Transportation
Mission of Transportation
The mission of Allegany County Public Schools Transportation is to provide safe, efficient, and reliable transportation services for eligible students. Every school day, our transportation team works to safely get students to and from school, as well as to specialized programs and other assigned locations throughout Allegany County.
Who Is Eligible for Transportation?
Transportation eligibility is based on the distance between a student’s home and school or designated bus stop:
- Elementary students: Students living more than 1 mile from their school or bus stop are eligible for transportation.
- Middle and high school students: Students living more than 1.5 miles from their school or bus stop are eligible for transportation.
Distance is measured from the end of the school property line or bus stop to the property line of the student’s home. If the property does not border a state, county, or city road, the distance is measured to the end of state, county, or city road maintenance.
By the Numbers
ACPS Transportation covers a lot of ground to keep students moving safely throughout the school year:
- 97 buses — 77 regular buses and 20 special needs buses, including contractor-owned buses
- 5,000+ students transported during the 180-day school year
- 1.6 million miles traveled during the school year
- 49 weeks per year that ACPS buses are on the road
These mileage totals do not include transportation provided for field trips, athletic events, summer school, and other activities outside the regular school year.
ACPS also provides transportation when students are assigned to a location other than their home school. This may include specialized programs and placements such as RESTART at Eckhart School and Sheppard Pratt School.
School Bus Safety & Student Behavior
Student safety is our highest priority. Riding a school bus is a privilege, and students are expected to follow established rules and demonstrate appropriate behavior at all times. Students must conduct themselves in a way that does not interfere with or distract the driver from safely operating the bus.
Parents and guardians play an important role in helping students understand the importance of appropriate behavior while riding the bus. ACPS bus drivers follow 10 basic rules designed to promote safe and respectful behavior on every route.
Bus transportation may be denied or suspended when a student’s behavior creates a safety concern for other students, the driver, or the motoring public.
All Maryland public school transportation is regulated by the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR), Student Transportation: 13A.06.07, through the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
Our Transportation Team
The ACPS Transportation Department is located behind the Center for Career & Technical Education, where our transportation team works every day to keep students moving safely, efficiently, and reliably.
Bus Changes for '26-'27
Several bus routes and stops have changed for the 2026–27 school year. Please take a moment to check your student’s bus information using the Bus Locator. Simply enter your home address to find the most up-to-date bus and stop information.
Changes have been made to several bus stops along McMullen Highway, including Bus 39 to Mountain Ridge, Bus 34 to Washington, Bus 65 to Bel Air, and Bus 71 (formerly Bus 66) to Fort Hill and Bel Air. These changes were made to improve student safety. Minor changes have also been made to Braddock Buses 42 and 47 and North East Buses 31 and 53.
Reminder to Motorists
Help keep our students safe by following Maryland’s school bus safety laws.
When a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing:
- Stop at least 20 feet away from the bus.
- Traffic traveling in both directions must stop, unless the roadway is divided by a physical median, such as dirt, grass, or a barrier.
- Remain stopped until the bus’s red lights stop flashing and the bus begins moving.
Please slow down, stay alert, and always watch for students getting on or off the bus. A few extra seconds can help protect a child.
School Bus Rules
- Obey the school bus driver.
- Sit properly and remain seated at all times.
- Keep head and arms inside the bus.
- Do not damage the bus; keep it clean.
- No tobacco use, eating, or drinking.
- No yelling, bullying, or fighting.
- No profane language.
- Do not throw objects.
- No cell phone use without the driver's permission.
- Do not block the aisle.
Student behavior on the bus may be recorded with audio-visual cameras. Students who do not follow these rules may lose the privilege of riding the school bus.
