Boston Mayor Wu addresses school bus delays with new initiatives

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is addressing ongoing issues with school bus delays, which have been exacerbated by the implementation of a new tracking app called Zum. Despite the app's intention to improve service and provide real-time updates, many parents have reported continued late arrivals. For instance, one parent noted that their child arrived home over an hour late due to the bus skipping their stop. Wu, along with Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper, tested the app by taking a bus to a local school, arriving 20 minutes late themselves. The Zum app is designed to allow parents to track their child's bus and receive updates on delays, while also collecting traffic data to help create more efficient routes. However, the app's effectiveness has been questioned, as only about 60% of Boston Public School families are currently using it. Wu emphasized the importance of communication, urging parents to inform drivers at least two hours in advance if their child will not be taking the bus, which could help streamline operations. To improve the situation, Wu's team plans to analyze the data from the app weekly, making adjustments to bus routes and operations based on feedback. The goal is to return to last year's performance, where 95% of students arrived at school within 15 minutes of the first bell. This will require collaboration among bus drivers, parents, and school administrators to ensure timely arrivals and minimize disruptions to students' education. The principal of Higginson-Lewis K-8 School highlighted the challenges posed by late arrivals, noting that it complicates breakfast and greetings for students. As the city works to resolve these issues, the focus remains on enhancing the overall efficiency of the school bus system and ensuring that students receive the education they deserve without unnecessary delays.