Notes from an interview with Ms, Webb (courtesy of Ashley Ngo, Zada Stuart, Vincent Bayoneta, Nick Calisi and
Aaron Valenzuela)
BPS transportation Department is in charge of providing transportation to BPS Schools
Yellow buses: middle school ONLY: Charlestown, North End, Haymarket (not enough $$$ for other parts
of Boston)
Public transportation is unreliable (does not show up on time)
Oldest transportation system in U.S (1880’s)
MBTA representative says: public transportation is going to get better
Ms Webb says: that is not realistic bc it will take a lot of time and money
MBTA: Charter buses for exam schools
Charlie cards are distributed to all BPS students (as of 2008)
Late public transportation depend on a weekly basis: Ms Webb says it is a GUARANTEE that a bus will be
late
Example: weather (snows, rains, even FOG)
Ms Webb says it is like a domino effect: everyone plans to leave the house early around the same time
because, “the working world thinks to same way” (direct quote) which accumulates traffic
A couple years ago the trolley broke down which caused 39 buses come to school late (around
8:35-8:40)
Bus drivers sometimes are late or don’t show up (happens at least once a month)
On Monday, November 26, 2018: 100 students at BLS were excused because of a tardy due to traffic
Miscommunication between busses: (real example) a bus driver did not drive the usual route, leaving
kids stranded with no mode of transportation; the bus driver called in sick and there was a
miscommunication
Biggest problem: location (BLS is located in the most congested area, small streets), weather,
unpredictable
BLS more congested than OB and BLA (more tardies)
Ms Webb says there is not much correlation between public transportation affecting academic performance
of
BPS students
This is bc reasons VARY
“Green line is in very bad shape”
BPS students have advantage: charlie cards
SPORTS: unreliable bus driver
Drivers sometimes don’t know where they’re going
Every 4 months: bus drivers change (new drivers may not know the new bus routes)