National Advisory Council’s Survey Reveals Critical Gaps in Student Transportation Access

The Equitable Access to Transportation Advisory Council (EATAC) today announced 10 key recommendations to improve transportation access for America’s 54 million students, following the release of a comprehensive survey highlighting significant gaps in youth transportation services.

The results of the survey, which gathered insights from policy experts, program directors, and advocates across child welfare, education, and transportation sectors, revealed that 93% of respondents identified resource shortages as a primary barrier to equitable access, while 87% emphasized the need for flexible transportation services.

“Access to reliable transportation is fundamental to educational success,” said Vanessa Davis, EATAC founding member and Co-Manager of Foster Youth in Action. “Drawing from my experience in foster care and youth advocacy, I’ve seen how transportation barriers can derail academic progress, particularly for our nation’s most vulnerable children. Through EATAC, we’re working to ensure every student has dependable access to their school and after-school activities, regardless of their circumstance.”

Key recommendations for state policymakers and transportation administrators include:

1. Develop Dedicated Vulnerable Student Transportation Services
   
   Create specialized programs for children in foster care, ensuring consistent access to school and extracurricular activities while updating federal law to clarify which agency has responsibility for funding.
2. Create Community Transportation Hubs
   
   Establish transportation hubs in underserved neighborhoods with adult supervision at bus stops and transit hubs to ensure safe, monitored spaces where students can gather and access transportation.
3. Launch Rural and Urban Transportation Programs
   
   Implement tailored solutions including flexible vehicle services for rural areas and expanded transit passes in urban settings.
4. Implement GPS Tracking and Communication Systems
   
   Introduce GPS tracking for all school buses to allow parents and schools to monitor routes in real time, ensuring timely communication of delays or route changes.
5. Expand Carpool and Rideshare Partnerships
   
   Partner with rideshare platforms designed for youth and organize school-based carpools to address transportation gaps for students in areas without reliable transportation options.
6. Create Tiered, Income-Based Pricing Models
   
   Develop a sliding scale fee structure for supplemental transportation services, ensuring low-income families can access affordable options in areas where traditional school bus service is insufficient.
7. Implement Bullying Prevention Programs
   
   Provide comprehensive training for transportation staff to create secure environments when students are traveling to and from school.
8. Promote Safer Routes and School Zones
   
   Advocate for improved infrastructure and traffic-calming measures around schools.
9. Address Transportation Workforce Barriers
   
   Streamline licensing requirements and continue to offer incentives to combat driver shortages, and advocate for modernized laws and policies to increase youth transportation availability in municipalities.
10. Advocate for Increased Funding and Research
    
    Support expanded services while studying the links between transportation access and educational outcomes.

The recommendations build on EATAC’s recent Transportation as an Opportunity Lifeline report, which examines transportation challenges facing vulnerable student populations. EATAC, comprising 10 experts from transportation, child welfare, road safety, community planning, education, and technology sectors, was established to examine and address transportation equity challenges in education.

For more information about EATAC’s recommendations and survey findings, visit: https://www.hopskipdrive.com/blog/10-key-recommendations-for-advancing-youth-transportation-equity.

About EATAC

The Equitable Access to Transportation Advisory Council (EATAC), composed of 10 experts from across transportation, child welfare, road safety, community planning, education, and technology sectors, was established in March 2024 to examine the challenges and opportunities in expanding safe, equitable transportation policies for America’s 54 million students. The Council works together to understand where gaps may exist for vulnerable populations, like youth in foster care, and those facing poverty and homelessness. Learn more about EATAC here.

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