Bus Program

Welcome from North Shore Transit!

North Shore Transit, contracted by West Northfield School District 31, is a part of the largest family owned and operated school bus company in the country and ranks within the top ten overall in the entire country. With over 2,200 school buses operated every day in the Chicago land area, they offer the resources and knowledge to provide superior school transportation to the District.

Fee Information
Cost of the transportation is based on the number of students utilizing the service and is subsidized by the District. Fee information is provided at the time of registration. Discounts are available for siblings also needing bus services. Learn more about bus fees in the student/parent handbook.

Bus Schedule and Routes
Following online registration, the District office will email bus routes and schedules to participants one week before the start of school. Students must ride on their assigned bus routes. Bus stops will not be more than one block from the student’s home. Buses do not stop at individual homes, with a couple of exceptions, to create more efficient run times and reduce route times. This practice will also hopefully reduce the likelihood of late bus arrivals.

Sign up Deadline
Families must sign up for bus service by July 1 in order to allow time to set routes and bus stops, as well as to provide North Shore Transit with ample time to distribute information to families in a timely manner.

Registration for bus service is completed during the online registration process. Students signing up for bus service after July 1, are not be guaranteed immediate bus service. Students registering late for bus service will be put on an established route as soon as possible.

Bus Passes
Bus passes will be distributed as follows:

Winkelman - Bus passes will be distributed at school on the first day of school. If you have registered for bus service, you will be allowed to board the bus the first day without the bus pass.
Field - The bus passes will be provided to students on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, 5:30 - 7 p.m. at Field Material Pick Up Night.

Ride 360 Parent App
The Ride 360 parent app will continue to be used for the 2023-2024 school year. The Traversa Ride 360 App can be accessed from a computer or downloaded for free on your smartphone. Learn more on how to access Traversa Ride 360 here. This year, we will also use ID cards. Students will scan their ID cards when they board and exit the bus. This technology allows the driver to get turn by turn route directions and make sure all students are on the correct bus. If a student attempts to board the bus not assigned to them, the driver will be alerted and will be able to provide the correct bus assignment. Learn how to access student routing information through the Ride 360 mobile app here.

Bus Safety
Cameras with video and audio coverage are installed on each bus to assist the District in providing a safe and comfortable environment for all bus riders*. For more information on electronic recordings on school buses, please review Board Policy 7:015, Bus Conduct.

View Bus Expectations for Safe Behavior

*Only District 31 administration have access to recordings unless recordings are required to be disclosed by law.