Restore Plano ISD Bus Service for Students on Dangerous Routes
Restore Plano ISD Bus Service for Students on Dangerous Routes
The Issue
Hundreds of Plano ISD students are starting the school year without the bus service they’ve relied on for years. The district has reclassified many routes as “safe” under state criteria — even when they still require young children to walk along or across busy, high-speed roads.
Parents like Cindy Seton-Rogers now face the reality of their 10-year-old walking nearly two miles to school, including crossing a six-lane road. Others, like Stephanie Sifuentes, must rearrange work schedules to drive their children because the route includes a 45 mph road they don’t believe is safe for kids to walk. Both families say they have seen little to no actual safety improvements on these routes.
About 2,560 students live in neighborhoods losing bus service due to the district’s new “hazardous” designations. Between 950 and 1,300 students will lose access to the bus altogether — 70% of them in elementary school, some as young as six.
Plano ISD points to budget pressures, a driver shortage, and a transportation audit as reasons for the cuts. Last year, the district spent $20.6 million on transportation, with only $2.5 million covered by the Texas Education Agency. But these changes put cost savings ahead of child safety, especially during Texas’ extreme heat, rain, and cold.
Pedestrian accidents involving children have already happened in the area. Parents are rightfully concerned that removing buses from these routes will increase the risk of more tragedies. Crossing high-speed roads, even with crosswalk signals, is not a safe alternative for elementary-aged students.
We are calling on Plano ISD to immediately reinstate bus service for all routes that require children to cross major multi-lane roads or walk more than a mile to school, regardless of technical hazard reclassifications. Budgets can be adjusted; a child’s safety cannot be replaced.
Our children deserve safe, reliable transportation to school — not a dangerous daily commute.
Sign this petition to demand that Plano ISD reverse these harmful cuts and put student safety ahead of budget line items. No family should be forced to choose between their child’s safety and their education.
404
The Issue
Hundreds of Plano ISD students are starting the school year without the bus service they’ve relied on for years. The district has reclassified many routes as “safe” under state criteria — even when they still require young children to walk along or across busy, high-speed roads.
Parents like Cindy Seton-Rogers now face the reality of their 10-year-old walking nearly two miles to school, including crossing a six-lane road. Others, like Stephanie Sifuentes, must rearrange work schedules to drive their children because the route includes a 45 mph road they don’t believe is safe for kids to walk. Both families say they have seen little to no actual safety improvements on these routes.
About 2,560 students live in neighborhoods losing bus service due to the district’s new “hazardous” designations. Between 950 and 1,300 students will lose access to the bus altogether — 70% of them in elementary school, some as young as six.
Plano ISD points to budget pressures, a driver shortage, and a transportation audit as reasons for the cuts. Last year, the district spent $20.6 million on transportation, with only $2.5 million covered by the Texas Education Agency. But these changes put cost savings ahead of child safety, especially during Texas’ extreme heat, rain, and cold.
Pedestrian accidents involving children have already happened in the area. Parents are rightfully concerned that removing buses from these routes will increase the risk of more tragedies. Crossing high-speed roads, even with crosswalk signals, is not a safe alternative for elementary-aged students.
We are calling on Plano ISD to immediately reinstate bus service for all routes that require children to cross major multi-lane roads or walk more than a mile to school, regardless of technical hazard reclassifications. Budgets can be adjusted; a child’s safety cannot be replaced.
Our children deserve safe, reliable transportation to school — not a dangerous daily commute.
Sign this petition to demand that Plano ISD reverse these harmful cuts and put student safety ahead of budget line items. No family should be forced to choose between their child’s safety and their education.
404
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Petition created on August 15, 2025