Author: Joseph P. Lowry

Publisher:

Published: 1969

Total Pages: 123

ISBN-13:

A time-sharing computer package was developed to assist local administrators in planning school bus routes. Data about the students and roads in the district is first collected and coded. The planner then suggests and inputs one set of possible bus routes. The program computes various parameters of this system such as the number of students on each bus, the travel time and the number of miles driven while loaded and while unloaded, the longest and average times spent by students on each bus, and a representative cost of the route. These values are also added together to evaluate the entire system. After examining these results, the planner can easily change any number of routes, run the program again, and see the consequences of his alterations. Many alternative systems could be tried in a short period of time, and the most desirable one selected for implementation. A small model was set up and tested. The process is general and could be used by almost any district. Minor adjustments can easily be made to make the program more sensitive to local conditions and needs. In addition, both the student and road data could be expanded to permit additional use by the school and other local agencies. (Author).