Bus stops are centrally located for all students. In most cases, we try to use intersections which are easy to locate and where motorists are more alert to pedestrians. The District attempts to keep the number of stops minimized thus keeping the buses moving and reducing ride times. Stopping at every driveway inconveniences the motoring public causing them to become impatient trying to get around the bus and compromising safety.

Unfortunately, not everyone will be able to see the stop from their house. We transport 8,000 public school students each day. It is not feasible to put all the stops in sight range. Parents/guardians must use good judgment by either going to the stop with the child or working with other families in the area to support safety.

The District is responsible to determine safe stop locations. Parents are responsible for their child's behavior at the stop. If inappropriate behavior is reported to the bus driver, they will turn this information over to the school for investigation.

The driver is the authority figure responsible for enforcing the safe transport rules. Bus safety rules are posted on the bulkhead in each bus and on the District's website. The driver can handle minor discipline problems speaking to students or reassigning seats. More serious issues are addressed at the school by either bus proctors or principals. Misconduct forms may be submitted to the school by drivers. These may result in a warning, reprimand, or the student being sent to bus safety school.

Students will be notified of their assigned bus stop through the District's student information system prior to the start of the school year. 

This time varies based on traffic delays, if there are issues on any of the runs, and what time the bus departs from school. Not all buses fit on the curb at each school. Therefore some buses may be an early or later loading vehicle. At the elementary school level, we use the standard that all buses must be on the curb and loading consistently by 3:45 p.m.

This is possible, however, it is governed by several rules. The daycare must be within the attendance area of the school being serviced. The Department will not travel outside the attendance border for childcare purposes. 

Please use this link to submit a request for daycare transportation. A new request must be submitted each school year by July 1st for daycare transportation to be set up for the first day of school. Any requests submitted after July 1st may not be processed until the third week of September. Requests made during the school year may take 5-10 business days to process. You will be notified of the new stop by email. We no longer set up daycare stops based on lists from the daycares.

Additionally, it is important that your child knows where they are going each day if it is a part-time service. Drivers cannot be responsible for knowing your child’s schedule.

It is not necessary to call for an occasional absence as our buses go to each stop to keep route times as consistent as possible. In the event of an extended absence for illness or vacation, please submit a notice through bushelp.northallegheny.org.

In most cases, there simply is not enough time. With over 80 buses running at one time, it is difficult to focus on one vehicle to call the numerous families assigned. In the case of a breakdown, our focus is on getting a replacement vehicle to service the students as quickly as possible.

Occasionally students leave something behind on the bus. Generally, drivers keep the item on the bus until the next day. Items of great value such as instruments or phones are brought into the Dispatch office at 400 Hillvue Lane, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. If a phone number can be found, the family may be notified and asked how they would like to retrieve the item. If you believe a student left an item on a bus, you may visit the Transportation Department weekdays from 6 a.m. - 5 p.m. to see if your item has been turned in.

Unclaimed items may be either donated or disposed of.

Private/parochial students are entitled to the same service as a public school. If there are no early dismissals in the NA school calendar, none are honored for these schools.

The school you select must be a not-for-profit school located within ten miles from the closest District border by a main thoroughfare. Be aware that your child may experience a long ride depending upon how far and how many other students within the District are going to that school.

For operational efficiency, we sometimes combine schools or transfer students. We combine schools to eliminate duplication of service. Transfers occur by utilizing a centralized point (most times one of our NA schools) to reduce ride times.

With the large volume of students that drive to school, we reduce our fuel consumption and employee cost by streamlining the operation. Bus traffic is greatly reduced.

Requests for reassignments come with no transportation.