The School District of Philadelphia will be issuing an RFP for a transportation management system after its current routing provider stopped offering the service.
it enhance student safety, and what is the public benefit, such as for parents. Data requirements should be rooted in realistic goals and expectations, Somerville said, adding customiza- tions come at a price. Somerville advised districts to not take RFP require-
ments from their favorite vendor but rather write their own with needed and specific requirements. Ask for references and consider asking about failed implemen- tations, he added. Districts should ask for a project manager and provide
one from their side, Somerville said. He advised a phased implementation as “trying to do it all at once is a recipe for failure.” Successful routing includes the support of the district’s
stakeholders, identifying who will operate it and the role of the technology department, as well as schools and principals, Somerville said. Other questions to ask are, who will be involved in stu-
dent accountability and driver training? Will a parent app be supported? What are the considerations in doing it all
34 School Transportation News • SEPTEMBER 2025
in house versus hiring extra temporary help? Somerville noted every routing software on the market can build a route, print a map and give drivers directions. But every district’s needs are different. “How do you get the software you need?” he asked. “If
you’re going to take low bid, you better make sure your RFP has what you need in it.” Software should incorporate data elements, maps, stu-
dent information, stops, schools, turn data, speed data, attendance boundaries, hazards, and walk zones. Driver input is critical, as they are the best source of informa- tion, Somerville noted.
Training Needed for Success Unless training is done correctly, a district is sure to
fail, Somerville noted, adding the process should consid- er both vendor and district responsibilities. Consider if the training should be in-person or remote. Training while working almost is never quality train-
ing, Somerville said. He emphasized timing is everything—wait too long
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