The first day of school is on Tuesday, August 16 for students of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. Many students will be traversing to school by way of school bus, but this year there are bus route changes that parents and students need to be aware of.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District reports that the route changes originated due to a school bus driver shortage and district funding restrictions due to increased daily bus rate, which are adjusted by contract for inflation, as well as increased fuel costs. The changes reduce costs and maximize student counts on buses, while retaining as much service to areas as possible and keeping student ride times as short as possible.
SOHI – Skyview – River City Academy
- Route 122 will combine with 108 – the updated route is 108. The bus will pick up on the Sterling Highway and Kenai Spur Highway only. The bus will not travel on Feuding Lane nor East Redoubt with the exception that the bus will travel down Silver Salmon off the Kenai Spur Highway.
KCHS – KMS – River City Academy
- Route 123 & 127 will combine – the updated route is 127. The bus will not travel off K-Beach Road. All stops for Cannery Road and all side roads will be on K-Beach Road.
- Route 121 will now be added to Route 120, Route 133, and Route 146. Stops will remain the same. Only the route numbers have changed.
Mountain View Elementary School
- Route 127 is now Route 144, and the stops will remain the same. The only thing that has changed is the route number.
- Route 121 will now be added to Route 120, Route 133, and Route 146 and the stops will remain the same. The only thing that has changed is the route number.
Tustumena Elementary School
- Route 144 has been added to Route 141. Route 141 will not travel down Pollard Loop. The stop will be at the north end of Pollard Loop on the Sterling Highway.
- Route 144 will no longer service Tustumena Elementary.
Additionally, Apple Bus Company was sold to First Student and the bus markings are transitioning to First Student, meaning your school bus may have markings “Apple Bus” or “First Student”.
For more information, contact Apple Bus at (907) 262-4900 or KPBSD Transportation at (907) 714-8834.