Transportation

The mission of GRPS transportation services is to provide the safest and most efficient transportation possible for our scholars.

Dean Transportation

Dean Transportation is the service provider for preschool, elementary, middle school regular education transportation and special education transportation for all grades.  Dean also provides special education transportation for high school scholars.Dean Transportation PDF Handbook

The Rapid

The Rapid provides regular education transportation services for high school scholars. Rapid routing information can be found at www.ridetherapid.org, or by calling 616-776-1100.

Transportation Mobile Apps

On-the-Go School Bus Tracking

Dean Transportation has adopted two new apps that help GRPS parents/guardians view the real-time location of their child's school bus on a smartphone, tablet or computer.

Know instantly where and when your child entered and exited the school bus with Z Pass Plus. Have comfort knowing your child is safe. This application can be viewed on any smartphone.

ZPass Plus Sign-Up Instructions

NOTE: You must use a desktop or laptop to register your child on the Z Pass+ website. The system does not support entries from mobile devices.

A. Navigate to the Z Pass Plus home screen at zpassplus.com.

B. Click on the blue "Sign Up Today" button.

Step 1: Student Information

1. Enter the following information: First Name, Last Name, RFID#
Note that the First Name, Last Name, and RFID# must be entered exactly as they appear on the scholar's bus pass.

2. Click "add".

3. Verify the scholar's information.

4. If necessary, add any additional scholars by repeating steps 1-3.

5. Once all scholars are added and verified, click "Continue to Sign Up".

Please note that this service is being provided free of charge to all users. You will never be asked for payment. 

Step 2: Account Information

1. Enter the following information for your account:

  • Email address
  • Password
  • Confirm password

2. Enter complete name and address information (including time zone and phone number).

Please note that this information is required to verify your account in the event you contact support. To protect your children, it is important to ensure that only you are able to call and ask questions about your account. 

3. Once all required fields are completed, click "Review Information". 

Step 3: Review Information

1. Review and confirm the plan information is correct, specifically the scholar name(s).

2. Review and confirm the account information is correct. 

3. Click "Create Account" if everything is accurate. Use "Back" button if edits need to be made. 

Step 4: Email Confirmation

In order to activate your account, you must confirm your email address. The system will send an email with a confirmation link. Click the link to activate your account. 

 

Download Z Pass+ from the Apple App Store

Here Comes the Bus is an easy-to-use website and mobile device app that enables parents and caregivers to view the real-time location of their child’s school bus on a computer, tablet, or smartphone. In addition, email alerts and push notifications help parents send their scholars to the bus stop at just the right time.

This application can be viewed on any smartphone by entering the scholar’s ID and an account number provided by the school district.

Watch promotional video

Creating an Account:

To create a Here Comes the Bus (HCTB) account using the app, follow these steps. Have your scholar's ID number handy, if you know it. If not, there will be instructions on how to obtain it from your school. 

To begin, search for “Here Comes the Bus” on your mobile device in the App Store or Google Play.

Download Here Comes the Bus from the Apple App Store

1. Download and install the Here Comes the Bus app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. 

2. Tap "Sign Up" at the bottom of the page.

3. Tap "Continue"

4. You'll be asked for your school district's code. Tap "I Have the Code"

5. The Create Your Account Screen will appear. Type your email address, first and last name, and enter 29651 for the School District Code. Tap "Continue"

6. "Grand Rapids Public Schools" should appear in the dialog box. If this is correct, tap "Confirm"

7. The password screen will appear. Type the password you'd like to use for the Here Comes the Bus app in both the Password and Repeat Password fields.* Tap "Confirm Password"

*Note: You can select 'SHOW' if you'd like to verify the characters you entered. Your password needs to be 8 to 16 characters, and contain both uppercase and lowercase letters and at least one number and special character. 

8. You'll be thanked for registering for Here Comes the Bus. 

9. Open the email sent to you from noreply@synovia.com. Tap "Activate My Account". You will be taken to the Here Comes the Bus website, but you can finish the account creation process in the app. 

10. If you left the app open, you can click "Login". If not, when you open the app, you'll be presented the login screen. Type your email address, school district code (29651), and password. Tap "Login"

11. You will be prompted to add your scholar's information. Type your scholar's last name and scholar ID. Tap "Add Student". Continue to step 14. 

If you don't have your scholar's ID number, tap "Need Your Student ID?". 

12. Instructions on how to obtain your scholar's ID number will appear. After following those instructions and obtaining the ID, tap "Continue"

13. The Student Information screen shown at step 11 will appear again. Type your scholar's last name and scholar ID. Tap "Add Student"

14. The stops the Transportation Department has entered for your scholar will appear. If they are correct, tap "Proceed" and skip to step 16

If they are incorrect, tap "I Need Help".

15.  Instructions on how to inform the Transportation Department that they have the wrong bus stops on file will appear. They will have to rectify the situation. After they do so, tap "Continue" on this screen

16. Your notification radius will appear on a map. This is a circular area around your scholar's bus stop - when the bus enters the radius is when you will receive an alert by email or push notification if you opt to receive that. Tap "Continue"

17. You will see a success message -- your scholar has been added to your account!

You can tap "Add Another Student" and repeat this process if needed. If you are finished adding students, tap "Complete"

18. You'll be prompted to enter the name of your device, such as "Elizabeth's S8". Enter Device Name and tap "Save"

19. The Here Comes the Bus home screen will appear. 

 

Helpful Resources

To be eligible for transportation a scholar must live at least:

  • 1.0 mile from neighborhood school for K-5, K-8 schools and Pre-K
  • 1.5 miles from neighborhood middle school 6-8th
  • 1.5 miles from school for 9th-12th and be eligible for free or reduced lunch
  • Theme school transportation is based on geographic regions of the City
  • Voluntary transfers are not eligible for transportation
  • Transportation is not provided for University Preparatory Academy middle school (6th–8th)
  • Special Education transportation is based on the scholar’s IEP. Not all IEP’s require transportation
  • General Education scholars may not ride with a sibling who receives transportation based upon their IEP
  • Have a safe place to wait for your bus, away from traffic and the street.
  • Stay away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop.
  • When being dropped off, exit the bus and walk ten steps away from the bus. Also, remember that the bus driver can see you best when you are away from the bus.
  • Use the handrail to enter and exit the bus.
  • Be aware of street traffic. Drivers are required to follow the rules of the road concerning school buses, but not all do. Protect yourself and watch out.

Scholars who use transportation service provided by GRPS (including yellow buses and The RAPID) are considered to be in school, therefore, subject to all rules for health and safety while on the bus. Misbehavior on a bus is distracting to drivers and interferes with the safety of all scholars. Behavior considered as seriously disruptive will result in disciplinary action.

 

Questions or Concerns

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