The municipality of Breda will use drivers who normally only drive elderly people to take special education children to school. In this way, the problems in student transport should be solved. In the meantime, the municipality is looking for another carrier who can step in if that doesn’t help either. Carrier Connexxion had until November 1 to put things in order, but this was not successful. That is why the municipality is now intervening.
Since the start of the new school year, student transport in Breda has been a mess. Children are picked up late or sometimes not at all. Meanwhile, 47 children have no transportation to school at all because they are still on the waiting list.
“These problems have been going on for so long that we have to use unorthodox measures.”
So-called Wmo drivers are temporarily deployed during the morning rush hour. They normally drive the regional taxi and, for example, transport elderly people who have difficulty walking. This means that they will have to reschedule their appointments for the time being if they want to take the regional taxi early in the morning. An exception applies for mourning, weddings and medical appointments.
“That is a choice I would rather not have made,” says councilor Arjen van Drunen. “But the problems with student transport have been going on for so long that we have to use unorthodox measures. Because we want all children to finally be able to return to school.”
The municipality hopes that the waiting list and the problems will be eliminated. But if that does not prove to be sufficient, another transport company will be temporarily called in. “We have agreements with Connexxion for five years and we must stick to them,” the councilor explains. “We can remove part of it and place it somewhere else. This gives Connexxion time to put its affairs in order and look for new drivers.”
“They will be fined several tens of thousands of euros.”
Because Connexxion has not fulfilled several agreements recently, the company has also received a hefty fine from the municipality. The councilor cannot say the amount, because Connexxion has yet to receive a letter. “But it concerns several tens of thousands of euros.”
The municipality hopes that the problems will soon be resolved. “We are now in November and after all these months nothing has been resolved. That seriously gives me a stomach ache,” says Van Drunen. “I don’t think everything will suddenly be roses and moonshine next week, but with these drivers we will certainly take a step.”
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