LSTA was created to solve a real transportation problem in Lakewood, and there is no question that it has accomplished a great deal. A state-cited study found that LSTA saved Lakewood millions of dollars compared to having the school district manage all transportation itself.

But ten years later, LSTA is no longer simply a Lakewood transportation solution. It has grown into a regional operation with relationships involving districts including Jackson, Toms River and Howell, while handling tens of millions of dollars and transportation for tens of thousands of children.

With that growth should come greater transparency and accountability.

The New Jersey Commissioner of Education has raised concerns about the separation between Lakewood and LSTA, as well as issues involving procurement, contract oversight and potentially duplicated costs. There have also been questions surrounding route efficiency, including unused bus seats, overlapping routes and missed opportunities to combine transportation where possible.

Then there is the financial picture. LSTA operates with a budget in the tens of millions of dollars. In 2025, the Lakewood Development Corporation approved a $1.6 million zero-interest loan to address a cash-flow issue. Now, in 2026, parents are facing hundreds of dollars in additional transportation costs following the loss of a reported $2.7 million Township subsidy.

None of this means that anyone has done anything wrong. But taxpayers and parents should be able to get clear answers to basic questions.

How much does each route cost? How much does each participating district pay? How much is spent on administration? How are contracts awarded? How much money is actually being saved, and where do those savings go?

Most importantly, who is ultimately accountable to the public?

The answer should not be to dismantle a transportation system that thousands of families rely on. Nor does everything necessarily need to be returned to the Board of Education.

Instead, it may be time to replace the current structure with a truly independent regional transportation consortium — one with independent audits, published contracts, transparent route costs, disclosed administrative expenses and a clear breakdown of what each participating district is paying.

If LSTA is saving taxpayers millions of dollars, the public should be able to see the numbers. If the routes are efficient, the data should demonstrate it. And if the current system remains the best option, transparency will only strengthen that case.

Lakewood families should not have to choose between reliable, affordable transportation and accountable government.

They deserve both.

— Chaim M., Lakewood

The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Lakewood Alerts. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.