|  | | Selected Safety Requiements from the Contract for Transportation Services | | The contract for student transportation between the Saint Paul Public Schools and our school bus contractors contains stringent safety requirements for the school buses transporting our students.
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Vehicle CapacityRoute and Field/Athletic Trip OverloadsPassengers Standing or Moving Around the School BusCompliance ReviewContractor Safety RequirementsSchool Bus IdentificationEquipment Age and StandardsRoad Coaches, Transit Equipment, Other Non School Bus Type VehiclesEquipment Age - Non School Bus EquipmentLettering,Marking, and SignsCondition of EquipmentMinnesota State School Bus InspectionMinnesota Commercial Vehicle InspectionInspection(s) by DistrictDriver Daily Pre-trip InspectionRecord of Daily Pre-trip InspectionPost Trip Reporting of Vehicle DefectsVehicle MaintainanceTwo-Way Radio EquipmentLighted Stop ArmStudent Crossing GateSleeping Child Check SystemInterior and Exterior Public Address SystemsVideo Student Monitoring SystemsWheelchair LiftsOperation of Wheelchair LiftsModification of Wheelchair LiftsWheelchair Securement DevicesVehicle Capacity
126. Vehicle Capacity The number of passengers carried shall not exceed the number of passengers, including adult assistants or chaperones, which can be fully seated. The seating capacity must be based upon the rated seating capacity adjusted for the individual size of the passengers. At no time shall the number of passengers transported exceed the manufacturer's total rated seating capacity. |
Route and Field/Athletic Trip Overloads
127. Route and Field/Athletic Trip Overloads Drivers must never transport numbers of students that exceed the seating capacity of the vehicle as outlined in section III-D-126 of these Specifications. It is the responsibility of the driver to immediately report any passenger overloads experienced to his dispatcher via the two-way radio system. It is the responsibility of the contractor to immediately report any overloads to the Transportation Department. |
Passengers Standing or Moving Around the School Bus
128. Passengers Standing or Moving Around the School Bus Minnesota Statute 169.447 Subdivision (B) requires that all passengers in a school bus shall remain seated while the bus is in motion. No student, teacher, assistant, District staff person, athletic coach, or parent shall be allowed to stand, or sit in the lap of another person, while the bus is in motion. This will include special education bus assistants unless the assistant is responding to an incident or emergency on the school bus. Under no circumstances may School Bus Safety assistants, or so-called "Bus Patrols" stand, or move around, while the bus is in motion.
It is the responsibility of the driver to instruct any person, including school staff or chaperones, who is standing in a moving school bus to immediately become seated. If the person refuses to comply with the request the driver must stop the bus and again repeat the request. If the person still refuses to comply the driver should request assistance from District safety supervisory staff via the dispatcher. All incidents of persons standing should be reported to the principal on the District Incident Report Form. This includes incidents involving school staff.
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Compliance Review
23. Compliance Review The District Transportation Administrator, Transportation Safety Coordinator, or Traffic Operations Coordinator may conduct a review of contractor compliance with the requirements of these Specifications at any time. This review, which may be conducted at the contractors terminal, may include drivers hours of service, records of maintenance of vehicles, drivers pre-trip inspection logs, commercial and school bus driver license documentation, school bus driver training documentation, in-service training documentation, annual safety evaluation documentation, accidents involving vehicles on District route service, or other factors determined by the District. |
Contractor Safety Requirements
22. Contractor Safety Responsibilities Each contractor is responsible for development of appropriate and effective safety management controls, including policies, programs, practices, and procedures, to ensure compliance with all provisions of these Specifications and with all applicable Federal and state laws, rules, and regulations, to ensure the safe transportation of District students, and to reduce the risk of motor vehicle or personal injury accidents |
School Bus Identification
39. Bus Identification Each school bus transporting students on field trips or athletic trips shall display the words "SCHOOL BUS" to the front and rear in conformance with Minnesota Statute 169.441 subdivision 3. Each school bus transporting non-students on District service, such as school staff, parents, or participants in Community Education activities, shall have the school bus sign removed or covered with “Charter”, “Special”, or other non-school bus signage as required under Minnesota Statute 169.441 Subdivision 3. Any covering other than “Charter”, “Special”, or a blank sign must be approved by the District Transportation Department. |
Equipment Age and Standards
51. Equipment Age and Standards - School Bus All Type A, B, C, and D, school buses that are regularly assigned to Saint Paul Public School routes, field trips, and activity trips, shall be 1993 or newer. Type A, B, C, and D vehicles used solely as spare equipment shall be 1992 or newer and may not be utilized on a regular basis. Type III Vehicles are prohibited unless authorized in writing by the Transportation Administrator or the Route Operations Manager. All Type III vehicles approved for use must comply with the age requirements contained in Minnesota Statute 169.454. Under no circumstances shall a nonconforming vehicle, as defined in these Specifications, be used to transport District students.
