The Houston Independent School District Transportation Department has been selected as a finalist for the prestigious national Larson Quality Award.  The Leland E.G. Larson Quality Student Transportation Program was developed to spotlight school bus operations that provide high quality customer service in safety centered operations.

“We are honored to be one of two districts nationally under consideration for this award,” said HISD’s Chief Operating Officer Leo Bobadilla. “Our bus drivers, mechanics and all of our transportation staff deserve the credit for achieving this prestigious recognition and for their commitment to safely transport our students to and from school every day.”

There are three phases to the program.  The Houston ISD Transportation Department received “exemplary” assessments in the first two phases of the program, which qualified the department to move to the third phase.  Phase three of the program involves an unannounced two-day site evaluation conducted by representatives of the peer review committee, which the HISD Transportation Department recently completed.  The HISD Transportation Department is one of two districts nationwide selected as a finalist for the Larson Quality Award.

“The passion, commitment, and dedication of every single bus driver, attendant, shop team member, and support staff has brought the transportation team to this incredible accomplishment,” said Nathan Graf, HISD’s transportation general manager . “Just being selected as a finalist is reason for everyone here to be proud.”

The HISD Transportation Department has earned three previous national awards.  In May 2011, the HISD Transportation Department was listed among the 100 best fleets in the country ranked by Government Fleet, a leading transportation industry magazine.  In October 2011, the HISD Transportation Department ranked as the top school district green fleet in the nation.  The department was chosen based on documentation of key performance measurements.  In April 2012, the HISD Transportation Department was listed again among the 100 best fleets in the country by Government Fleet, the only school district to make the list two consecutive years.

Each day, 875 HISD school buses travel 80,000 miles as they transport 30,000 students to and from school.