Dear Austin ISD Families, 

The Bus Stop Finder launched earlier this week with new hub stops across the district as we prepare to welcome students back to school later this month. Since then, we’ve heard feedback about how the hubs can be adjusted and we’re continuing to work on adding additional hub stops to minimize your child’s trip to school while keeping their safety at the forefront of every decision. Please note any changes or adjustments made to routes and hub stops will be visible on Bus Stop Finder the following day.

As a reminder, middle and high school students this year will catch the bus at bus stop hubs near your home. These hub stops have been carefully vetted to ensure safe loading, smooth drop-offs, and secure traffic flow. However, we’re looking for your feedback as we assess routes and address issues before we welcome our students aboard. Please note elementary school students will continue to have neighborhood-level stops.

While you review the hub stops, be assured that we have been working to identify hubs, review safety and refine plans as needed in alignment with our framework to safely connect our students to schools. We are also looking closely at the details that impact families, including parent drop-off areas and parking, to make arrival and pick up as safe, convenient, and accessible as possible.

• In the first phase of planning (March-June 2026), Transportation leadership adapted the successful hub principles first established for magnet programs during the 2024–25 school year. Initial elementary school campus hubs were identified, including considerations for walkability and neighborhood infrastructures. During the first phase, a total of 191 hub stops were identified as viable locations to transport our students.

• The second phase (June-July 2026) focused on building out the Bus Stop Finder data, stress-testing routes for pedestrian and traffic hazards and collaborating with non-campus hub locations to establish site guidelines and ensure traffic safety. During the second phase, an additional 10 hubs were identified, for a total of 201 hub stops. 

• This week kicks off our next phase to refine hubs with the support of community feedback on the ground. The model is intentionally built to adapt based on live community feedback and real-world conditions. In our current phase, we are evaluating on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis, with a particular focus on areas in our community that do not have established sidewalks. We will continue adjusting stops so the maximum distance to a hub does not exceed three miles. We ask that our families help us with this by assisting students to and from hub stops in areas that do not have sidewalks or are not feasible for students to walk on their own. As we navigate the third phase, and to date, an additional 41 hubs were identified, for a total of 242 hub stops.

While we initially considered 191 hubs, we have continuously evaluated these placements and expanded to over 200 hubs. Every proposed adjustment is continuously evaluated against safety criteria and financial impacts to maintain long-term service sustainability. 

How to find your stop 

• Type in your address and school into the Bus Stop Finder. 

• Review your assigned stop along with the pickup and drop-off times.

• Share your feedback via the Transportation Hub Stops Survey so we can continue refining our routes to best serve your family.

As we evaluate feedback, stops will be revised as needed.

We know that changes to daily routines can bring extra challenges for families, and we are fully committed to supporting you through this transition. Thank you for your dedication to Austin ISD and for trusting us with your student’s transportation for the upcoming school year. 

Sincerely, 

Kris Hafezizadeh
Executive Director
Transportation & Vehicle Services