Student Transportation

Everyone entering an SD42 facility should practice health awareness, including staying home when sick.

Buses used for transporting students will be cleaned in accordance with the recommendations made by the BC Centre for Disease Control and/or the Ministry of Education and Child Care

Bus drivers and students are to practice hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. 

Bus drivers, teachers and students may choose to wear masks or face coverings when they are on the bus.

To report a late bus, forgotten items on a bus, or problems with pick up, please contact Thirdwave Bus Services directly at 604.247.1221 or by email at dispatch@thirdwavebus.com.

If reporting an absence, text Thirdwave Bus Services at 604.768.3787.

For all other questions, please contact the transportation department directly at 604.466.6159 or by email at transportation@sd42.ca.

Bus transportation is offered for eligible students attending:

• Blue Mountain Elementary
• Garibaldi Secondary
• Highland Park Elementary
• Pitt Meadows Secondary
• Webster’s Corners Elementary
• Whonnock Elementary

Eligible students for regular student transportation are defined as:

• Resident primary students (grades K-3) and their siblings attending the same school who live farther than 4 kilometers from their catchment area school;
• All other resident students (grades 4-12) who live farther than 4.8 kilometers from their catchment area school.

Transportation will be provided to eligible students with special needs* who live within the catchment area for their school but are unable to independently walk to school or use public transportation or are required by the district to attend a specialized program and are unable to walk to school or use public transportation.

Please note this does not include the French Immersion catchment.

* Ministry categories of students with special needs applicable for transportation:

• A – Physically Dependent;
• B – Deaf-Blind;
• C – Moderate to Profound Intellectual Disability;
• D – Physical Disability or Chronic Health Impairment;
• E – Visual Impairment;
• F – Deaf or Hard of Hearing;
• G – Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Students with Special Needs

Students with special needs can also register for transportation on the parent portal. Transportation fees for students with special needs are the same as those for other eligible riders. Registration deadline is 4 p.m. on June 28, 2024.

International Students

International students (non-resident) will need to fill out a paper application form through the international education department @ 604.466.6555 (ask for Lucie Bertrand). Transportation fees for international students are the same as those for local residents. ​Registration deadline is 4 p.m. on June 28, 2024.

 
Late Registrants and Courtesy Riders

Registrations received from eligible riders after 4 p.m. on June 28, 2024, will be considered late registrations.

1. Consideration of Late Registrations and Ineligible/Courtesy Riders

Late registrations from eligible riders and ineligible/courtesy riders will be accommodated based on the following criteria and order, provided there are available seats on existing routes:

1. No modification of the existing bus route
2. Greater priority given to eligible students
3. Greater priority given to siblings of eligible students
4. Greater priority given to students living furthest from the catchment school
5. Greater priority given to younger students

2. Application Deadline for Late Registrations and Ineligible/Courtesy Riders
The application deadline for late registrations and ineligible/ courtesy riders for the 2024/25 school year is August 30, 2024.

Applicants will be notified on September 6, 2024, regarding the result of their bus service application. 

Parents or guardians who obtain approval to transfer their children to a school other than the catchment area school are responsible for providing their own transportation.

Eligible students must register for student transportation by 4 p.m. on June 28, 2024. The school district cannot guarantee regular bus service for students who miss the June 28, 2024, deadline.

Parents or guardians are required to apply for service each year during the application period. Parent portal (https://parents.sd42.ca/) registration for eligible student transportation opens at noon on May 13, 2024.

Registered riders are required to use transportation services on a regular basis. Occasional use of transportation services (i.e. less than 50% per month) may result in cancellation of transportation services for the student.

School bus routes and roster confirmations will be shared by August 30, 2024, with all eligible students who have paid the transportation fee. 

Transportation fees for eligible and courtesy riders for 2024/25 are as follows:

• First child – $420
• Second child – $420
• Third child plus – $135

Transportation fees are not refundable and will not be pro-rated for late registrants.

Payment: Payment can be made by credit card​ on the Parent Portal, or by cash/cheque drop off at SD42 Maintenance, 23889 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge.

Payment or alternate payment arrangements must be made prior to your child riding the bus.

All fees are due August 16, 2024.