Use of a vehicle older than 1993 as a regular route bus, or older than 1992 for a spare vehicle, except as noted above, is prohibited. The contractor operating a vehicle which is not in compliance with this section that has not been granted a written waiver under Section III-D-52 of these Specifications, will be assessed a penalty of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per route affected per day not in compliance.
All vehicles must comply with the specifications contained in Chapter 169 of Minnesota Statutes and with subsequent changes made by the Minnesota Legislature, or other authorized rulemaking body. All vehicles must also comply with the provisions of Section 7470 (Rules 7413.0200 through 7470.1700) of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Rules.
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Road Coaches, Transit Equipment, Other Non School Bus Type Vehicles
56. Road Coaches, Transit Equipment, Other Non School Bus Type Vehicles Road Coaches, Transit Equipment, and other non school bus type vehicles, including "mini coaches", shall not be utilized for the transportation of pupils on any route operated by Independent School District No. 625 at any time. Such vehicles may be utilized for the transportation of pupils on field trips or athletic trips by a contractor possessing charter carrier authority only when specifically ordered by, or authorized by, the District Transportation Department. This section does not prohibit the use of the type D school bus, also called "transit type", or forward control (FC), conforming to the provisions contained in Minnesota Statutes. |
Equipment Age - Non School Bus Equipment
57. Equipment Age and Standards - Non School Bus Coach, transit, and other non school bus type buses utilized for field trip, activity trip, or Community Education transportation, which is provided under Minnesota Carrier Authority, may be older than 1993 provided that the equipment meets all Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) standards and display a current Minnesota Department of Public Safety Annual Commercial Vehicle Inspection Certificate pursuant to Minnesota Statute 169.781, Subd. 5. |
Lettering,Marking, and Signs
60. Illegal Lettering or Markings No school bus operating under this contract may transport any Saint Paul Public Schools route, field trip, or Community Education service while displaying any outward markings other than those allowed in sections 169.4503 subd. 12 and/or 221.131 Subd. 2a of Minnesota Statutes, including the driver's name, banners, signs, or party decorations. Further, no school bus operating under this contract shall display interior signs, banners, or decorations which interfere with the vision of the school bus driver, the safe operation of the school bus, or which may be objectionable to passengers. Drivers violating this clause will be subject to disciplinary action including suspension or removal from District service. |
Condition of Equipment
63. Condition of Equipment Each school bus used for transporting children under contract to Independent School District No. 625 shall comply with all provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Department of Public Safety Rules, and these Specifications. Each school bus shall be free from any structural damage which may lead to or cause injury to a child due to jagged or sharp edges. Each school bus shall have all operational and safety systems in proper working order and shall be free from any defects which might lead to student injury. Each school bus shall be clean, both inside and out, and shall reflect a positive image of the contractor and the School District to the public. |
Minnesota State School Bus Inspection
65. Minnesota State School Bus Inspection Each school bus shall be inspected by the Minnesota State Patrol and shall have a valid State of Minnesota school bus inspection certificate, or temporary inspection certificate, affixed to the lower left windshield, as required by Minnesota Statute 169.451. A Type III school bus operated under the special written permission of the Transportation Administrator shall also comply with this section. The Contractor shall supply the District Transportation Safety Coordinator and Traffic Operations Coordinator with a photocopy of the State Inspection Report covering each vehicle under contract to the District. The District must receive such copies within ten (10) days of contractor receipt of the inspection report.
