Walk Distance Policy Explained
The Renfrew County Joint Transportation Consortium uses a specialized geographic information system (GIS software) to plan transportation services on behalf of our Partner Boards. The GIS software determines transportation eligibility by calculating the distance from a student's address to the closest access point of a school's property along roads (rather than as the crow flies). Maintained walkways are included in this calculation.
Transportation will not be provided on roads that are not assumed and maintained year round by the municipality or on roads that are not passable or where cul-de-sacs (of adequate size to safely accommodate a vehicle turnaround) are not accessible. Students residing on a road that is not assumed and maintained year round by the municipality or on a road that is not passable will be required to make their way to an existing stop regardless of the distance if a safe bus stop location cannot be established within the distances outlined in RCJTC P.01.02 Transportation Policy:
Grade |
To/From School |
To/From Stop |
| Junior Kindergarten and Senior Kindergarten | 0.5 km | 0.5 km |
| Grade 1 to 6 | 1.6 km | 1.6 km |
| Grade 7 to 12 (rural) | 1.6 km | 1.6 km |
|
Grade 7 to 12 (urban/developed) |
2.5 km | 2.5 km |
NOTE: Urban/developed areas are usually posted 60 km/hour or less
Parents/guardians of students within the designated walk distances are responsible for the safe arrival of their student at school.
The Renfrew County Joint Transportation Consortium regularly reviews local walking conditions and establishes hazard areas which may further reduce the distance requirement; check here to see if you're eligible.
Why Google/Bing Maps Do Not Accurately Calculate Distance
Most web mapping service calculate the distance between addresses by estimating the placement of specific address points based on a street's overall address range. The RCJTC relies on property parcel data to accurately place addresses on the map as they exist on the ground. Additionally, the RCJTC adjusts the base map of our GIS software as we receive updates from our municipal partners including information about maintained paths and walkways.