Boston Council Keeps Bus-Delay Docket Open, Schedules Second Hearing Before Year Ends

BOSTON — March 31, 2026 — Boston City Council education committee demands answers on chronic BPS bus delays after years of inaction on fines. Chair Julia M. Mejia convened the emergency hearing on Docket 0374 Tuesday, joined by lead sponsor Erin J. Murphy and co-sponsors Edward M. Flynn and John FitzGerald, with all 13 councilors having signed onto the order. BPS Transportation Executive Director Dan Rosengard confirmed that 3,171 of approximately 361,000 scheduled trips went uncovered this school year — a 0.9 percent rate against a historical benchmark of 0.2 percent — while projecting the transportation budget will climb from $188 million in FY26 to $198 million in FY27 despite declining ridership. Rosengard also confirmed that despite a contract provision allowing $500 fines per missed or severely late trip, BPS had never previously assessed those liquidated damages against vendor Transdev; March 2026 will be the first month fines are applied. Council President Liz Breadon cited data showing the Edison K-8 school's uncovered bus rate at 3.5 percent — more than twice the district average — with one route posting 14 percent on-time performance over the period from December through March 30.