In accordance with board policy, low income families can apply for a transportation fee waiver.

Transportation Fee – Low Income Waiver Form

Student transportation may be impacted by heavy snowfall. During such conditions, many buses may switch to snow routes, or transportation services could be cancelled entirely.

For information about student transportation during winter weather, visit the “Snow Closure Decision: Snow” tab on our Inclement Weather page.

Frequently Asked Questions  

Registration

Do students requiring transportation services need to register every year?

Yes. All riders from kindergarten to Grade 12, including current riders, need to register for student transportation services each year by the registration deadline. The deadline for 2024/25 is 4 p.m. on June 28, 2024.

Please note that, for the safety of all students, students will not be allowed to ride unless they are:

• Registered
• Confirmed a route assignment
• Listed on the bus attendance roster

What are the eligibility criteria?

Only students who attend their catchment area school and meet the distance criteria outlined below are eligible.  (To determine your catchment area, use the school locator on the district website.)

Distance Criteria

PRIMARY STUDENTS (Grades K-3) and their siblings attending the same school who live farther than 4 kilometers from their catchment area school.

ALL OTHER STUDENTS (Grades 4-12) who live farther than 4.8 kilometers from their catchment area school. 

Please note that regular student transportation is not available for students registered in a district program (e.g. French Immersion) offered at a school other than their catchment area school.

Which schools have regular school bus service?

Regular school bus service is only available to the following schools:

• Blue Mountain Elementary
• Highland Park Elementary
• Whonnock Elementary
• Webster’s Corners Elementary
• Pitt Meadows Secondary
• Garibaldi Secondary

What if I have one child in Grade 1 and one in Grade 6 and we live 4.2 kilometers away from the school they both attend? Would both children qualify?

Yes. Siblings attending the same school who qualify under the eligibility criteria will also be deemed eligible students. You must register both of your children by the June 28, 2024, registration deadline.

I live 3.5 kilometers away from the catchment school. Can my child ride the bus if there is room on the bus?

Please refer to the Late Registrants and Courtesy Riders section above.

Can I sign my child up to ride the bus part way through the school year (after the registration deadline)? 

Yes, you can register for student transportation part way through the year, but the school district cannot guarantee a seat will be available for your child. If there isn’t a seat available, your child will be put on a waitlist for their assigned route. 

Fees

When is payment due?

Once your application is approved, you will be notified that payment is required. Payment will be due by no later than August 16, 2024.

Are fees prorated?

Transportation fees are not prorated. Annual transportation fees for eligible riders and courtesy riders for 2024/25 are $420 for the first child and the second child, and $135 for the third child +. There are no discounts based on when a student starts/finishes riding.

What if I cannot afford the full payment?

The school district has a hardship policy and provides full fee waivers for families who meet the low-income thresholds. See Transportation Fees – Low Income Waiver.

Families who do not qualify for the full fee waiver but are facing financial hardship can contact the transportation department at transportation@sd42.ca to make alternate payment arrangements.

Is there a discount for riders if a ride is not needed daily or only one way?

Because the annual fee ensures only partial recovery of transportation costs, the district cannot provide discounts for part-time use. Registered riders are required to use the bus on a regular basis. Occasional use, (less than 50% per month), may result in the cancellation of service.

If the bus service is no longer required, is there a refund?

The school district will only issue refunds if transportation services are discontinued before the end of the first week the child was scheduled to begin receiving this service.

Other

Can my child bring a friend on the bus?

No, only registered riders are allowed on the bus.

Can my child be accommodated if they have different pick-up or drop-off locations?

Contact the Transportation Department at transportation@sd42.ca for confirmation; we will try to meet the needs of the student if possible.

Can I ride on the bus with my child?

No, only registered riders are allowed on the bus. Parents and pre-school children are not allowed on the bus. 

Can my child bring hockey equipment on the bus?

No, hockey equipment is not allowed on the bus. Only items that do not pose a safety hazard and can be held on the student’s lap or under their seat are allowed on the bus.

My child is small.  Can a booster seat be used?

No, booster seats are not allowed because they cannot be secured on the bus. 

Can my child eat or drink while on the bus?

No, children cannot eat or drink while on the bus as it could create a safety hazard.