You may remember that on January 22, 2002, a parent called the California Highway Patrol (CHP), reporting a School District bus parked along a route with its rear axle lying beside it. On January 13, 2003 the Amador County Unified School District shut down all bus service for regular education students after meeting with CHP officials and the County District Attorney. The CHP had documented a four-year history of continuing violations of state bus safety requirements; the CHP said it was the worst record they had ever seen anywhere in California. The bus terminal received four failing ratings during these years and the Highway Patrol had noted over 800 violations in the transportation operation in that period. The CHP had earlier taken their concerns and their documentation to the District Attorney, who initiated legal action to force the school district to correct the problems.

The bus fleet remained out of service for a month and a half, while numerous repairs were made. The District Attorney, Todd Riebe, decided to work with the District in fashioning a Consent Decree, which laid out a course of corrective actions over a period of 14 months. The District was required to complete the new facility within that 14 month time period but due to environmental concerns and numerous other delays could not complete the project within that time frame. To begin the project he District first had to complete the required CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) Report, and address concerns regarding security and the visual appearance of the facility. The project is being funded through the Local Bond Fund, Measure F; and the original bids were approved at 1,289,000 for initial costs for the site preparation.

The timeframe for the building to be fabricated was also lengthened substantially as the district fought its way through governmental red tape, Hurricane Katrina and last winter’s wild weather which all contributed to the delays. Finally, now, the District is at the point of ordering interior appointments as the ACUSD Board looked at the approval of a Bid for Lube Equipment and Air Lines Installation at the New Transportation Building. That bid was approved by the board and now the opening date of the building according to Pat Van Lieshout, Project Manager, should be by the first of the year. The total cost of the project will end up at about 2,029,957 dollars according to Barbara Murray, Asst Superintendent and Chief Business Official for the District.