It's Your Money NYC: Hold Your Government Accountable

Funding for '09

$ 1,068,988,318

Employees

0

Who funds this program?

City

483,780,426 (45%)

State

300,000 (Less than 1%)

Federal

548,957,892 (51%)

How is the money spent?

Supplies

9,252,000 (1%)

Property & Equipment

1,618,422 (Less than 1%)

Contracted Services

969,356,556 (91%)

Other and Fixed Charges

88,761,340 (8%)

What your money funds:

This program funds the operation costs for the Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT). This office is tasked with providing transportation to City students (public and non-public school students), including promoting walking to school.

1. Transportation eligibility is determined on the basis of the student's grade level and the distance between the student's residence and school. For example, a first-grader who lives 3/4 of a mile from school would be eligible for full fare transportation, including yellow bus transportation. However, an eighth-grader who lives one mile from school would be eligible for half fare transportation and would not be eligible for yellow bus service.
2. Yellow Buses: Students eligible for full fare transportation may apply for yellow bus service. Yellow bus service is bus service provided from designated stops at designated times to and from schools receiving this service. To apply for yellow bus service, a student must be in grades K-6.

a. Contracting out Yellow Bus Service: The City contracts with approximately 40 different bus companies to provide transportation for its students. New York City has not bid out contracts with bus companies since the mid-1970s. This means that costly contracts are often renewed without new bus companies given the opportunity to bid. This has led to much legal debate over the past few years. It costs the city approximately $1 billion in contracts each year.

3. MetroCards: Schools distribute Student MetroCards to eligible students at the beginning of each semester of the school year. Student MetroCards are distinct from MetroCards used by the general public because this card is only good from 5:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. on days when school is in session, and should only be used for travel to and from school and school related activities. The cards are also only good for three trips each school day. A special four-trip Student MetroCard is available at the principal's discretion
4. Walking: For parents and guardians concerned about allowing their children to walk alone to school, one solution is to work with the school and other parents to organize a walking school bus in the neighborhood. A "walking school bus" consists of one or more adult supervisors (a parent or other guardian) and a group of children. A walking route is organized to operate much as a school bus would. The `walking school bus" group arrives at designated locations at a scheduled time to allow additional students to join the group for a safety in numbers trip to school.