Transportation

The Transportation Department at Banning Unified School District is proud to support the daily transportation of approximately 2,200 students to and from school. Covering Banning and surrounding areas, including Poppet Flats, the Bench, Whitewater, and Snow Creek, our team ensures students travel safely and efficiently. In addition to home-to-school routes, we provide transportation for special activities such as sports programs and school field trips, helping students access a wide range of educational and extracurricular opportunities. Explore this page to find information about bus routes, safety guidelines, and the services we offer to support our community.

Our Areas of Focus

The Transportation Department plays a vital role in supporting student success by providing safe, reliable, and efficient transportation to and from school each day. We are committed to ensuring all students have access to education by maintaining high standards of safety, timeliness, and care on every route. Through well-trained drivers, routine vehicle maintenance, and a focus on student well-being, we strive to create a positive and dependable transportation experience that supports learning and promotes equity for all families.

Bus Routes

The Bus Routes offers families and students essential information about school transportation for the academic year. This includes detailed route schedules for elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as special routes for Saturday school. Our goal is to ensure safe, timely, and efficient transportation for all students while maintaining clear communication with families about pickup and drop-off locations, times, and guidelines.

View Bus Routes

Bus Conduct & Safety Rules

The Transportation Department provides bus transportation for its students in accordance with the provisions on the California Education Code. To provide this service with maximum safety, all students must understand that the bus driver is in complete charge and control of the bus. School bus drivers have a tremendous responsibility entrusted upon them, and it is important that they have your child’s cooperation as well as your cooperation in following the bus rules to ensure that their ride is a safe and enjoyable one.

California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 14263 governing pupil transportation states: "Pupils transported in a school bus shall be under the authority of, and responsible directly to, the driver of the bus, and the driver shall be held responsible for the orderly con- duct of the pupils while they are on the bus or being escorted across a street, highway or road. Continued disorderly conduct or persistent refusal to submit to the authority of the driver shall be sufficient reason for a pupil to be denied transportation."

School bus rules of conduct are established first and foremost to ensure that all students have a safe ride to and from home. The school bus is an extension of the classroom, and appropriate behavior is expected at all times. For those who are unable to follow the established rules, a series of sanctions are applied that are appropriate to the offense. Remember, riding the school bus is a PRIVILEGE — NOT A RIGHT.

Unsafe Driving Conditions Policy

Should the Director of Transportation or a designee believe conditions would endanger the passengers, the driver, or the equipment, transportation will cease until such condition improves.

Vehicle Code 34501.6 states: The governing board of a local educational agency that provides transportation of pupils shall adopt procedures that limit the operation of school buses when atmospheric conditions reduce visibility on the roadway to 200 feet or less during regular home-to-school transportation service. Operational policies for school activity trips shall give school bus drivers discretionary authority to discontinue school bus operation if the driver determines that it is unsafe to continue operation because of reduced visibility.

The Director of Transportation or a designee shall notify the schools by phone if the above conditions exist.

Speed: Section 22406 of the California Vehicle Code specifies a maximum speed of 55 miles per hour for any vehicle that transports school pupils. This and other regulations concerning speed restrictions must be adhered to. Maximum speed for bus drivers will be 55 miles per hour. Speed should be significantly reduced at curves, blind crossings, crests of hills, in fog, or whenever the view is otherwise obstructed so that a stop may be made within the distance of clear vision.

S.B. 1072

S.B. 1072: The Paul Lee School Bus Safety Law

In accordance with Education Code § 39831.3(a)(4), the Transportation Department deploys the following departmental policy to ensure students are not left unattended on a school bus: After each run (at each school site in the morning and after the last stop for each school in the mid-day and the afternoon), all drivers physically walk to the rear of the bus and check each row of seats to ensure there are no students still on board. This includes looking under the bus seats. Upon returning to the Transportation facility, drivers once again physically walk to the rear of the bus and check each row of seats to ensure there are no students still on board. This includes looking under the bus seats. Drivers press the Child Check deactivation button, located at the rear of the bus by the back window.

City of Banning Transit Information

As a resource for our families, Banning Unified School District is pleased to share public transit information provided by Banning Connect Transit System. Local bus routes offer affordable transportation throughout the city and to nearby areas like Cabazon. Printed schedules are available on board, at the Banning Community Center, City Hall, and other community locations.

View Bus Schedule for City of Banning Transit

Hours of Operation:

Route 1 (East/Westbound):
Mon–Fri: 5:11 AM – 10:00 PM (Westbound), 6:15 AM – 6:00 PM (Eastbound)
Sat–Sun: 8:00 AM – 4:50 PM (Closed for lunch 12:30–1:30 PM)
Banning Circulator Route 5/6:
Mon–Fri: 5:30 AM – 6:23 PM | Sat–Sun: 8:00 AM – 4:57 PM

Holiday Schedules:

No Service: New Year’s, 4th of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas
Limited Service: Presidents Day, Veterans Day, MLK Jr. Day, Friday after Thanksgiving

Fares:

General: $1.25 | Youth (17 & under w/ID): $1.00
Senior/Disabled (60+ w/ID): $0.75 | Children under 46": $0.25
Zone Fare to Cabazon: Add $0.25
Day Pass: $3.25 (General), $2.00 (Senior/Disabled)
Monthly Pass: $39 (General), $25 (Youth), $24.75 (Senior/Disabled)
10-Ride Booklet: $12 (General), $7.50 (Senior/Disabled)

Where to Buy Passes:

Drivers: Day Passes only
Community Center (789 N. San Gorgonio Ave) and City Hall (99 E. Ramsey): Monthly Passes & 10-ticket booklets (Mon–Fri, 8 AM–5 PM)

Token Transit App:
Download the Token Transit app by texting “TOKEN” to 41411 for mobile pass access.

