North Allegheny Transportation

North Allegheny Transportation is committed to support the educational process of the North Allegheny School District by providing safe transportation for all students.

North Allegheny transports over 9,500 students to over 30 public, private, and parochial schools each day. We maintain a fleet of approximately 120 buses and vans based out of the Transportation center at 400 Hillvue Lane in McCandless and at our satellite site on the Marshall Campus.

Please see the links to the left for more information on specific topics.

Bus Stops

The District provides transportation in accordance with the laws and guidelines from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Students will be notified of their assigned bus stop by mail or email prior to the start of the school year. Students should arrive at their bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled bus arrival time. Due to weather, traffic or other issues, a bus may be delayed. Students should wait at least 30 minutes before leaving their bus stop, unless a parent determines that weather or other conditions will not allow waiting.

Student Behavior

Parents are responsible for students’ behavior at the bus stop. Classroom behavior is expected while on the bus. The driver is the authority figure responsible for enforcing the safe transport rules. Bus safety rules are posted on the website, as well as on the back of the postcard each family receives in the summer and posted on the bulkhead in each bus. The driver can handle minor discipline problems speaking to students or reassigning seats. More serious issues are addressed at the school by either bus proctors or principals. Each bus is equipped with video cameras that may be used to support investigation or discipline. Behavior or discipline issues may result in a warning, reprimand, the student being sent to bus safety school, or loss of bus transportation privileges.

School Bus Drivers

North Allegheny's school bus drivers are extremely well-trained. Candidates must complete a minimum of 14 hours of classroom training and six hours of on-the-road training. All drivers must possess a Commercial Driver’s License with a School Bus Endorsement. Drivers are subject to two background checks, FBI clearance, driver’s license review, and pre-employment drug testing.

Training does not end when a driver becomes licensed. Each year, all drivers attend at least two in-service programs. Every four years, the drivers are required to complete a ten hour recertification. Additionally, drivers are given an annual physical by a District-appointed physician. Drivers are also subject to random drug and alcohol testing. More than half of North Allegheny's drivers have been working in the District over ten years.

School Buses

The District owns and maintains our own bus fleet and utilizes contractors for some special needs, private school, and other special programs. We have a staff of certified mechanics and assistants who maintain our vehicles and also respond to bus breakdowns or other on-road issues. We conduct an extensive preventative maintenance program to ensure our fleet remains in excellent condition, and all buses are given a thorough inspection by the Pennsylvania State Police each summer.

Safety is of the utmost importance. Each bus is equipped with standard safety items such as a fire extinguisher, safety triangles, a first aid kit, and a body fluid cleanup kit. All safety rules are posted on the bulkhead. Drivers review these rules with students at the beginning of each school year. Bus discipline is the responsibility of each school with input from the driver and his or her supervisor. Classroom behavior is expected while on the bus. Video only cameras have been installed in most buses to aid in this process.

All vehicles are equipped with two-way radios. On days that school is in session, the dispatch office is staffed from 5:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The employee in the dispatch office is responsible for answering incoming phone calls and communicating necessary information to drivers. The dispatch office may be reached at 412-369-5500 or transportation@northallegheny.org.