Board approves pay-to-ride changes and discusses persistent drop-off congestion at RDLS and STEM

The Richfield Public Schools board voted to approve revised pay-to-ride transportation guidelines that administrators said will expand paid bus access while prioritizing equity and routability. The new approach replaces a strict capacity rule with allocation based on average daily riders, processes applications in three rounds and prioritizes students who live farther from school and closer to route boundaries.

Administration said the district will use intent-to-ride communications this summer to lock in likely riders and plan routes; families will be asked in July to confirm whether their children will ride so transportation can avoid holding unused seats. The presenter explained the change is intended to reduce the number of half-empty buses by matching routing to committed riders.

Board members discussed long-standing traffic and pedestrian safety problems at RDLS and STEM during pickups and drop-offs. Members described parents parking and walking children across active car lanes and asked whether city-engineering changes, additional enforcement, speed bumps or further barriers would help; administration said the district has worked with the city (safe routes to school) and that some calming measures exist, but driver behavior remains a challenge. Administration also said a $300,000 asphalt-and-curb project to repair lots is moving forward and a larger $1.5 million redesign remains more difficult to fund.

During debate a board member moved for approval: "I move that we pass the pay to ride service," and the motion passed. Administration noted that pay-to-ride fees cover only a fraction of bus-and-driver annual costs: at full capacity the fees would raise approximately $21,000 whereas a bus and driver cost roughly $70,000–$75,000 per year, so the district will continue to subsidize paid riders to preserve greater access.