day of school.

Eligible students in grades K-12 receive a postcard in the mail with the student's bus number, pick-up location and pick-up/drop-off times.
If you do not receive a card in the mail before the first day of school,
- you may live within the walk zone of your attendance area school;
- your student is attending a school in the district which is outside of your attendance area (and is not a magnet school) and therefore you are responsible for transportation;
- you have a high school student who travels to and from school via independent means and you have opted out of district transportation.
If your student needs to ride a bus at a location other than their home address (such as a daycare location), please inform your student's school.

How to view bus route information in Infinite Campus

Durham Bus Tracker App

Our bus tracker app for families to view scheduled arrival and drop off times for bus routes in real time. This free app allows families to:

View student bus routes in real time, including bus routes for multiple students simultaneously.
See scheduled arrival times for each stop.
Receive messages that notify users of route delays and schedule changes.
The app is available in English and Spanish

Download the Durham Bus Tracker app through the Apple app store or Google play.

In the Apple app store, search for Durham Bus Tracker and then download the app.
In Google Play, search Durham Bus Tracker and then download the app.

Families can also access the Durham Bus Tracker from a computer at m.durhambustracker.com.

After you have downloaded the app, create an account and login to track your student’s bus. Please note, you will need your student's ID number when creating your account. This can be found in your parent portal.

Bus Tracker Instructions

Bus Tracker Instructions - Spanish

Bus Stop Change Request

If you would like to make a request to change your student's bus stop, please review the information below and complete the bus stop change request form.

Buses will not travel into cul-de-sacs, dead-end streets or other areas where the driver cannot safely maneuver the bus. Most private roads are also excluded (i.e. apartment complexes and home associations). These roads are typically not built to the same standard of a public road. Issues such as vehicle weight, road width, congestion, snow clearing, etc., prevents their use. An exception to this may be a bus that is transporting students with disabilities on our special education system. All students, regardless of age or grade who reside in these areas will need to walk to the assigned bus stop regardless of distance.
Availability of sidewalks is not part of the criteria used in establishing bus stops. Much of the Robbinsdale School District attendance area was designed without sidewalks.
Buses drive by many students’ homes every day. The bus driving by doesn't warrant adding/changing a bus stop. Visibility from the home to the bus stop is not part of our criteria for establishing bus stops. Bus stops are collection points in neighborhoods. Statistically, bus stops are safer at the corner than in front of your home. House stops are not only less safe, they are simply not practical for typical busing operations. Again, our special education system would be the exception. We strongly encourage families to walk with and supervise their student at the bus stop as well as meeting their student at the bus stop at drop off.
We are unable to establish stops based on personal circumstances such as employment, daycare, siblings or medical circumstances of another family member.

Bus Stop Change Request Form

Walking Distance and Boundary Maps

"Walk zones" are established for each school. Students who live in the walk zone of their enrolled school are not eligible to ride the bus.

Walking Distances to Schools

Elementary School (Kindergarten - 5th Grade): 5/10 of a mile
Middle School (6th - 8th Grades): 7/10 of a mile
High School (9th - 12th Grades): 1 mile

Walking Boundary Maps (PDFs)

Preschool/Daycare Transportation

Preschool/Daycare Transportation

Preschool

To ensure the safety of our youngest learners, please be aware of the following procedures for preschool students.

Students must wear bus tags with their name and correct drop-off information every day for the entire year. It is recommended students wear a bus tag and have a copy of the tag attached to their backpack.
Preschool students are required to be seated in the front seats of the bus.
Preschool students must accompanied at the bus stop for both pick-up and drop-off with a designated adult. The privilege to ride the bus will be jeopardized if this is not followed.
If there is no one at the bus stop to meet the student, the driver will keep the student aboard and will make a second attempt to drop-off, and will also contact dispatch for further instructions.
If you live within the "walk zone," your student will not have bus transportation provided; your student is required to have an adult escort them to and from school.
Preschool children must be picked up and dropped off at the same location every day.

Daycare

In order to be eligible for busing to and from daycare, your student's daycare must be within the attendance area of your school.

For those families whose students attend before- or after-school care at the YMCA on 42nd Avenue in New Hope, busing is only available for Sonnesyn, RSI, SEA and FAIR School Crystal.

Magnet School Transportation

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