No school bus may be operated under this contract while displaying a rejection sticker affixed to the vehicle by a Commercial Vehicle Inspector or Trooper of the Minnesota State Patrol.
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Minnesota Commercial Vehicle Inspection
68. Coaches, Transit, Non School Bus Vehicles - Inspection Required All road coaches, transit equipment, or other non-school bus type equipment approved by the Transportation Department for the transportation of students or staff on field trips, athletic trips, Community Education trips, or staff trips must carry evidence of an Annual Commercial Vehicle Inspection pursuant to Minnesota Statute 169.781 in the form of an inspection decal as required in MS 169.781 Subd. 5. |
Inspection(s) by District
69. Inspection(s) by District The condition of each school bus, and the safety/emergency equipment on the bus, shall be subject to inspection at all times by School District personnel or by independent mechanical inspectors employed by the District. Inspections may occur on the road (enroute), at school sites, at the contractor’s terminal, at the District School Bus Garage, or at other locations and times specified by the District.
Buses will be subject to the same inspection criteria as is contained in the Minnesota State School Bus Inspection Manual, plus all additional equipment and requirements contained in these Specifications.
The District Transportation Safety Coordinator, or Traffic Operations Coordinator, may require a contractor to immediately bring a specific vehicle to the District School Bus Garage for mechanical inspection on any regular school day at a time specified by the District between the hours of 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM, or after 4:30 PM.
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Driver Daily Pre-trip Inspection
71. Driver Daily Pre-trip Inspection Required Each school bus used for transporting school children for Independent School District No. 625 shall be pre-inspected before each run in conformance with Minnesota Department of Public Safety Rule 7470.1300. The inspection shall, at a minimum, cover the items contained in the Pre Trip Inspection section of the Minimum School Bus Driver Training Standards contained in these Specifications.
Any defects or deficiencies that may affect the vehicle's safe operation or the safety of the pupil passengers shall be repaired or corrected before the bus is used for the transportation of children as required by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
72. Record of Daily Pre-trip Inspection Each required daily pre-trip inspection shall be completed in writing on a printed form, such as the preprinted inspection forms manufactured by J.J. Keller and Associates, or a form developed by the contractor. One copy of the daily pre-trip inspection form must be in the possession of the driver while operating on district service and must be presented when requested by District Transportation Department safety or administrative staff. One shop or administrative copy of each inspection form must be maintained on file at a location accessible to the District for a minimum period of three years following the end of term of this contract and shall be subject to inspection by District Safety and/or administrative staff at any time upon request.
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Record of Daily Pre-trip Inspection
72. Record of Daily Pre-trip Inspection Each required daily pre-trip inspection shall be completed in writing on a printed form, such as the preprinted inspection forms manufactured by J.J. Keller and Associates, or a form developed by the contractor. One copy of the daily pre-trip inspection form must be in the possession of the driver while operating on district service and must be presented when requested by District Transportation Department safety or administrative staff. One shop or administrative copy of each inspection form must be maintained on file at a location accessible to the District for a minimum period of three years following the end of term of this contract and shall be subject to inspection by District Safety and/or administrative staff at any time upon request.
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Post Trip Reporting of Vehicle Defects
73. Post Trip Reporting of Vehicle Defects Each contractor shall develop and maintain a policy and a system which requires each driver of a vehicle operating under this contract to report all defects and deficiencies discovered or reported in the course of the operation of the vehicle in writing to the maintenance/repair supervisor on a defect/repair form developed by the contractor. This form may be included as part of a daily vehicle usage report or driver payroll report form. This reporting requirement does not relieve any driver of the responsibility to complete the daily pre-trip inspection required under section III-D-71 of these Specifications. |
Vehicle Maintainance
76. Safety Recalls All safety recalls of equipment operated under this contract which are issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the vehicle manufacturer shall be completed as soon as practically possible. In no event shall a school bus be operated under this contract if it is subject to a safety recall requiring immediate repair or which requires, or recommends, removing the vehicle from service until the recall is completed.
