Durham Public Schools (DPS) will delay the expansion of express bus stops for magnet school students beyond the 2025-2026 school year, citing the need for further evaluation before making changes.
During the March 27 Board of Education meeting, district officials announced that while additional express stops are needed, the current network will remain unchanged as DPS assesses the impact of recent transportation adjustments.
Express stops, which are centralized pick-up and drop-off points for magnet programs, were introduced to reduce ride times and increase efficiency. However, uncertainties surrounding the second phase of the Growing Together initiative – which includes reassignment of school zones and shifts in legacy ridership – have made it difficult to predict future needs.
The district had been considering express stops for Durham School of the Arts, Rogers-Herr Middle School, and the School for Creative Studies.
“While additional express stops are needed, we do not plan to expand in the 2025-2026 school year. We reserve the option of express stops for future usage,” the report stated.
Although the district plans to revisit express stop expansion in the future, the upcoming school year will focus on optimizing existing routes, improving ridership efficiency, and addressing ongoing driver shortages.
Route Efficiency and Ridership Management
DPS reported that 19,107 students are currently assigned to bus routes, which include more than 139 route and bus packages. To improve routing efficiency, DPS is collaborating with the NC State Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE).
According to the report: “The DPS Planning team has ongoing consultation with NCSU ITRE to determine what services can be offered, up to and including routing recommendations.” ITRE’s guidance is expected to provide accurate and efficient route recommendations for the 2025-2026 school year.
DPS also plans to reopen a third bus lot to enhance bus coverage in Northern, Southeastern, and Southwestern areas, which could help alleviate congestion and improve service reliability in those regions.
Recruitment and Staffing: Addressing Driver Shortages
Recruitment remains a priority for DPS as the district aims to fill driver vacancies and improve staffing levels. As of March 17, 2025, DPS had hired 14 new drivers, with nine more candidates progressing through certification. Of the 11 candidates who participated in the March training class, nine passed and are completing the required steps, such as obtaining DOT physicals and passing certification exams.
Currently, DPS employs 134 full-time drivers but has set a goal of reaching 155 full-time drivers to meet the demands of the upcoming school year.
Support from the DPS Foundation
To assist with recruitment efforts, the DPS Foundation has launched a fundraising campaign aimed at raising $19,000 to cover onboarding costs for new drivers. According to the report: “The cost of initial driver onboarding is just under $400 each, and this funding will help cover licensing and DOT physical fees for 47 drivers.”
The foundation’s campaign seeks to support these costs and ensure that DPS can meet its staffing goals ahead of the next school year.
Planning for Future Improvements
DPS has outlined a series of next steps to improve transportation services. These include:
- Continuing to work with ITRE to refine route efficiency.
- Using the 2025-2026 school year to assess express stop effectiveness and plan for potential expansion.
- Sustaining recruitment and retention efforts to meet the 155-driver goal.
While the district will not move forward with additional express stops immediately, the data collected over the next year will inform decisions about future transportation changes.
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Author: Wes Platt
Lead storyteller. Game designer and journalist. Recovering Floridian. Email: southpointaccessnews@gmail.com.
