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The Ontario School Bus Association (OSBA) is a non-profit association providing advocacy, education and legislative consultation services to the owners of school bus fleets, school boards/transportation consortia and supplier/manufacturer companies across Ontario.  
August 4, 2015 - Issue 16

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Inside this Edition:
  1. Update - Competitive Procurement Review
  2. Yukon Government Hires New School Bus Contractor
  3. Vehicles With Two or More Occupants Can Use HOV Lanes Beginning July 28th
  4. Wilson County Schools to Start Bus Tagging System For Students 
  5. Order Your OSBA Publications Today!
  6. New Ontario Road Rules Come Into Effect This Fall
  7. Advertise and Connect With Decision Makers Who Need Your Products and Services!
  8. Upcoming Events
Update - Competitive Procurement Review

In an effort to keep members apprised of the competitive procurement review and recommendations by the Student Transportation Review Team (STRT) as led by Colin Campbell, it is OSBA's understanding that the review document has been completed and was delivered to the Minister of Education near the end of June.  As with any government reports of this nature, this document is being studied by Ministry and Treasury Board Secretariat staff to ensure that any recommendations meet the Broader Public Sector (BPS) requirements on competitive procurement.  It is reasonable to expect this process to take several weeks to complete all internal steps prior to government decisions and announcements.  As soon as OSBA is made aware of further information, we will certainly let all members know.  Comments?  Questions?  Please contact OSBA President Les Cross – president@osba.on.ca  705.229.6835
Yukon Government Hires New School Bus Contractor

Article By: CBC News
Date: July 21, 2015


A fleet of new school buses is coming to the Yukon.

The buses will be operating this fall, as part of a new contract awarded this week [July 21, 2015] to Standard Busing.

Standard takes over from Takhini Transport, after its contract was terminated earlier this month.

"They are all fully winterized northern buses," says Standard operator Ron Swizderyk. "Drivers even have heated seats so we are trying to keep everybody comfortable."

Swizderyk says 15 of the fleet of 55 arrived on the weekend. All are brand new, 2016 models, straight from the factory in North Carolina.

Yukon education officials say Standard has agreed to the same price quoted in its losing bid two years ago.

In turn, the Yukon government will cover mobilization costs of getting the Standard fleet to the territory.

The three-year contract is worth about $3 million dollars a year.

The government recently suspended its $14 million contract with Takhini Transport, two years into a five-year contract.

Vehicles With Two or More Occupants Can Use HOV Lanes Beginning July 28th

Beginning July 28, vehicles with two or more occupants will be able to use the temporary high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in place for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am / Parapan Am Games. 

The two-occupant requirement will let more carpoolers and families access the lanes, and help Parapan Am Games athletes and officials get to and from competitions, training sessions and the airport. In addition to high occupancy vehicles, the lanes continue to be open to:
  • emergency vehicles
  • public transit
  • licensed taxis
  • airport limousines
  • electric vehicles with green licence plates (on provincial 400-series highways only)
  • motorcycles (on City of Toronto roads only--Don Valley Parkway, Gardiner Expressway, Lake Shore Blvd.)
Starting this weekend [July 25/15], road signs will be converted to reflect the change from three or more occupants to two or more occupants. However, drivers are reminded that the new two-occupant requirement does not come into effect until Tuesday, July 28, 2015. 

Work to convert the signs will take place overnight to avoid traffic disruptions. The temporary HOV lanes will be in place until August 18, 2015.

Quick Facts:
  • The temporary HOV lanes will continue to require three or more occupants on Monday July 27, which will allow the thousands of athletes and officials to travel easily as they begin their departure after the Pan Am closing ceremony on Sunday.
  • The temporary HOV lane locations will be the same as they were during the Pan Am Games, with the exception of the stretch on Lake Shore Boulevard West from Ontario Drive to Spadina Avenue, where the HOV lane will become a regular lane. The temporary HOV lane on Lake Shore Boulevard East from Jarvis Street to Don Roadway will remain in place.
  • Temporary HOV lanes operate from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. When not in operation, the lanes function as general purpose lanes.
  • The Parapan Am Games will be held from August 7 – 15 and feature 1,600 athletes from 28 countries.
Games event ticket holders can ride public transit for free on the day of the event across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (excluding UP Express).

“I want to thank everyone who has made an adjustment in their travel during the games so far. Ontario has come together to embrace the Pan Am Games and together we are keeping our region moving during a busy summer. As we get ready for the Parapan Am Games, carpooling, public transit and cycling continue to be great options to help you get around.” Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation.


