Following Thursday’s dramatic announcement from the Lakewood Student Transportation Authority (LSTA) that the cost of non-mandated transportation would increase from $385 to $945 per student for the 2026-27 school year, many Lakewood schools, at the recommendation of the Igud Hamosdos, have begun urging parents of non-mandated children not to enroll their children in the program at the new rate.

In their guidance, the Igud said it had consulted with numerous schools and recommended that parents “do not opt in” to the non-mandated busing program at the $945 rate, as they “believe the cost should be covered through government funding rather than placed on parents.”

As of Motzei Shabbos, a new decision was made by many schools to neither opt in nor opt out.

In response to that recommendations, many Lakewood parents have been reaching out to TLS through our multiple platforms, asking what this means as the new school year gets underway. But while it is too early to predict how this can play out, especially in the long term, the short term implications can be tremendous – and disastrous.

The recommendations could have significant consequences for the LSTA’s system if large numbers of families follow it, as well as for the town as a whole.

If thousands of families decline the service, the economics of that transportation network could change.

Fewer students on buses could mean fewer routes are financially viable. The LSTA has already indicated that routes would be adjusted and consolidated if families do not opt in.

That could create a cascading effect: fewer riders could mean fewer buses, which could mean longer routes, different pickup locations or schedules, and potentially fewer transportation options for families who still want or need bus service.

Parents who do not opt in would have to arrange their own transportation. That could mean carpools, private transportation, walking for some students or other arrangements between families and schools.

For parents, the change could create a particularly difficult problem. A child who previously boarded a bus near home may instead require a parent to make an additional morning and afternoon trip.

That could translate into significantly more traffic on Lakewood’s already busy roads during school arrival and dismissal times.

It also could create pressure on schools. If large numbers of parents suddenly need to transport children themselves, schools could face more cars, congestion and logistical challenges around drop-off and pickup areas, as well as the likelihood of many students arriving late to class.

And because the decision is coming only days before the start of the school year, families have little time to develop alternatives.