HopSkipDrive Highlights DPS and D11’s AI-Driven Approach to Overcoming Transportation Challenges

With the persistence of the school bus driver shortage, school districts are needing to approach this very complex challenge differently. Recently, HopSkipDrive teamed up with Denver Public Schools (DPS) and Colorado Springs School District 11 (D11) at the 2024 ASBO International Annual Conference to highlight how AI-driven strategies are helping these districts overcome driver shortages and adapt to their students’ evolving needs.

DPS and D11 face unique transportation hurdles, compounded by the national shortage of bus drivers. But with the help of HopSkipDrive’s RouteWise AI™, these districts are taking proactive steps to ensure every student has a safe and reliable way to get to and from school — and are saving valuable resources in the process.

Optimizing for a multimodal approach to school transportation

As one of Colorado’s largest urban school districts, DPS serves 89,000 students across 205 schools. With a complex set of transportation requirements, DPS has embraced a multimodal transportation system that leverages CDL and non-CDL vehicles, public transit, and contracted services. This strategic mix allows DPS to match each student with the best-fit vehicle.

HopSkipDrive’s RouteWise AI has helped DPS optimize its transportation system, reducing operational costs and increasing efficiency. By incorporating RouteWise AI into its planning process, DPS has saved over $500,000 while improving sedan efficiency and supporting the district’s sustainability goals. Additionally, DPS leveraged RouteWise AI to evaluate school bell time changes and ensure that any implemented changes were done so efficiently. 

Overcoming staffing challenges at Colorado Springs School District 11

Colorado Springs School District 11, serving 23,000 students, has faced major transportation challenges, especially since the pandemic. With a 40% bus driver vacancy rate, the district’s service levels, and on-time rates, began to drop. RouteWise AI helped D11 develop a plan for addressing their driver shortage that involved consolidating 14% of bus routes, and working with HopSkipDrive to supplement these routes with small vehicles for students who were not being efficiently served by a yellow bus.  

D11 has made tremendous progress through this partnership. By consolidating bus routes, D11 funded a 15% pay raise for drivers, and decreased capital spending by over a third by reducing their target fleet size. On top of that, D11 has significantly boosted on-time performance from 85% to an impressive 99.7%.

Moving forward with innovative solutions

While both DPS and D11 have made strides in addressing their transportation challenges, there’s still plenty of work to do. Each district continues to face competition for recruiting and retaining drivers, increased demands for new services, and rising numbers of students with individualized transportation needs.

However, with the help of HopSkipDrive’s RouteWise AI and a commitment to innovation, these districts can continue to evolve their transportation systems. As DPS and D11 address current challenges, they are also setting the stage for a more efficient and sustainable future.

HopSkipDrive remains dedicated to helping districts like DPS and D11 find new ways to meet the transportation needs of schools, students, and families. As the education landscape continues to evolve, we look forward to partnering with more districts to develop solutions that ensure every student has access to safe, reliable transportation — no matter the challenges.

Interested in learning more about RouteWise AI™, our revolutionary new technology offering for student transportation planning?