77. Vehicle Maintenance Program Each contractor must operate a vehicle maintenance program designed to correct any mechanical problem or defect reported by the school bus driver as soon as possible. This program must include sufficient mechanics, supplies, and shop equipment to service all equipment operated out of each terminal servicing this contract, including equipment utilized in other school districts. Any defect which affects the safe operation of a vehicle must be corrected before transporting students under this contract.
78. Preventive Maintenance Program Each contractor shall conduct a preventive maintenance program covering all vehicles operated under this contract. This program shall operate throughout the year and shall be structured to maintain equipment in safe and reliable operating condition with major emphasis on preventing failures on the road. As part of this program each contractor shall systematically inspect and maintain all vehicles operating under this contract to ensure that they are in safe and proper operating condition. All contractors shall follow or exceed the manufacturers recommended maintenance schedules for all maintenance areas including, but not limited to, oil changes, lubrication, belt and hose replacement, component replacement, etc.
79. Preservice and In-service Training for Mechanics and Maintenance Personnel The contractor shall ensure that all mechanics and other maintenance personnel are properly trained and qualified to maintain the equipment utilized under this contract. The contractor shall also ensure that all mechanics and maintenance personnel have timely knowledge of changes in laws, regulations, equipment specifications, and repair procedures necessary to safely maintain transportation equipment.
80. Vehicle Service Records Each contractor shall maintain records of each vehicle serviced for mechanical failure, normal maintenance, preventive maintenance, or manufacturer's recall or advisory. The maintenance records of all vehicles operating under this contract shall be retained for a minimum of three years following the end of the term of this contract. and shall be subject to inspection by District safety staff at any time upon request.
81. Inspection of Maintenance Records The contractor shall make the vehicle service records required under section III-D-80 of these Specifications available to District Transportation Department administrative and safety staff at any time and shall supply copies of specific records upon request.
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Two-Way Radio Equipment
85. Two-Way Radios All vehicles transporting students, whether handicapped or nonhandicapped, to and from school, on field trips, activity trips, or on between buildings programs, must be equipped with working FM or digital two-way radio equipment. The radio equipment must be turned on and monitored by the driver whenever transporting District students or staff. The radio system must be adequate to provide effective communication between the contractor's operational office and any route vehicle anywhere within the areas of the School District where the contractor receives route assignments. Failure to comply with this provision will result in a fifty-dollar ($50.00) penalty per occurrence on regular education trips and a seventy-five dollar ($75.00) penalty per occurrence on special education trips.
The contractor is responsible for the radio equipment being turned on and the volume set at a level which is audible to the driver. In the event that the contractor is unable to contact a specific route, activity, or between buildings program bus at the District's request, the District will assume that the bus is not equipped with a working FM or digital two-way radio and may apply the nonperformance penalty contained in this Specification.
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Lighted Stop Arm
92. Lighted Stop Arm Required All vehicles transporting students to or from school must be equipped with a lighted stop arm meeting Minnesota Specifications. The stop arm may be equipped with incandescent lights, strobe lights, or with the word “STOP” in Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). A dual blade system meeting Minnesota standards may be utilized on District service. |
Student Crossing Gate
95. Crossing Control Gates All Type A, B, C, and D school buses providing service under this contract shall be equipped with a student crossing control arm (gate) which meets the technical and performance specifications of the Safety Guard® student crossing arm manufactured by Specialty Manufacturing Company or the Safety Cross® crossing control arm manufactured by Transpec, Inc. The arm shall be mounted to the bumper of the school bus, constructed of noncorrosive or nonferrous material or shall be treated in conformance with the school bus sheet metal standards contained in the National Minimum Standards for School Bus Operations. The arm shall be controlled through the eight light system and may be electrically, vacuum, or air operated. All components of the crossing control arm shall be weatherproof. The crossing gate must be maintained in good working condition and shall be operative whenever the school bus is performing route service.
Contractors wishing to use an arm other than the Specialty Manufacturing Safety Guard® or the Transpec Safety Cross® must receive written approval of the crossing control arm from the Transportation Administrator, Transportation Safety Coordinator, or Traffic Operations Coordinator.
