The Impact of Bus Route Cuts on Students in Cy-Fair ISD

As students and staff settle back into the routine of the classroom at Cy-Fair ISD, the third largest school district in Texas, there is a notable change this year. The district has made the decision to cut 79 bus routes, affecting approximately 33,000 students.

Parents, like Ashley Abernathy, are feeling the impact of these changes. Abernathy, who has children in pre-K and fifth grade, expressed her concerns about the new transportation plan. Her fifth-grade son, who previously had a bus route, now has to find alternative transportation due to living less than a mile away from the school.

With more students walking or biking to school in their neighborhood, combined with the long drop-off and pick-up lines, traffic congestion has become an issue around the district schools. Abernathy described the chaos of the pick-up line as a “death trap” with so many cars and students to navigate through.

In an effort to ease the congestion, Abernathy and her husband have decided to let their son walk to school, but she hopes for additional traffic guards to help manage the situation before and after school. The pickup line at the elementary school extends beyond the parking lot and into the neighborhood streets, adding to the already busy flow of traffic.

As the Cy-Fair ISD community adjusts to these changes, it is essential to address the challenges and look for solutions to ensure the safety and efficiency of student transportation. Communication between parents, schools, and the district will be crucial in navigating this new transportation landscape.

Related: Back-to-school survey for parents: What are your questions/concerns?