City Council President on late BPS buses: A state investigation would be ‘definitely premature’

Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune said city and district officials are working to improve the BPS transportation issues on WCVB on Sunday, pushing back on the idea of state interference at this point.

“We have to create space to be able to work out these kinks,” said Louijeune on a WCVB “On the Record” segment aired Sunday. “It’s not gonna be perfect. You can’t snap your fingers. So calling for any sort of investigation is definitely premature.”

The council president’s comments follow the third week of high profile issues with late school buses in the Boston school district, as BPS adapts to new GPS technology through the Zum app on buses and high rates of last minute enrollment and route changes.

City Councilors Ed Flynn and Erin Murphy brought the bus issues before the state education board last week, citing persistent lateness and district officials’ delay in meeting with the city council.

Murphy called for a “thorough investigation into the root causes of these delays, a comprehensive action plan with clear timelines, improved communication with families, and a robust monitoring system to ensure accountability” at the meeting.

Louijeune said of the start of the year, it takes time to adjust “whenever there’s anything new, whenever there’s a transition.”

“Are we happy today with the arrival rates? No,” she said. “But are we getting better? Yes.”

The adjustment period is similar to what Zum has reported in other major cities, Louijeune said, and she argued the technology promises to be “a game changer.”

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The council president spoke to several solutions going forward, including increasing “practice runs” for routes to help drivers work out kinks and working with drivers and unions on issues they see to “make sure everyone feels comfortable.”

She also encouraged frustrated parents to “call our office” or email concerns, saying along with BPS transportation, the mayor’s office and city council are the responsible for this sort of local issue.

“Parents are warranted in feeling that frustration because they have a schedule, and we need to help them,” Louijeune said.

A BPS bus passes through a city neighborhood earlier this month. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald, File)

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