Omaha Public School Transportation Services - Omaha, Nebraska

Cindy

The small bus showed up over an hour late, briefly honked in front of our house, waited maybe 20 seconds, and drove off. I know the exact timing because I have a camera—not just some unreliable GPS app.

This has been an ongoing issue. My daughter now has to ride the bus due to special education needs and a school change. But the bus is constantly late—sometimes over an hour—and doesn’t even stop in front of our house. It’ll randomly stop at a neighbor’s place instead.

When we call, we’re told to “just be on the lookout.” Seriously? You expect kids to sit by the window or stand outside for nearly two hours hoping the bus might show up? That’s completely unrealistic and unfair, especially for students with special needs.

And the “Here Comes the Bus” app? Doesn’t even work for all buses, making it even harder to plan or feel secure. This whole experience has been stressful and disappointing. These kids—and their families—deserve better.

JJCONDA T.

Only the second week of school and one of the only organized plan OPS has is to separate families. Between South high School and OPS transportation they have not provided accurate bus information for the parent who wants their child to actually have the information of the bus to be able to get their child. Can ops transportation actually do better by getting the children home to parents safely without interference this year. So many missed notifications last year and they are already off to a bad start this year.

Valora W.

Horrible! Just awful no help no assistance oh but you can leave a complaint that they don't even care about.... as a single working mother of four, this is completely unacceptable! I have had multiple issues with bus 275 ranging from dropping off my young girls knowing it's the wrong stop, to treating to search all kids on bus. Has a awful attitude. I have called and complained but nothing was taking seriously now the bus hardly shows up in mornings I was told that they canceled their stop! Like are you serious! Unacceptable

Macy S.

There are constant issues with this company. Unreliable is an understatement. My daughter is in Pre-K and we rely on the bus to transport her. We have had many problems. Here a just a couple that stand out to me.

Today they notified us that the bus would be late and arrive between 8:45-9:30 am. I was outside waiting for the bus at 8:10 am (normal time they would come) because they have said they will be late in the past and showed up at the normal time instead. 9:30 came and went with no bus. I called the transportation line to figure out if the bus was even coming and learned they did not intend to come at all and it would be "in my best interest" to drive my daughter to school myself. I am concerned that they will also forget her at school or drop her off without am adult present which scares me. My daughter has special needs and can't advocate for herself.

Last year a sub bus driver pulled into the driveway to drop my daughter off then upon not seeing a parent immedietly backed out and left. They are supposed to wait 5 minutes. Cars were in the driveway and the lights were on. My daughter's stepmother was outside within a minute and chased the bus yelling and waving her arms to get their attention. Literally in the time it took her to walk to the front door and open it they were reversing out. They essentially used the driveway to do a U turn. They took off with no way of us knowing if they would come back with her or where they were taking her. No attempt to communicate with any of her caregivers. My daughter has special needs and is only 4 it terrified her. They eventually came back to drop her off.

Something needs to be done this is beyond unprofessional and has negative impacts on my daughters access to education and negatively impacts our jobs as well. I was almost 3 hours late to work today because of this. If you don't intend to come at all don't lie and say you will just be late.

Katie L.

**UPDATE**
For the second time this school year, the services my son was provided with have again, been cancelled. I don't know who just seems to think it's okay to randomly cancel a child's ride to school but, I do not think it's at all funny.

Even though my son's bus has been picking him up and dropping him off, his services mysteriously got cancelled 6 days ago? How does that even happen?

Rachie R.

iterally the worst people i've ever dealt with in my entire life. they lost my kindergartner With a strange substitute driver till it was well past dark in the evening and now this year we are having safty troubles as well. I'm tired of being quiet about it. The safety director even blew me off. They dropped my kid off without notifying parents of any bus route changes. I have a whole list and emails I could keep going on and on.. I am so relieved I have since Met others with similar stories So I don't feel as crazy.

Amy N.

Up until this week, we've had a good experience. But yesterday, my son text me from his bus saying his bus driver was lost and didn't know where to go. Then, this morning, the bus didn't show up at all. I'm currently trying to call the number they tell you to call and have been listening to hold music for up to 52 minutes and counting.

Karina C.

Was told by management that if a driver can't differentiate between a street and an alleyway, causing my autistic son to miss the bus that was already 2 hours late... they don't have to call and confirm pickup location or notify me at all. Leaving us to wait in the cold from 8:25am till well after 10am.

Normal pickup is 8am. Was called and told pickup would be after 8:30. I specifically told them our pickup location is in back alley... there are 3 entrances to the building and it was a very cold morning. I was told they made a note of it. At 9:15 when I called them to see why it was taking so long... I again specified back alley. I was told 20 more minutes and that they would relay the info to the driver. After 10am I called again and was told driver pulled up to the side entrance, which is a crowded street and then left.

I told them if she had called I could have walked around the building... but I was told they are not required to call.

This is an ongoing problem. Constantly late and the back up drivers are not aware of pickup location, relying on GPS which sends them to an entrance only staff uses. The previous time I waited on the corner of front and side entrance (warmer day) the bus showed up on back alley. But at least they were decent enough to call.

Not a reliable form of transportation... if you have a job or anything important to do throughout the day you're better off paying for private transportation or driving them yourself. Which I will be looking into soon enough.