BU Helps BPS Solve its Latest Problem: Getting Students to School On Time

On Saturday April 1st, the Boston Public School system invited local companies, schools, individuals, and others to a hackathon-like seminar. Where a hackathon generally gives participants 24-48 hours to solve a problem, BPS is giving participants up to two months to solve its newest problem- their bus routes. In 2010, the school district began using Versatrans, a software application that was meant to make routing BPS’ 30,000 students to their respective schools much easier. The first software used after dropping the pencil and paper routing system, the school district has found its bus drivers have a hard time getting kids to school on time, with kids often getting to school an hour after the first class bell.

In an attempt to find a better solution, the school district held the BPS Transportation Challenge: Solving Routing and Bell Problems. Boston University, through Institute Director for Research Development & Director for SAIL and Lecturer in Computer Science, Andrei Lapets, got its students involved. Lapet’s Data Mechanics Class found itself looking for possible solutions to the rather difficult question. Students have been working on solutions throughout the semester, and with success, as BPS asked students to contribute their solutions and data findings for future use. By getting students involved, BU took a different approach in allowing them to work on different aspects of the problem, allowing collaboration to bring all the pieces together.

Though BPS at first looked to experts from Google, MIT and others, to solve their issues, the complex nature of the situation proved too difficult for just one solution. Though the district is hoping to find a solution soon, there are concerns that uncontrollable aspects, such as car accidents, unprompted traffic, etc, will overtake software solutions. With student-created tools, with the help of SAIL, the school district may find some peace in getting its 642 school busses to its 5,000 stops, and its 30,000 students to their respective schools.

BPS ranks second in the country in lowest number of transportation dollars spent on its bussing system, despite the miles per child being one of the lowest in the country. With 30,00 students and notoriously unpredictable traffic, however, the problem is harder than it seems. With the success of the challenge, the district hopes to have enough workable solutions to be implemented in the upcoming school year.