“The Integrated Security Unit is reminding drivers to be alert to sudden traffic slowdowns and leave ample room to respond safely to changing speeds and lane changes. We would like to thank those that do practice safe driving by following the rules of the road and complying with HOV lanes.” OPP Superintendent Alison Jevons, Integrated Security Unit, Planning Lead.
Wilson County Schools to Start Bus Tagging System For Students

Article By: WKRM Web Staff
Date: July 28, 2015


A new tagging system will be put into place this year for elementary schools in Wilson County to help parents, teachers and bus drivers make sure kids get on the correct bus.

Wilson County Schools announced the new “Elementary Tagging System” on Monday.

Director of Transportation Tiffany Lowery said the Transportation Department will send out color bus tags to each school within the next week.

“The schools will match the student address with the stop location and attach the correct colored tag on each student’s backpack,” Lowery explained. “The bus tags will match the bus title, number and colored placard displayed in the window of each school bus.”

“As the students are loading, the teachers and the drivers will make sure the tags match the bus. “Children remember colors best, so the matching placard will be posted in the bus window for the kids and teachers to see,” Lowery said.

She also added that parents can flip the tag over and put a label on it with their bus stop location on it, but not to include their name or address for safety reasons.

This way if a child is unsure where they are supposed to get off, the driver can look at their label and know where they are supposed to go, she explained.

Kindergarten students will have two tags, one for color matching their bus and the other with ‘Kindergartner’ in bold letters and the name of parent or guardian only.

“By having the parent’s or guardian’s name immediately accessible, the bus driver or bus aide can contact the school and provide them with the information so they may contact the parent or guardian,” Lowery explained.

Order Your OSBA Publications Today!

With the new school year just around the corner, now is the time to order your OSBA publications. Visit the OSBA website at www.osba.on.ca and click on the "STORE" tab from the home page. You will then be able to select from the various publication options.  Or click on the links below and go directly to the correct order form:                 

Once you have completed the order form, scan/email your order to
info@osba.on.ca or fax to 416-695-9977. 
New Ontario Road Rules Come Into Effect This Fall

Article By: David Shum
Date: July 27, 2015


Ontario transportation officials are reminding motorist to be aware of new provincial road rules coming into effect this fall.

CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) has launched its Heads Up! campaign to remind drivers of changes to the province’s Highway Traffic Act.

Fines for distracted drivers will increase from the old range of $60 to $500 to between $300 to $1,000, plus three demerit points.

Fines for opening a door into the path of a cyclist will increase to the same amounts as for distracted driving, and motorists must leave a one-metre distance when passing bicycles.

Fines will increase from $20 to between $60 and $500 for bicyclists who do not use a light and reflectors or reflective material.

“Public education is key to tackling persistent, unsafe driver behaviour and I look forward to continuing to raise awareness with the CAA, police and our other valuable road safety partners,” said Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation in a media release.

The bill also requires that drivers wait until pedestrians completely cross the road at school crossings and at crosswalks with pedestrian-operated crossing lights.

Slow Down, Move Over legislation now includes tow trucks stopped at the side of the highway with their amber lights flashing.

The fine for drivers who don’t slow down or move over is between $400 to $2000 and the penalty is 3 demerit points.

Ontario Provincial Police have laid 763 charges so far this year under its move over law.

The law, established in 2003, requires drivers to slow down and proceed with caution when approaching an emergency vehicle parked on the side of the highway with its lights on.

If the highway has more than one lane, the law requires the driver to move over and leave one lane between their vehicle and the parked emergency vehicle when that can be done safely.

“Everyone deserves a safe place to work. Extending slow down, move over protection, an effort that CAA has been advocating for since 2010, will improve safety for both tow truck operators and motorists who are stranded,” Teresa Di Felice, Director of Government and Community Relations and Driver Training, CAA SCO.
Advertise and Connect With Decision Makers Who Need Your Products and Services!

The annual OSBA magazine, School Bus Ontario, is delivered to more than 6,000 industry-related individuals and organizations.  By advertising you are reaching 34 transportation consortia and many school bus service providers across the province who safely transport over 833,000 children in 11,000 school buses throughoutOntario.  The magazine is also distributed to a wide variety of school board officials, parents, teachers, government of Ontario officials and supplier/manufacturers. 
 
Ensure your message reaches decision-makers involved in the Ontario school bus industry!  For advertising opportunities, please contact Kim Davies, Project Manager at Naylor Association Solutions,
 kdavies@naylor.com  (www.naylor.com)
 

Upcoming Events

 
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