ADA & Discount Applications:
Disabled ID applications are available at the Community Center or by calling (951) 922-3252.

For full schedules, ADA applications, fare information, and service alerts, visit: www.banningca.gov → Public Works → Bus Schedules

Transit Questions?
Call (951) 922-3243 (Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM)

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to common questions families may have about transportation services:

Will elementary students be dropped off without an adult present?

What happens if no one is present to receive a TK, Kindergarten, or 1st-grade student?

What are the expectations for pick-up and drop-off?

How does the Transportation Department communicate with bus drivers?

How are the bus routes designed?

Are buses safe for students?

How are school bus drivers trained?

All drivers must be certified by the California Highway Patrol. Prior to certification, the driver must successfully complete a medical examination, complete a minimum of 20 hours of classroom training, complete a minimum of 20 hours of behind-the-wheel training, and pass a fingerprint and background check. All drivers must also complete 10 hours of in-service training each year. Drivers must renew their school bus certificate every five years. Additionally, the Transportation Department receives notification from the DMV if any action is taken on the license of a school bus driver.

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Kenneth Paige

Director of Transportation

Transportation Department
Division of Business Services

Ms. Gabrielle Campbell

Maintenance, Operations & Transportation Secretary

Ms. Diana Lara

Transportation Dispatcher

Contact Transportation Department at (951) 922-0278 or transportation@banning.k12.ca.us.

Bus Conduct & Safety Rules Statement #1

Bus Conduct & Safety Rules Statement #2

Bus Conduct & Safety Rules Statement #3

Students are to respect the property at the bus stop and conduct themselves in an orderly manner while waiting for the bus. As the bus arrives, students must stand in a single file line, stand at least 12 feet back from the bus door, and not move toward the bus until it has come to a complete stop and the driver has opened the bus door. Student conduct at the bus stop should be the same as required on school grounds. Actions such as littering, spitting, throwing any object, vandalism, pushing, shoving, smoking, and harassment of others will not be tolerated.

Bus Conduct & Safety Rules Statement #4

As required by Vehicle Code (VC) 22112, when students need to cross a street or private road upon which the school bus is stopped, the driver shall activate the flashing red light system. When safe to do so, the driver of the school bus is required by law to escort students in grades K through 8 across the street using a hand-held stop sign. The driver, when ready to disembark the bus, will be the first to exit, regardless of whether a student in front of the line needs to cross. Students who need to cross the roadway will wait in front of and to the right of the bus where they can see the driver and the driver can see them. Students shall always cross the street in front of the bus, but NOT until they have been instructed, with verbal commands, to do so by the bus driver. Parents or guardians are required to bring students to the bus to help maximize efficiency and safety of students and drivers. Students will walk, not run, completely across the roadway and continue moving away from the roadway. If the student has for- gotten anything on the bus or has dropped something in the roadway THEY ARE TO TELL THE DRIVER. THEY ARE NOT TO RUN BACK INTO THE ROADWAY ONCE THEY HAVE CROSSED THE ROADWAY. The students who do not cross the roadway will exit and move away from the bus. Failure to follow these rules, in accordance with California State law, will be issued a bus ticket.

Bus Conduct & Safety Rules Statement #5

Bus Conduct & Safety Rules Statement #6

The bus driver will determine the order of a student’s entrance and seating aboard the bus. Once aboard the bus, students are to find their seats quickly and always remain seated, facing front while the bus is in motion. They are to stay seated until the bus comes to a FULL AND COMPLETE STOP. The bus driver has the right to assign seats as they determine necessary. Failure of the student to sit where assigned will result in a bus ticket.

Bus Conduct & Safety Rules Statement #7

Orderly behavior is required while aboard the bus. Abusive body contact (fighting, slapping, hitting, poking, shoving, etc.) is not permitted. Students are to talk quietly. Shouting, yelling, boisterous behavior, horseplay, profane language, obscene gestures, or any unnecessary noise may distract the attention of the driver and therefore is prohibited for the safety of all passengers.

Bus Conduct & Safety Rules Statement #8

Bus Conduct & Safety Rules Statement #9

Bus Conduct & Safety Rules Statement #10

Bus Conduct & Safety Rules Statement #11

Bus Conduct & Safety Rules Statement #12

Bus Conduct & Safety Rules Statement #13

Bus Conduct & Safety Rules Statement #14

At least once each school year, all students in Kindergarten through grade 8 inclusive who receive home to school transportation shall receive safety instruction which includes, but is not limited to, proper loading and unloading procedures, escorting by the driver, proper passenger conduct, bus evacuation, location of emergency equipment, responsibilities of passengers seated next to an emergency exit, and practice the procedures to evacuate the school bus through emergency exit doors, NOT THE FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR!

Bus Conduct & Safety Rules Statement #15

Students must observe safe walking habits and be alert for traffic on their way to and from their bus stop. Whenever students cross any streets, they must re- member to stop, listen, look left, right, and left again before crossing the street. Students shall cross all streets by utilizing crosswalks and/or traffic signals. Students should NOT talk to strangers or accept rides from strangers. When leaving the bus, students are to stay out of the DANGER ZONE!

Bus Conduct & Safety Rules Statement #16

The “DANGER ZONE” is the space around the school bus. It radiates out from the school bus by 12 feet. The school bus driver cannot see students in these zones. Students are to move away from the bus door quickly and stay clear of the wheels. They ARE NOT to go after anything that rolls or falls under or in front of the bus—they are to TELL the driver about it. Neverreach back into the bus throughthe window.