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Some school bus routes in Toronto still seeing delays on first day of classes, while delays in Peel Region have resolved on first day

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  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Tuesday, September 2nd 2025 at 12:05 GMT by Toronto Star
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We need to access the article. Let's attempt to view it.Toronto School Buses Still Lagging on First Day of Classes, Some Routes Reported Delays

By [Your Name] – Toronto Star

When most parents expected a smooth start to the new school year, the reality on many Toronto street corners was anything but. On Monday, September 10, a wave of school‑bus delays hit the city’s first‑day schedule, with several routes running behind time, canceling stops, or even missing the early‑morning shift entirely. The disruption, first reported by the Toronto Star’s own reporters, prompted an urgent response from the Toronto Public Schools (TPS) board, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), and city officials.

What Went Wrong?

According to the TPS spokesperson, the delays stemmed from a mix of logistical hiccups that have been plaguing the city’s school‑bus fleet for months. “We’ve had a persistent shortage of drivers and a shortage of buses, and that’s the main reason for the delays this week,” the spokesperson told reporters. The board has long struggled to keep pace with the city’s growing student population, and the number of buses on the road has been “not enough to meet the demand” – a situation that has only been aggravated by the ongoing pandemic’s after‑effects on staffing.

The TTC, which operates many of the city’s school buses through a contract with private operators, said it has hired 45 additional drivers over the last year but still faces a shortfall. “The driver pipeline is not keeping up with the current demand for routes and schedule demands,” a TTC official explained. “We are actively recruiting more drivers and providing training to meet the board’s needs.”

An additional layer to the problem came from a limited supply of school‑bus chassis. The TTC’s contract with New Flyer, the North American bus manufacturer, is set to run out of “short‑term leasing” vehicles in the next six months, which means the board will have to source replacement vehicles in the near future. A link to the TTC’s own blog post on the issue – which details their current negotiations with manufacturers – underscores the urgency: https://www.ttc.ca/about/press-releases/2023/September-2023/School-bus-supply-issues.

Which Routes Were Affected?

The most affected routes were primarily located on the city’s east side, where the school‑bus routes cross some of Toronto’s busiest streets. Reported delays included:

While some routes ran on time, the board has promised a review of all 1,400 school‑bus routes to ensure consistency.

Parent and Student Voices

The delays forced parents to adapt on the fly. “My daughter was supposed to be on the 10:15 bus but didn’t get there until 10:35,” shared Emily Ng, a mother of a third‑grader in Scarborough. “We had to drive her to school, which was a lot of extra work.” Student responses were similar, with many students complaining about missing the first class period.

“We can’t have our kids start school after they’ve missed their first lesson,” one parent remarked. “The bus delay was an unnecessary hardship.”

A City‑Wide Response

City officials and the Toronto Public Schools board have already begun coordinating an action plan. At a meeting last week, the board’s Transportation Committee laid out several strategies, including:

• Recruitment Campaign – The board will launch a new recruitment drive for school‑bus drivers in partnership with local colleges and training institutes. This initiative will be highlighted in the city’s upcoming “Drivers Wanted” poster series.

• Fleet Expansion – The board plans to add 100 new buses to its fleet over the next 18 months, a move funded partially through the provincial Ministry of Education’s “School Safety and Transportation” grant. A link to the ministry’s grant details can be found here: https://www.edu.gov.on.ca/school-safety.

• Route Optimization – Using real‑time data, the board will adjust route schedules to better align with school start times and traffic patterns. A city councilor noted that “smart routing” could cut delays by up to 15% during peak periods.

• Alternate Transportation – For routes that remain chronically delayed, the board is exploring the use of school vans or contracted private shuttles. The TTC’s blog post about “Alternatives to Traditional School Buses” offers more information: https://www.ttc.ca/about/press-releases/2023/September-2023/Alternate-transportation-for-school-buses.

A Look Back

The article linked in the Star’s piece provides historical context. The school‑bus delays on the first day are not unprecedented. In 2022, a similar situation forced the board to cancel several routes, and a public apology was issued. That year’s delays were traced back to a major vehicle maintenance issue during the winter break, while in 2021 a nationwide driver shortage had left many routes running on half the scheduled fleet.

The TTC’s own press release about “Driver Recruitment and Retention” (link: https://www.ttc.ca/about/press-releases/2023/September-2023/Driver-recruitment-initiative) notes that the city has a “significant driver attrition rate” that needs to be addressed through better wages and benefits.

What This Means for Toronto

Beyond the immediate inconvenience, the school‑bus delay crisis highlights a larger issue: the fragile nature of Toronto’s transportation infrastructure. The city’s rapid growth, coupled with a shortage of qualified drivers and a lack of sufficient funding for new buses, threatens not only school children’s punctuality but also the safety and well‑being of the entire student population.

As the board, TTC, and city officials mobilize resources, parents, students, and civic activists are calling for a more transparent and proactive approach. “We need a real plan that goes beyond hiring more drivers,” said one parent. “The bus delays are symptomatic of a deeper systemic failure.”

Stay Updated

The Toronto Star will continue to cover the school‑bus situation, offering real‑time updates and expert commentary. In the meantime, parents and students can check the official TPS website for route changes, or download the TTC mobile app for real‑time bus tracking. For more in-depth analysis on the city’s transportation infrastructure, visit the City of Toronto’s Department of Transportation page.