No school bus service in Sudbury as snow cleanup continues

Yellow school buses parked following a major winter storm. (File photo)

School bus service in Sudbury has been suspended indefinitely in the wake of last week’s record-breaking storm, while service continues in outlying areas.

The Sudbury Student Services Consortium announced the suspension Sunday following the snowstorm last week that dropped more than 40 cm of snow on the region.

“School bus operators and the consortium completed road reassessments on March 22 ... and conditions showed no major improvement from those observed on March 20,” the consortium said in a statement.

“The city’s emergency operations centre with roads, fire, Greater Sudbury Police and EMS was activated at 2 a.m. on Monday, March 16 and has continued to meet multiple times a day since,” said Ward 9 Coun. Deb McIntosh in a social media post Sunday.

The bus suspension affects all elementary and secondary students with bus stops in Sudbury and surrounding communities, including Coniston, Garson, Skead, Hanmer, Capreol, Val Caron, Blezard Valley, Azilda, Chelmsford, Levack, Onaping, Dowling, Cartier, Whitefish, Lively, Copper Cliff, Estaire and Wahnapitae.

In addition to school buses, crossing guards won’t be at school crossings until further notice.

“City crews are actively clearing sidewalks, with priority given to school zones and we will provide updates regarding the resumption of crossing guards as they become available,” said a statement Monday morning.

Service continues in outlying areas

School bus service will operate as usual for students in Manitoulin Island, Massey, Espanola, Alban, French River, Monetville, Killarney, Noelville, St. Charles, Warren, Markstay and Hagar.

The Rainbow District School Board, the area’s largest board, said schools will be open.

“Area schools will be open on Monday, March 23 ... to serve students who can safely attend school,” the board said in an email to parents also posted to its website.

The consortium cited safety hazards preventing school bus operations within the city, including narrow roads that leave insufficient space for buses to pass pedestrians or oncoming vehicles.

“There is insufficient space along many roadways for students to safely wait for their school buses,” the consortium said.

In addition, road conditions in areas including Lively, Coniston, Copper Cliff, Capreol, Hanmer, Val Caron, the Donovan, the West End and Flour Mill remain open to only one vehicle or 1 to 1.5 lanes of traffic, with no immediate plans for widening.

The consortium added that a standard 40-foot school bus with a four-foot tailswing and eight-foot side range cannot safely execute right-hand or left-hand turns at many side-road intersections where snowbanks have not been removed.

The consortium drew a comparison to municipal operations in explaining the decision.

“The City of Greater Sudbury has restricted its own garbage and recycling collection equipment from operating on certain side roads due to safety concerns. School buses have a longer wheelbase than this equipment,” the organization said.

City crews focus on road widening

The city’s emergency operations centre said in Sunday’s 6 a.m. update that widening roads for school buses is a top priority.

“Priorities right now are finishing laneways and cul de sacs (should be done soon), continuing to sand/salt and clear roads from last night’s snowfall, widening roads for school buses, clearing catch basins and flood-prone locations and where possible, restoring sidewalk access,” the centre said.

More snow fell in the area Sunday afternoon and crews may need to shift back to regular plowing, the centre added.

Some staff and contractors require a short recovery time after working 24 hours a day for a week.

The consortium is working to implement modified runs to phase in student transportation within the city, an effort involving more than 1,000 school bus runs across more than 340 vehicles.

“We are actively working to restore and modify bus runs wherever it is safe to do so,” the consortium said.

“Parents and schools will be notified as service resumes or modified runs are confirmed.”

Safety message for walkers

The consortium and school board advised that children should not walk to and from school until sidewalks and pathways have been cleared.

“Children should not walk to and from school until sidewalks or pathways have been cleared in their respective communities,” the Rainbow District School Board said in their letter.

“Parents/guardians are asked to assess the situation daily and allow their children to walk only when there is a safe pathway to and from school.”

“Kids may need to walk on streets, so drivers please slow down and be patient,” the city’s emergency operations centre’s update said.

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board also reminded families that sidewalks around schools may not yet be fully cleared.

“We encourage everyone to use extra caution when walking on and around school property. If your child typically walks to school, please consider alternative transportation options until conditions improve,” the Catholic board said in a social media post Sunday.

Bus and school officials said that families who can drive their children to school were encouraged to do so, with a recommendation to carpool to minimize traffic congestion near schools.

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board issued a similar appeal, asking students to avoid bringing their vehicles to school while parking lots remain limited due to ongoing snow removal.

For families with no means of transporting their children, the consortium may be able to offer temporary bus service if capacity allows.

“Please send an email to [e-mail] only if you have no means of transporting your child to and/or from school,” the consortium said.

‘Decision not made lightly’

“The consortium fully recognizes that this suspension will have a significant impact on families throughout the City of Greater Sudbury. This decision was not made lightly. The safety of students, bus operators and the public must remain the paramount concern,” the Rainbow board’s letter said.

Updates on service restoration will be posted at businfo.ca.