‘Bus stop jurisdiction remains unclear’

Public School System director of Pupil Transportation Shawn San Nicolas makes a presentation at the regular meeting of the Saipan Rotary Club at the Hyatt Regency Saipan’s Giovanni’s restaurant last Tuesday. (Erwin Encinares)

The Public School System’s school bus transportation system is a bit unclear on who has jurisdiction over bus stops in the CNMI but, with no clear mandate for now on who is in charge of these stops, it is asking for the community’s help in maintaining these bus stops for students.

In his presentation to the Rotary Club of Saipan at the Hyatt Regency Saipan last Tuesday, CNMI PSS Office of Pupil Transportation director Shawn San Nicolas said that, although they are unaware of who specifically has jurisdiction over bus stops in the CNMI, they need corporate donations and help in maintaining these bus stops on behalf of public school students.

San Nicolas said that students have refrained from using these bus stops over the years due to the lack of maintenance. He even noted that the stops reportedly smelled foul and were full of trash.

“We have an adopt-a-bus shelter program,” San Nicolas said. “We have a lot of businesses that have adopted some of our bus shelters, but we still have many bus shelters that have not been adopted,” he said, adding that those were the stops within the villages—the ones most used by the 3,000 total students that take the school bus daily.

“The roads are busy. If the students are not in a structurally sound bus shelter, they are in harm’s way from all the passing cars because anything can happen,” he said.

He noted that the bus stops are even more essential to students since Super Typhoon Yutu forced some PSS schools to undergo double sessions and shared campuses.

San Nicolas reported that PSS and the Legislature are currently in talks as to who should have jurisdiction over the bus stops.

“Because no one really knows who is responsible, it tends to be neglected,” said San Nicolas, noting that there are times when students would rather wait for the school bus under the hot sun or under the rain.

He said his office had been getting calls daily about the maintenance of the bus stops. His go-to response? Asking the Department of Public Works’ Division of Parks and Recreation, or even precinct representatives, for help.

“…We couldn’t find who specifically has jurisdiction over these bus stops,” he said.

Despite this, San Nicolas noted that his office has taken the initiative to maintain them.