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What is a Consolidated Bus Stop?
A consolidated bus stop is a centralized stop that is designed to reduce the ride time to and from school. Signing up for and using one of these bus stop locations is strictly voluntary for CMS students. Once a commitment is made to use the stop, both morning and afternoon, then the bus stop based on the residence address is eliminated. The consolidated stop will be the only stop assigned to that student.
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Who is eligible to use a Consolidated Stop?
Only students who are eligible for transportation may use a consolidated bus stop. The consolidated stop location must be within the attendance boundary or transportation zone for their assigned school.
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How do I sign up for a Consolidated Site?
- When the applications open, families can sign-up using the provided link to show interest in a Consolidated Stop. As a result high interesest NWSA families should use this link NWSA Consolidated Stops Survey.
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Transportation staff will assess the information and determine a central location of interest.
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Once interest in a Consolidated Stop is determined, Transportation will send a list of nearby students to school administrators to see if additional families are interested. A ParentSquare message will be sent to identified families directing them to the initial Google doc.
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Consolidated Stop criteria for new locations:
- Permission from the owner of the establishment or stop location must be obtained (if private property) and a copy of the letter given to the CMS Transportation Department.
- Parking location cannot be congested during the hours of 7:00 – 9:00 am and 3:00 – 5:00 pm.
- Adequate parking for parents with a minimum of 10-15 parking spaces must be available.
- Must be able to accommodate a vehicle the size of a school bus.
- Must be accessible from a main road or a main neighborhood street.
- Must be approved by CMS Transportation for use and compliance.
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Do Consolidated Stops carry over year to year?
As long as the consolidated stop was consistently used and student counts don't reduce, we will carry the stop over from the previous school year.
Once school has started for the 2024-25 school year, parents may go online to request an “alternate stop” for an existing consolidated stop throughout the school year.
New requests for consolidated stops will be reviewed as they are submitted. Approval of stops will be determined based on driver and route availability.
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Parental commitment to Consolidated Stops
- Only students that are “eligible” for transportation will be assigned to a consolidated stop.
- Students will be assigned a stop morning, afternoon, or both, whichever is indicated by the parent(s).
- The student’s residence stop or express stop will be eliminated.
- Parents are responsible for dropping off and picking up students from a Consolidated Stop.
If a parent desires to return to their neighborhood stop or requires an alternate stop location such as an existing consolidated or express stop, a 'Student Alternate Stop Request Form' must be submitted here.
There must be at least 7 or more students interested in a consolidated stop. If the number of students drops below 7, CMS Transportation reserves the right to remove the consolidated stop.
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Consolidated Stops Timeline
You may request an existing consolidated stop throughout the school year.
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Examples of Consolidated Stops
- Regal Stonecrest at Piper Glen
- Crown Point Cinemas
- Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church
- Providence Baptist Church
- Greenheather Drive at Clubhouse
- Park & Ride: Carmel and Quail Hollow
- Park Crossing Drive and Penshurst Trace
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Additional questions and information
CMS Transportation always reserves the right to refuse a Consolidated Stop. Questions? Call 980.343.6715 or email ExpressTransportation@cms.k12.nc.us