Transportation

Our mission is to safely transport passengers in an efficient manner to and from all learning experiences. To fulfill our mission we will provide professionally trained experienced employees, using quality well-maintained vehicles and staying current with all laws and safety standards. Fundamental to our mission are effective communications, teamwork, professional and progressive attitudes, openness to change and mutual respect for all.

2024-2025 Bus Pass Applications 

You will need your PUSD parent user name to apply and pay online. To retrieve your username or password please go to PUSD Account Self Service

Dear PUSD Families,

Poway Unified has long provided safe and efficient bus transportation for our students. Over the last several years, providing these services has become increasingly more difficult. A shortage of available bus drivers has significantly impeded our ability to provide transportation services at the level our students require. This last school year, in spite of aggressive recruitment efforts, we were short 30 bus drivers almost the entire year. This resulted in buses being loaded to capacity and often delayed in their arrival times to schools. Compounding this, California legislators passed a first-of-its-kind law requiring that public high schools begin classes no earlier than 8:30 a.m., and that middle schools start no earlier than 8 a.m. The passage of this law reduced our transportation department’s flexibility to stagger bus routes, exacerbating the driver-shortage problem. Our first priority in the school year ahead will be to provide reliable, on-time home-to-school transportation services for students accessing mandated bussing as well as for as many other students that we can accommodate. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we navigate this challenging situation. The following changes are effective August 2024:

Reduced Number of General Education Routes

• Starting this school year, we reduced the number of general education routes for home to school transportation from 25 to 13. 
• The cost of an annual bus pass for remaining general education routes is $950 annually. NOTE: It costs PUSD approximately $1,550 annually to transport one student, so PUSD will continue to subsidize bus passes $600 annually.
• We continue to actively recruit bus drivers and provide paid training so we can meet the transportation demands in our community (prioritizing legal mandates and safety concerns).

Adjusted Non-Transportable Boundaries

• Non-transportable boundaries increased by half a mile for each grade level.
• Non-eligible students may apply for a bus pass for assignment to an existing stop for their school by exception. This requires a case-by-case review for approval by PUSD Transportation Administration, and is subject to space and availability. Approval and assignment to an existing stop may be delayed through August 28 to first allow for eligible student riders to be assigned seats. 

Updated Information on Eligibility and Bus Schedules

• Follow the link to General Ed Bus Eligibility by Address
• Follow the link to Bus Schedules by School Site

PUSD Transportation Department