BusPlan vs EZRouting

BusPlan is a free, open-source tool for school districts that generates optimized routes from existing student, stop, and school-location data. It seeks to minimize bus driving time and can impose a maximum student ride-time constraint. The workflow accepts CSV files for locations, students, candidate stops, stop eligibility, and garage bus limits. Preparation instructions create candidate stops within one mile of each student and calculate walking-distance eligibility. OpenStreetMap extracts are used to build OpenTripPlanner routing graphs, which supply route costs. OptaPlanner provides the constraint-solving engine. Results are CSV files listing ordered stops for each route and assigning students to route-and-stop combinations. A script calculates student ride times, and a Jupyter notebook supports route analysis. BusPlan is distributed as source code and setup instructions on GitHub under the Apache License, Version 2.0. The repository does not list a packaged desktop or mobile download or a support service.

EZRouting is a student transportation management product for school districts planning routes and responding to daily operational changes. AI-powered route generation considers bell times, mileage, and student transit times. Dispatch tools support route consolidation, driver or vehicle substitutions, and turn-by-turn updates to driver tablets. Districts can notify parents or guardians about delays and route changes by email, SMS, or app notification. SafeDriver360 combines hands-free navigation, student scans, and pre-trip inspections on a tablet. Other modules manage driver certifications, leave requests, geofenced timesheets, and riding eligibility based on SIS data and district policy. The suite includes GPS-enabled tablets, turn-by-turn directions, and student ridership tracking, as well as workflows for activity trip requests, approvals, assignments, and invoicing. Pathwise describes the technology as cloud-based and reports 99% uptime. EZRouting supports Android, iOS, and web. Pricing is available from sales on request; Pathwise says it provides training and support.