This fall, the New Richmond Exempted Village School District will introduce the Tyler Drive - RIDE 360 program that will streamline computerized bus routing and parent communications.
The Tyler Drive program and Traversa software improves operational efficiency, lowers transportation costs, and improves student safety (the following video illustrates how the program works - https://youtu.be/m4e_Nota3X8). Bus routes are easily created to best meet the needs of students and families and the software provides numerous communication tools.
The district used ESSER funds (pandemic-related relief funds) to secure the system which will be used for the 2021-2022 school year.
This routing system includes GPS software, and a mobile tablet and ID card reader dash-mounted and located beside the bus drivers. This system will provide district bus drivers with turn-by-turn directions to each stop on their routes and will monitor student ridership in real-time.
Additionally, this system allows families and students to view bus information through the free Traversa app called “Ride 360”. With this app, families will be able to see the estimated time of arrival at bus stops and information about when their student(s) has/have scanned on and off their bus. This means families can check when their student(s) is/are safely on the bus or even when their buses are running late.
As part of this system, students will be issued ID bus badges. Students will scan their ID badges each time they enter/exit their bus and if they forget or misplace their ID badge, drivers can register them manually on a mobile data terminal. At each bus stop, the mobile data terminal displays the names and photos of the students who should be boarding/exiting at that stop providing an additional layer of safety for our students and drivers.
More information about the ID badges, including other uses for them, will be provided ahead of the 2021-2022 school year.