SAFBG Proposal to Reconfigure the "J" Bus Fee Route

 

What is the Issue?

At the urging of the community, the PAUSD will meet in late November to consider improving the "J" Bus morning route in order to shorten Nixon students' ride time from Stanford West area, save gas, and accommodate Gunn students living on the Stanford campus.

 

What is the problem?

Currently, the morning "J" bus travels from the Stanford West area, but passes Nixon and goes straight on to Gunn High School, then to Terman  Middle School, and doubles back to finally drop off students at Nixon Elementary School.   Gunn students living on the Stanford campus have no access to school bus service.

 

What is the Proposed New Morning "J" Bus Route?

The proposed, new morning "J" bus route would go directly from the Stanford West area (departing 5 minutes later) to Nixon.  Nixon students would get off the bus, while Gunn High School students living on the Stanford campus would get on the "J" bus, and go on to Gunn.  From Gunn, the bus would go to Terman.

 

What Does this Proposed Change Mean for Nixon Students who Ride the Morning "J" Bus?

Under the new SAFBG proposal, Nixon students who ride the "J" bus would leave 5 minutes later than the current schedule and have a shorter overall ride on the bus (i.e., the proposed new bus ride would take 13‑20  minutes instead of the current 33-40 minutes).

 

Present Schedule                                 SAFBG Proposed Schedule

 

7:15 am  Stock Farm and Sand Hill       7:20 am  Stock Farm and Sand Hill

7:20 am  Clark and Mosher                   7:25 am  Clark and Mosher

7:22 am  Clark and Durand                    7:27 am  Clark and Durand

7:35 am  Arrive Gunn                            7:40 am  Arrive Nixon

7:40 am  Arrive Terman                       7:50 am  Arrive Gunn

7:55 am  Arrive Nixon                          8:00 am  Arrive Terman

 

The caveat to the proposal is that the Nixon students will arrive 5 minutes before the beginning of the current on-site supervision begins, which is from 7:45‑8:00 a.m.  However, should the proposed new schedule be approved, we are committed to find 5 minutes of additional supervision from 7:40-7:45 am; the change will not be implemented until supervision is in place.

 

How will the PAUSD Benefit from this New "J" Bus Morning Route?

The new route will cost the same for current riders; however, the PAUSD will add new, paying riders who will get on the "J" bus at Nixon and go to Gunn High School.  This increased revenue from new riders, coupled with savings in fuel (due to the shortened route), will reduce the PAUSD's overall cost to run the "J" bus.

 

How would the Community Benefit from the New "J" Bus Morning Route?

Currently there is no bus service to Gunn for high school students living on the Stanford campus; however, bus service to Gunn is provided to residents of Los Altos Hills and Stanford West.  By altering the current "J" bus route, Stanford resident Gunn students could ride the bus in the morning.  This would give Gunn students an alternative to driving single cars (which increase traffic congestion, fuel use, and pollution) or biking to school (something that can be difficult when students need to carry heavy loads of books, instruments, or sports equipment, or in rainy weather).

 

Summary of Reasons for Change:

The proposed change in the morning "J" route will allow the bus to leave later and the Nixon students will have a much shorter bus ride.  Additionally, the PAUSD will gain new revenue by saving fuel and reselling seats vacated by student disembarking at Nixon.  Nixon children have a shorter bus ride each morning.  High school students living on the Stanford campus will have bus service access to Gunn.  The Gunn campus area will be made safer by a reduction in single car commuter traffic. In short, the new route would provide a win-win situation for our community.