Any contractor who is found operating a Type A, B, C, or D school bus on a route under this contract which does not conform to the student crossing gate requirements of this section shall be fined a penalty of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per day per vehicle not in compliance.
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Sleeping Child Check System
96. Sleeping Child Check System Each school bus operating under this contract shall, no later than December 1, 2003, be equipped with a automatic system which requires the school bus driver to go to the rear of the school bus and perform a physical action at, or near, the rear emergency door/window prior to leaving the school bus. The system shall be at least the operational equivalent of the Child Reminder System manufactured by CRS Electronics or the Child Check-Mate System manufactured by Child Check-Mate Systems, Inc., and shall contain the following requirements:
1. System shall sound an alarm horn if not deactivated as outlined in item No. 4 within a timed period.
2. System shall be activated by the eight light system or the application of the brake system.
3. System shall not be capable of being bypassed by the driver.
4. System shall use the rear emergency door handle as the primary means of deactivation. A push switch may be used in type D pusher school buses and in certain situations approved by the District Transportation Safety Director.
5. System shall not be capable of being disarmed until the ignition switch has been turned off.
6. There shall be a visible indicator on, or in, the dashboard to remind the driver to check the bus for sleeping students.
7 System shall turn on the interior lights upon activation.
8. The time limit to check the bus before activation of the alarm system shall be adjustable relative to the capacity of the bus.
9. System shall monitor all exits and shall not be capable of being bypassed by a key, dashboard area switch, having a student raise the handle or push a button, or by walking around the outside of the school bus and opening the rear door.
10. System shall be certified to work in extreme cold weather conditions.
Specifications for Pupil Transportation - 2003-2004 - Bid No. A-8809-C Page 54
Installation of a system other that the Child Reminder System manufactured by CRS Electronics or the Child Check-Mate System manufactured by Child Check-Mate Systems, Inc., shall require the written approval of the Transportation Administrator or Transportation Safety Coordinator.
The sleeping child check system shall not replace the driver check system utilizing the EMPTY sign required under section III-G-322 of these Specifications.
In the event of an incident where a sleeping child is left unattended on a bus due to the contractors failure to install or to maintain the sleeping child check system required in this section, the contractor shall be deemed to be in violation of this contract, shall be fined five hundred dollars ($500.00), and the affected route shall be reassigned to another vendor with available equipment of the size and/or type required to service the route. In the event that the reassignment of the route results in increased costs to the District, the contractor shall be required to reimburse the District for the difference between the original contract (bid) cost and the cost of the reassigned service.
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Interior and Exterior Public Address Systems
97. Interior and Exterior Public Address Systems All vehicles transporting students under this contract shall be equipped with working interior and exterior Public Address (PA) systems, with at least two (2) interior and one (1) exterior speaker, that are at least equivalent to the technical and operational specifications of Midwest Electronic Industries, Inc. MobilPage® Model 442-E.
The PA system must be turned on during all route operations and the speaker selector switch must normally be set to the outside speaker. The microphone must be mounted in a location that is easily and rapidly accessible to the driver. Failure of the successful bidder to have the required PA system in each bus performing District service shall result in the penalty specified under section III-D-83 of these Specifications retroactive to the first day of the school year.
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Video Student Monitoring Systems
107. Video Student Monitoring Systems Each school bus operated on District route service must be equipped with an in-bus video monitoring system. This system shall consist of a mounting box capable of holding a concealed 8mm Video Camera, a wiring harness to connect the box and camera to the 12-volt electrical system of the school bus, and a one-way mirror and/or dummy camera lens.
The system must be equipped with a locking cover and be designed so that the passengers cannot determine if a camera is present in the box. The system must be maintained in good working order at all times.
The District will provide each contractor Canon and/or Sony video cameras which are compatible with the Silent Witness® Video System and which have been modified for "instant on" operation. Each contractor will also be provided with a quantity of 8mm video tapes.:
All video mounting boxes, video cameras, VCRs, and tapes which are issued to contractors, or which have been issued to contractors in prior years, remain the property of Independent School District No. 625 and must be returned to the District upon demand. The contractor shall be responsible for the repair or replacement cost of any camera deemed by the Transportation Safety Coordinator to have been damaged by intentional acts of contractor employees.
