Many students who ride school buses will be assigned to different routes this year as the Anacortes School District reconfigures the schedule to eliminate one route and cut costs. A number of routes have changes, but the biggest impact is to Route J.

“Route J no longer exists, but the stops from that route have been moved to the remaining routes,” said Patty Colby, the district’s transportation supervisor.

Parents can view all the routes at http://www.asd103.org, at school offices and at the Anacortes Public Library.

The change reflects a district budget hit by enrollment drops and funding cuts.

“With the state of the economy and the district financial situation, the Transportation Department was asked to cut back as much as possible. The only solution was to cut a route,” Colby said.

Deleting a route was not an easy process, and timing and ridership were keys to finding a viable solution, she said. In the spring, staff sat down with Dale Bowen, then-operations manager and transportation supervisor, and started shifting stops to see what would work.

“Our goal was to make the transition as easy as possible for all without cutting services,” Colby said.

Annual savings from eliminating a route are estimated at $21,000. But the cost may be less convenience.

“There will be longer routes, higher loads on buses and some confusion at the beginning. We are hopeful that parents are understanding and patient with us as we work through the bugs of the new routes. Actual timing and ridership is the unknown that may force changes as we work our way through the first few weeks of school,” Colby said.

The district requests all students be at their stops at least five minutes prior to listed pickup times. Parents need to be aware that buses might be late the first few days while drivers and students adjust to new routes. Because student placements will be done late this year, some modifications may need to be made after school starts, Colby said.

Key route changes:

• High school/middle school, morning

Formerly on Route J — Sixth and T, Fourth and T, Fifth and O to Route A; Guemes Ferry stop to Route F; Michelle Lane, 35th and D to Route M. Other routes — The 41st and H stop, formerly on Route A, has been deleted. 36th and H, and 37th and H stops move from Route A to E.

• High school/middle school, afternoon

Formerly on Route J — Stops at 34th and Q and T, and 35th and S and U move to Route A; Guemes Ferry shuttle, Sixth and O, Fourth and Q and T move to Route D; San Juan Hill and Fidalgo Bay Road move to Route F. Other routes — All Satterlee Road stops move from Route D to K. 

• Fidalgo school, morning

Formerly on Route J — 34th and D, Michelle Lane, 37th Court and 37th, Forest Park Lane, 42nd Place and A, Westwood and A, Parkside Development, Olga and Havekost, 12057 Havekost, Wildwood and Marine (Fire Station) move to Route B; Deane Drive, 13439 Rosario, Lake Erie Grocery and Campbell Lake Road stops move to Route D.

Other routes — All stops on Route K reverse order affecting times of stops. VanLeuven and Highway 20 moves from Route B to K; Q and 21st, 23rd, 26th and 28th move from Route E to M.

• Fidalgo school, afternoon

Formerly on Route J — Aqua Lane, San Juan Hill, 34th and O, 34th and M, 29th between L and M, Island View School, Fidalgo Pool, 20th and J, 12th and B, West Second and Alaska, D and 15th, 21st and 23rd, B and 26th and 32nd, and 32nd and Field will be on Route A.

Other routes — 11222 and 11262 E. March Point, 9578 W. March Point, 8170 S. March Point move from Route A to C; 601 35th and 33rd and Q move from Route A to E.

• Town elementary schools, morning

Formerly on Route J — Yorkshire and Kingsway Court, 4705 Yorkshire, Piper Circle (E) and Highland, 4707 and 4418 Glasgow, San Juan (N) and Glasgow, Eagle View and Oakes, Oakes and Erie, and 12th and C stops move to Route A; 5473 Campbell Lake to Route F; Queen Anne and Bryce, Kingsway and Bryce, Marion and Jasper, Marion and Cedar Glen, Tyler and Clyde to Route K. 

Other routes: West Second and Alaska (alley), Alaska and West Third, 16th and A, 15th and B move from Route A to Route E. 

• Town elementary schools, afternoon

Formerly on Route J — Eagle View, 4405 Oakes, Kingsway and Bryce Court, Jasper and Marion, Marion and Cedar Glenn, Clyde and Tyler, Queen Anne and Bryce move to Route A; Glasgow stops at the cul-de-sac past Cypress (N), San Juan (N), Blakely, San Juan (S) and Cypress (S), as well as Piper (East) and Highland, 4705 Yorkshire, Parkside Development/Fircrest and A, and Westwood and A move to Route F.

Other routes: B and 32nd , 30th and 28th; 26th and C, 26th and D, 23rd and D, 21st and C, 17th and D, 15th and A, 2220 14th, 14th and D (west side of D only) move from Route F to Route B.