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SSTS Usage Research Executive Summary
The School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) provides Government subsidised transport to school for students who do not live in close proximity to the school. The Government reimburses transport operators for transporting these students between home and school.
The 'pass usage rate' is the rate at which it is assumed each student uses their SSTS pass. The rate is calculated to take into account those occasions when a student does not use their pass for some reason - for example, illness, attending a school excursion or attending other activities.
The 2003-2004 SSTS Pass Usage Survey was undertaken to update the assumed pass usage rate used by the Ministry of Transport, which was obtained from a Pass Usage Survey, undertaken in 1994 and subsequent negotiations with transport operators. A pass usage rate of 77% in metropolitan areas and 79% in non-metropolitan areas is assumed on a given school day and operators are reimbursed by the Ministry of Transport accordingly.
The 2003-2004 Pass Usage Survey comprised two related parts. The objective of Part 1 was to estimate the number of school students travelling under SSTS on a typical school day.
In addition the Special Study (Part 2) was commissioned to:
- provide knowledge of the motivational factors affecting students' travel pass usage; and
- explore attitudes of students and their parents to the scope and purpose of the SSTS.
The sample for the 2003/2004 survey comprised parents of 13,107 Passholders. Interviews were conducted on school nights from Term 2-2003 to Term 1-2004.
Pass usage can be measured in a number of ways, as shown in the following table. However, on all measures the pass usage rate found in the 2003-04 survey was lower than that found in the 1994 survey.
| SSTS Travel Pass Usage | 1994 - % | 2003/2004 - % |
|---|---|---|
| Used in Morning | 65 | 56 |
| Used in Afternoon | 68 | 62 |
| Actual Usage 1 | 66 | 59 |
| Morning or Afternoon Usage 2 | 75 | 69 |
- Actual Pass Usage assumes each pass has the potential to be used twice each school day. The formula to calculate actual pass usage is (am pass use + pm pass use) ÷ (passes held x 2).
- Morning or Afternoon Usage corresponds with the 'Usage in Morning or Afternoon' figures presented in the 1994 Study is calculated on a per pass basis, determining if the pass held was used either in the morning OR in the afternoon. The formula to calculate AM or PM pass usage is (# of passes used for either am or pm travel) ÷ (# of passes held).
- The Pass Usage Survey found that the Actual Pass Usage Rate was 59%. That is, students who hold SSTS passes use them on average 59% of the time.
- Pass usage varies by year in school. Actual pass usage1 rates
in 2003-04 for each level of school are:
- Infants students - 47%
- Primary students - 52%
- Junior Secondary students - 66%
- Senior Secondary students - 52%.
- Pass usage is highest in Term 1 of the school year, with actual usage1 increasing from 57% in Terms 2, 3 and 4 to 63% in Term 1.
- The Survey found that a high proportion of school children are being driven to school; 32% of Passholders are driven to school each morning and 22% are driven home in the afternoon. Among Non Passholders, who are deemed to be within a walkable distance of school, 55% are driven to school in the morning and 51% are driven home in the afternoon. Less than one-third (27%) of Non Passholders walk to school.
- Over half (56%) of all Passholders attend Government schools. One in four (25%) attend Catholic schools and less than one in five (19%) attend Independent schools. However this varies by location with 30% of Passholders in Sydney attending Independent schools.
- In total, 64% of passes are for travel on private transport operators. This of course varies by region depending on the operator providing services in that area.
- 73% of households with Passholders are 'very satisfied' or 'satisfied' with their transport provider of school services. The main complaints regarding transport providers are that transport does not run to the timetable, is overcrowded and there are insufficient services; this particularly applied to the non-metropolitan regions.
- 86% of households with Passholders are 'very satisfied' or 'satisfied' with the SSTS Those who were dissatisfied complained that the distance requirements are too far from the school and that the pass is restricted to travel between home and school. Many parents commented that more dangerous traffic conditions, circuitous routes and the amount of equipment which children now need to carry to school meant that the walking distance was no longer reasonable.
- Respondents were asked about the importance of possible changes to the SSTS. Responses focussed on more flexibility, particularly regarding restrictions on travel only to the home address (82%), use only on specified services (71%) and the times when the pass may be used (59%).