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Wheelchair Lifts
112. Wheelchair Lifts The make and model of all wheelchair lifts utilized on Saint Paul Public Schools routes and field trips is subject to approval by the District Transportation Department. The make and model of all lift equipment shall be shown along with the vehicle unit number on Exhibit "B".
Lift equipment may be excluded from use on District routes, field trips, athletic trips, and between buildings programs due to such factors as the design features of the lift or the operational history (problems and/or failures) of the lift model.
All power lifts shall be installed on the right side of the school bus. All new Type C and D lift buses ordered after June 1, 2003, shall have a lift with a design load of at least 600 pounds and the lift and lift access door shall be located forward of the rear axle of the school bus. Under no circumstances shall a ramp be used in lieu of a power lift.
All lifts shall be equipped with controls which allow the driver to activate and control the lift mechanism while outside of the bus. All electrical controls shall utilize momentary contact switches which require continuous manual pressure by the operator. The lift controls shall allow the lift to be stopped in any position by releasing the manual pressure switch and shall allow reversal of the lift platform for height adjustment. The lift shall be designed to deploy to all levels, e.g., ground, curb, and intermediate positions, normally encountered in special education transportation operations.
All wheelchair lifts shall incorporate an emergency method of deploying, lowering to ground level with a lift occupant, and raising and stowing the empty lift in the event that power to the lift fails. No emergency method shall be capable of being operated in a manner which could be hazardous to the lift occupant or lift operator when operated according to the manufacturer’s printed operating instructions.
All lifts shall be designed to prevent deploying, falling, or folding at any rate faster than 12” per second or dropping of a wheelchair occupant in the event of a failure of the wheelchair lift. All lift platforms shall be equipped with an automatic barrier to prevent any of the wheels of a wheelchair from rolling off of the outer edge of the lift platform while the lift is in motion or in the up position. A moveable barrier, or inherent design feature, shall prevent a wheelchair from rolling off the edge closest to the vehicle when the lift is in motion.
113. Operation of Wheelchair Lifts The school bus driver is the only person authorized to operate the wheelchair lift. Under no circumstances may an assistant, parent, student, school staff, or other person be authorized to operate a wheelchair lift on a vehicle performing service for the District.
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Operation of Wheelchair Lifts
113. Operation of Wheelchair Lifts The school bus driver is the only person authorized to operate the wheelchair lift. Under no circumstances may an assistant, parent, student, school staff, or other person be authorized to operate a wheelchair lift on a vehicle performing service for the District. |
Modification of Wheelchair Lifts
118. Modification of Wheelchair Lifts All safety features and safety interlock devices, which are built into wheelchair lifts by the manufacturer, must remain intact and in operable condition while on District service. Utilization of a wheelchair lift with a safety interlock device disconnected, or defeated, shall be regarded as a serious safety violation of these Specifications. |
Wheelchair Securement Devices
120. Wheelchair Securement Devices All wheelchair securement devices utilized for the transportation of students who utilize wheelchairs on routes and/or field trips must meet the requirements contained in Chapter 299A, Minnesota Statutes, and must be approved by both the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and the Saint Paul Schools Transportation Department.
All securement devices shall be four or seven point webbing type such as that manufactured by Aeroquip®/Kinedyne®, Inc. unless otherwise approved. The make and model of all securement devices must be shown on "Exhibit B". The placement of the securement devices and the wheelchairs within the vehicle is subject to approval by the District Transportation Department.
Wheelchair securement systems must be utilized in accordance with the system manufacturer's recommended attachment procedures. Failure of a driver to utilize four point attachment, or to utilize the system in accordance with the securement systems manufacturer's recommended attachment procedures, may result in the suspension of the driver from further service within the District.
All securement and restraint system components, including the system track, floor plates, pockets, locking assemblies, securement straps, or other anchorages and/or anchorage components in a specific vehicle shall be provided by the same manufacturer as a compatible system or shall be certified as compatible by manufacturers of all components of the systems used.
A device for storage of the securement and restraint system shall be provided for clean storage of the system when not in use.
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