MCPS Transportation: How Transportation Challenges Affect Students Daily

Over the last few years, MCPS has faced many transportation challenges. Students are boarding overcrowded buses, unexpected route cancellations occur, and there is a lack of transparency and communication regarding bus arrivals and delays. Although MCPS once established an electric bus program as a national model, the district has since ended its contract with Highland Electric Fleets due to mechanical failures and reports of financial waste. MCPS superintendent Thomas Taylor confirmed in February 2025, “Following the delivery of 50 EV school buses anticipated for July 2025, we have determined that it is in our best interest to terminate the remainder of our contract.” These unresolved transportation logistics issues will continue to affect and disrupt Students’ daily commutes.

__________________________________________________________________________

One of the most prevalent concerns among students and parents is the overcrowding of buses in MCPS. Freshman Karmaan Saxena from Richard Montgomery High School testified to the Board of Education, saying, “Buses are constantly overcrowded, with many of my peers reporting that they need to sit on each other to fit.” Disparities in magnet school bus routes contribute to further inequalities in transportation access. While schools like Richard Montgomery and Blair High School have over 15 magnet bus routes, John F. Kennedy High School, which also hosts a countywide program, has only one. Saxeena spoke about this imbalance, resulting in long commutes, with some students waiting for buses as early as 6:13 am and experiencing a 90-minute ride. “Consolidating resources at a developing magnet school that serves eight high schools for its program is completely illogical,” Saxena noted.

The nationwide shortage of school bus drivers has severely impacted MCPS operations. While the county has not released an updated vacancy number for the 2025 school year, it continues to advertise for bys operators, reflecting an ongoing shortage. On a national scale, the problem persists: “as of September 2024, there were 12.2% fewer school bus drivers on the road than in September 2019.” School Bus Fleet magazine added in April of 2025 that “the driver shortage is still in play, though less extreme than before.” To deal with this situation, MCPS started offering small incentives for drivers to take on additional trips; however, shortages still continued to cause route consolidations and delays. Some students have even resorted to using public transportation, such as RideOn buses, which are free for students with an ID. Still, many find this an unreliable alternative: "It’s convenient for some, but it’s not something I would personally turn to," said sophomore Jessica Bui, who rides bus 5122 in the afternoon.

Additionally, many students and parents have expressed frustration and concerns over MCPS's inadequate and unreliable communication regarding bus delays and cancellations. While MCPS does post daily route cancellations on a website, parents argue that the system is inefficient and not always updated in real-time. Kristin Mink, a parent and Montgomery County council member, stated, "We have asked for several years now to use an app that parents can hold in their hands that would allow us to track our kids’ bus routes.”

In 2024, MCPS attempted to implement a bus-tracking app, but the contract was canceled due to a potential data breach. Saxena proposed revisiting alternative solutions, such as “Here Comes the Bus,” an app successfully used in 36 states. “The fact that so many were excited about this project is a testament to the value placed on it,” Saxene argued, highlighting that the cost of implementing the system could be covered by state funding for electric buses.

The transportation crisis in MCPS has affected students' lives and has real consequences. Students miss buses due to unclear schedules and risk being late or missing class entirely. At Meadow Brook Elementary, a kindergarten field trip had to be canceled because the bus never arrived, which left students and chaperones waiting for an hour. Parent Kathleen Hanley Bartels shared the importance of transparency, “The bottom line is kids need to get to and from school safely. Their parents and their guardians need to know if a bus isn’t running, and they need accurate, up-to-date information."

__________________________________________________________________________

While MCPS has recognized the challenges and is working to hire more drivers, students, parents, and educators to advocate for solutions that establish safe, reliable, and equitable transportation for all, there is still a long way to go. Handling overcrowding, balancing magnet school routes, providing better driver incentives, and implementing a real-time bus tracking system are necessary steps toward improving the daily commute for thousands of students across Montgomery County.

Works Cited

Campbell, Ashlyn. "MCPS Recoups $1.5 Million in Fees from Electric Bus Contractor." Bethesda Magazine, Today Media, 13 Sept. 2024, bethesdamagazine.com/2024/12/13/mcps-recoups-million-in-fees/. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

"Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget Archive." Montgomery County Public Schools, 2024, ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/budget/archiveDetail.aspx?id=522&year=2024. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

"MCPS Parents Frustrated with Busing Issues as District Faces Diver Shortage." WJLA, 27 Oct. 2022. WJLA, wjla.com/news/local/montgomery-county-public-schools-bus-canceled-routes-uncovered-no-drivers-mcps-electric-buses-transportation-students-parents-frustrated-concerned-driver-shortage-maryland. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

"Message from Transportation Department regarding Bus Schedule." Montgomery County Public Schools, www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/beverlyfarmses/news-index/message-from-transportation-department-regarding-bus-schedule/. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

Rosenthal, Josh. "MCPS Wasted Millions of Dollars on Electric Bus Program, Investigation Reveals." FOX 5 DC, FOX Television Stations, 29 July 2024, www.fox5dc.com/news/mcps-wasted-millions-dollars-electric-bus-program-investigation-reveals. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

Campbell, Ashlyn. "MCPS Partially Ends Contract with Electric Bus Company after Scathing Report." Bethesda Magazine, 3 Feb. 2025, bethesdamagazine.com/2025/02/03/mcps-ends-contract-electric-bus-company-scathing-report/. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

Herron, Patrick. "MCPS Cancels Release of Bus Tracking App." The MocoShow, 15 Apr. 2025, mocoshow.com/2024/04/15/mcps-cancels-release-of-bus-tracking-app/. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

Huggett, Amanda. "The State of School Bus Contracting." School Bus Fleet, 21 Apr. 2025, www.schoolbusfleet.com/10239288/the-state-of-school-bus-contracting-2025-survey-results. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

Martinez Hickey, Sebastian, et al. "The School Bus Driver Shortage Remains Severe, and Bus Driver Pay Is Getting Worse." Working Economics Blog, Economic Policy Institute, 14 Nov. 2025, www.epi.org/blog/the-school-bus-driver-shortage-remains-severe-and-bus-driver-pay-is-getting-worse/. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

Written by Maria Caballero (MCR-SGA Press Deputy)

Published by the MCR-SGA Communications Department