Bus Service For Pupils Explained

Parents of school-age children can stop hurrying to arrange car pools; students at Pioneer, Huron, Slauson, Scarlett and Tappan schools will be serviced along the same city bus routes as regular passengers. Phone calls reaching the Transportation Authority office this week indicate that many residents did not understand that the schedules published in The News Sunday and yesterday apply to the school children. The only special provisions planned are for buses to run doublé along the major school routes during peak hours when classes are convened and dismissed. The second bus following a short distance behind the first will piek up overflow passengers and insure against overcrowding. Special "school emphasis routes" will be arranged on a contract basis to serve Forsythe and Martin Luther King Schools if a minimum of 50 passengers will subscribe. The cost would be $40 per semester for the first child in a family; $40 for the second, and $20 for each additional child to a maximum fee of $140 per semester per family. Persons wishing to contract bus service to these two schools should call the Transportation Authority now at 663-3994. For all other school children (through grade 12), rides will cost 20 cents each way, a reduction from the regular fare of 35 cents. For convenience, ticket books containing 10 fares will be available at the schools and the Transportation Authority office at 315 W. Huron after Sept. 10. The 20-cent rate (which also applies to senior citizens) is in effect whether the rider uses tickets or not. However, he must have the exact fare, as bus drivers will not be carrying change. Pioneer, Huron, St. Thomas, Tappan and Slauson schools are already stationed along the regular bus route; although Scarlett is not, the bus will change its route during student pickup hours to stop directly at the school. According to the authority, the only area not being served by the present route plans is the southwest portion of the city. Further service in this area is pending the purchase of at least three more buses which the city does not have funds for now. Bus rides the first day of full scale operation will not be free, as incorrectly stated in a news release Sunday. However, coupons entitling any bearer to a free bus ride any time through Sept. 9 were printed on page six of The News yesterday. St. Francis, St. Paul and Greenhills Schools will continue to be serviced this year by an independent bus firm. It is expected that elementary public school children live within walking distance of their schools. All questions regarding bus routes, fares and schedules may be directed to the Transportation Authority office at 663-3994.