The organization that coordinates school bus transportaion in this area is taking steps to improve efficiency and cut down on the number of cancellations caused by inclement weather.
The Nipissing-Parry Sound Student Transportation Services (NPSSTS) says starting this year, the East Parry Sound cancellation corridor will be divided into two separate corridors: East Parry Sound - North and East Parry Sound - South. Hwy 522 will act as the dividing line between the corridors, with the highway and all tributaries part of East Parry Sound - North and all roads south of Hwy 522 comprising the East Parry Sound - South corridor.
The division will allow the NPSSTS to cancel only one corridor or the other, as needed, during inclement weather days and is expected to reduce the total number of cancellations in the area.
“We often see extreme fluctuations in weather over short distances in these areas,” said Daniel Johnston, Operations Manager with the NPSSTS.
“In the past, we’ve had to decide whether or not to cancel the corridor when some areas are completely impassable and others are safe for buses. This change will give us more flexibility and help cut down on cancellations.”
Parents are encouraged to visit the Delays and Cancellations page at www.npssts.ca, where they can enter their child’s three- to five-digit route number to determine which corridor their route falls in.
Inclement weather cancellations can be viewed on the Delays and Cancellations page as well as through the media and on the NPSSTS Twitter feed, @NPSSTS.
The NPSSTS manages and coordinates transportation services for four local member school boards over a region that stretches from West Nipissing to Mattawa, and from Temagami to Parry Sound, Novar and MacTier, including North Bay and all towns and villages in between.
It arranges transportation for over 12,000 students to 72 schools, covering more than 40,000 km daily.
