Student Transportation Bus Route Cancellation Procedure
In January 2022, NSTS experienced the first time ever disruptions to bus route service due to staffing shortages. NSTS and service provides make every effort for continuity of service through ongoing driver recruitment and retention efforts. From time to time we may post a service delay on a route due to a staff shortage on a particular day. In the event that a route service disruption cannot be mitigated through recruitment, retention or delays, NSTS may decide to cancel a specific route for one day or a specified period of time. This decision is one of last resort.
In the event that a specific route cancellation is necessary due to staff shortage, NSTS, school boards and service providers have determined we would follow inclement weather procedures and to broadcast this decision, using the same channels as inclement weather, by 6:00 a.m.
Guidance for Families to Prepare for Potential Service Disruptions
Parents are encouraged to make a plan in the event their child’s bus route is cancelled for the day or for multiple days. A route that is cancelled in the morning, will be cancelled in the afternoon. A route that operates in the morning, will operate in the afternoon.
Please make sure you know your child’s four-digit bus route number. To access the Parent Portal to retrieve your child's bus route number CLICK HERE
While in the Parent Portal, sign-up to receive alerts for route delays and cancellations if there is a service disruption on your child’s route or download the BusPlanner Delays App and toggle through the prompts to your child’s school board and school to view delays and cancellations.
Process for Communicating Route Cancellations
NSTS and service providers will be up early to evaluate staffing for each school day. Any route(s) that cannot operate due to staffing shortages will be cancelled and communicated by 6:00 a.m. as follows:
For the NSTS website, the information is posted as a banner on the Home Page CLICK HERE and on the Delays and Cancellations Home Page CLICK HERE
NSTS sends push notifications via Twitter (@niagarasts), via email to subscribers who signed up to Alerts through the Parent Portal and an Alert appears on the BP Delays App.
If your power is out or you do not have an internet connection, you may call the NSTS mainline, 905-357-6787, and the auto attendant will have information related to any cancellations or closures.
DSBN and Niagara Catholic will also post on their website and socials if a route is cancelled that impacts one of their schools.
NSTS will notify local radio and television stations by 6:00 a.m. to disseminate this information to the public. These stations include CHCH, Cogeco Cable 10, City TV, CKTB 610 am, EZ Rock 105.7 fm, HTZ 97.7 fm, KLite 102.9 fm, The River - 105.1 fm, More 101.1 fm, KX 94.7 fm, Y-108 - 107.9 fm , GIANT FM 91.7
If NSTS and a service provider identify a route cancellation that may last for several days, this route will be posted on the NSTS website with the expected date the route will be reinstated and NSTS will work with schools to notify families direct.
Delay Portal & BusPlanner Instructions
To view delays impacting specific routes CLICK HERE
To view BusPlanner Web instructions to subscribe for delay and cancellations notifications, or to download the BusPlanner Delay app CLICK HERE