Transportation

St. Louis Public Schools District officials say two of its transportation providers have informed them that they cannot provide the number of school buses the district had in its plan.

Leaders of the St. Louis Public School District shared plans Tuesday evening to begin the 2024-25 school year on a positive note, as well as insight into finances and student transportation.

As SLPS officials have scrambled to find adequate transportation for students before the new school year, district officials say transportation company First Student is providing 20 additional buses and drivers.

St. Louis Public Schools students will be taken to school by school buses operated by First Student and a hodgepodge of 18 smaller vendors. The district’s emergency plan follows a decision by Missouri Central Bus Co. to terminate its contract last school year and permanently close two of its facilities in St. Louis.

In addition to ending its contract with St. Louis Public Schools, Missouri Central Bus Co. will close two city locations — terminating more than 300 full- and part-time workers.

The new section of the project received funding from a Biden administration initiative to reconnect communities that were divided by mid-century highway projects.

A federal program is sending free electric school buses to districts across the country. The buses are better for the environment and drivers say they’re fun to drive, but there are some downsides.

Reaching the milestone will qualify the airport for more federal funds right as the facility is planning to build a new terminal and attract even more travelers.

The Illinois Department of Transportation has been talking about constructing a connector between Illinois 3 in Fairmont City and Illinois 203 and Madison, Illinois, for the last 20 years. Recently, the state agency unveiled its preferred route.

Like other employers, Madison County Transit is struggling to hire drivers. To avoid burning out employees, Managing Director SJ Morrison said MCT will reduce routes in low-traffic areas.