Route Planning Services
First Planning Solutions (FPS), a division of First Student, provides unmatched routing, operations and planning expertise for optimal results from your student transportation system. Our planning services manage pupil transportation systems for over 1 million students and 11,000 buses across North America.
More than Route Optimization Planning Consultants
First Planning Solutions employs leading pupil school bus transportation software, but we're not a route planning software vendor. We are a solutions provider. For 15 years, school districts have been turning to our experience as Canada's school transportation planning authority. Simply, we help school districts cost-effectively deliver efficient school transportation services by pairing our expertise with the latest route optimization technology.
First Planning Solutions - Services
We leverage Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and route optimization technology to achieve school bus system routing efficiencies. Additionally, we help improve school community service levels while maximizing district transportation budgets – often reducing bus capital requirements by transporting more students with fewer buses. Our range of consulting services provides school districts customized, needs-based pupil transportation solutions, including:
- Computerized Routing
- Boundary Planning
- Route Planning Efficiency Studies
- Transportation System Audits & Analysis
- ASP - Software Hosting
Our expert planning team, coupled with industry leading software technology ensures quality and cost-effective solutions "hit the road". We leverage today's best school transportation GIS systems (GIS-T's), including EdulogNT, Versatrans and GEOREF Busplanner. The following are some of the key services that FPS provides.
Computerized Routing
Computerized and route optimization planning is an FPS core consulting service in which we create, install, provide training, and ongoing support of district planning solutions. From helping you select the appropriate software technology to providing data preparation services, annual planning, training, and ongoing support, we have you covered.
Route Planning Efficiency Studies
Route planning efficiency studies utilize GIS-T's to assess the impact of school district policies on the demand and utilization of student transportation. We review current district routing efficiency status and test it against alternative proposed policies and identify options for implementation on routes.
Boundary Planning
Utilizing GIS LPS provides attendance and transportation boundaries planning services for districts managing changing student demographics or capital project considerations. Such assistance may range from providing statistics based on previously created boundary plans, to creating several scenarios involving diverse boundary combinations for school board approval.
Transportation System Audits and Analysis
FPS's routing system review includes an audit and analysis of a district's current routing system to determine usage levels, data accuracy, and completeness. Area of audit includes: route information, student load information, school start and end times, and vehicle capacities. The analysis focuses on helping districts to achieve the most efficient, dependable and safety-minded pupil transportation solution.
ASP (Software Hosting)
School districts are challenged with a lack of resources and expertise when it comes to operating their routing and planning systems. Through the ASP model, FPS brings the necessary consulting support customized to district needs. ASP services range from software hosting to full daily and annual operation of the transportation software.