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PSS busing service appeals for community cooperation
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Posted on May 17 2000
The Public School System Pupil Transportation Services is asking the PSS administration to restrict students’ bus pick-up to cover only primary roads.
This is to mitigate further damage Saipan’s secondary rough roads have done to the poor state of PSS’ old buses, according to Administrative Service’s Jess Sanchez.
Mr. Sanchez is urging parents to meet PSS halfway by having the children ready on bus stops located at primary roads nearest them.
“We are requesting for community support because a lot of the buses we use have already outlived their life span. We are even trying to fix them but the parts are not available locally and they are very hard to replace,” said Mr. Sanchez.
Despite the arrival of three new regular buses last month, majority of the vehicles are barely functioning to assure smooth busing services for the students, according to the administrative officer.
Mr. Sanchez also raised concerns on hanging tree branches alongside Saipan’s roads, citing that they pose as potential hazards to the safety of students traveling via buses.
“We only ask that community members do their part in trimming the bushes to make way for our buses. Let’s help each other,” he added.
Right after the Christmas break, the pupil transportation staff took it upon themselves to clear such obstructions on some of the secondary roads.
PSS is further appealing to the Department of Public Works to clear a good portion of bushes up in Navy Hill as it could be an area prone to accident.
Meanwhile, PSS is also asking dog owners to keep a close watch on their pets especially during early mornings and after school hours in the afternoon.
Mr. Sanchez said dogs tend to chase the kids as they wait for buses to pick them up especially in mornings.
“I suggest that they keep the dogs tied or in a kennel facility. After all, we don’t know if they have rabies. The chase also tends to cause trauma on the kids,” he said. (MM)
