PennDOT: $1.2 million in funding available to increase school bus safety
May 27—WILKES-BARRE — PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll on Tuesday urged motorists to always stop for — and never pass — stopped school buses with their red lights flashing and stop arm activated.
"The safety of our children is in your hands," Secretary Carroll said.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that $1.2 million is available in a new grant program to help increase school bus safety. These funds are made available through the newly established School Bus Safety Grant Program.
Secretary Carroll said Pennsylvania law allows school districts to install and operate automated camera systems for the purpose of enforcing Pennsylvania's School Bus Stopping Law and increasing safety for children riding school buses across the state.
Secretary Carroll said of the $300 fine assessed for these automated violations, the law requires $25 be paid to PennDOT to be used for the School Bus Safety Grant Program.
PennDOT said grants from the program can be used to promote and increase school bus safety, education and training, as well as pay for education, training and other associated costs related to an individual earning their commercial learner's permit, commercial driver's license, or school bus endorsement for the purpose of driving a school bus in Pennsylvania.
Independent school bus contractors, school entities, and municipalities are eligible to apply for grants from the program.
"This grant program furthers Gov. Josh Shapiro's commitment to providing a safe transportation system for all Pennsylvanians," said Carroll. "The funding will allow schools and their partners to invest in programs designed to increase the safety of children riding school buses across the state."
Eligible organizations can apply online at grants.pa.gov beginning June 2, through midnight July 3.
Program information can be found online penndot.pa.gov/schoolbus. Application questions should be emailed to RA-PDASBEGP@pa.gov.
According to data from Operation Safe Stop 2024, participating school districts and law enforcement agencies reported witnessing 131 violations of the law on one day alone.
Operation Safe Stop, held annually in October during School Bus Safety Week, is a school bus enforcement and education initiative aimed at enhancing school bus safety for students across Pennsylvania.
According to Automated School Bus Enforcement program data for 2023, there were 24,085 violations recorded.
Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
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