DS Bus Lines

In February 2024, following a public bidding process, the Columbia Board of Education awarded DS Bus Lines with a three-year contract to provide school bus transportation for the school district beginning in August 2025. With industry roots dating back more than 50 years, DS Bus Lines, Inc. has provided student transportation and employee shuttle services across the Midwest and Southwest. Headquartered in Shawnee, Kansas, DS Bus Lines currently serves 25 school districts and two employee shuttle partners from 22 locations. Along with its subsidiaries, DS Bus South and STS of New Mexico, the company operates more than 1,200 vehicles and employs nearly 1,400 people across seven states: Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. DS Bus Lines is a subsidiary of Beacon Mobility. Learn more about DS Bus Lines.

DS Bus Lines Safety and Fleet Information
Transportation Family App

DS Bus Lines Safety and Fleet Information

Safety and Vehicle Features

Driver Safety Vests: DS Bus Lines drivers wear recognizable blue safety vests.
No Right on Red: DS Bus Lines does not utilize the right-on-red driving rule. Buses will wait for the traffic control light to turn green to make a right turn.
White Roof & Tinted Windows: The new fleet of Thomas Built buses with white roof and tinted windows will reduce internal heat by approximately 10–15%.
Bus Camera Enhancements: The fleet includes additional camera locations inside and outside the vehicle as well as the ability for DS Bus Lines to access video feeds remotely.
Integrated Child Seats: Built-in child booster seats with 5-point harness ensure that all children are properly secured and safe at all times.
Vandal Locks: External electric door lock to provide security while buses are unattended.
Driver’s Area and Communication Upgrades: Ergonomic driver’s seat and steering wheel to improve comfort for the bus driver, as well as driver tablets to improve real-time and accurate communication between dispatch and the bus.
Beacon Connect Family Mobile App: Provides parents and guardians alerts and notifications related to their student’s bus.

Fleet Vehicle Types and Bus Numbering

100-numbered buses are minibuses with special education equipment.
200-numbered buses are midsize buses; some midsize buses are equipped with special education equipment and lifts.
300–500-numbered buses are large buses.
600-numbered buses are activity buses equipped with AC, luggage storage space, and Wi-Fi capability.

**Assigned CPS bus route numbers are the same as the bus number displayed on all sides of the bus.