Toronto, ON – As students across Toronto eagerly prepared for their first day of school, more than 100 school bus routes were cancelled, causing chaos and confusion for families.
According to the Toronto Student Transportation Group, a total of 103 bus routes were cancelled on Tuesday, September 7th, the first day of school for the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board.
The cancellations affected students from both elementary and secondary schools, with routes spanning across the city, including Scarborough, North York, and Etobicoke.
The reason for the cancellations was due to a shortage of bus drivers, a problem that has been plaguing the school transportation system for years. The Toronto Student Transportation Group stated that they were unable to fill the vacant positions in time for the start of the school year.
As a result, many students were left without transportation to school, causing frustration and inconvenience for families. Some parents were forced to take time off work to drive their children to school, while others had to find alternative modes of transportation.
The Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board both released statements apologizing for the inconvenience and assuring families that they are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
This is not the first time that school bus cancellations have caused chaos for families in Toronto. In the past, severe weather conditions and driver shortages have also led to disruptions in school transportation.
The Toronto Student Transportation Group has stated that they are actively recruiting and training new bus drivers to address the ongoing shortage. However, it may take some time before the issue is fully resolved.
In the meantime, parents are advised to check the Toronto Student Transportation Group’s website for updates on bus cancellations and to make alternative transportation arrangements if necessary.
As students settle into their new school year, it is important for the transportation system to be reliable and efficient. The ongoing issue of bus driver shortages must be addressed to ensure that students have safe and reliable transportation to and from school.
