---
title: >-
  Denver Public Schools Saved $500K Through Multimodal Transportation
  Optimization
description: >-
  Denver Public Schools embraced a multimodal transportation strategy,
  strategically integrating small vehicles alongside buses, saving significant
  money.
date: '2025-04-17'
category: Blog
canonical_url: >-
  https://www.hopskipdrive.com/blog/denver-public-schools-saved-500k-through-multimodal-transportation/
source: hopskipdrive
license: © 2026 HopSkipDrive. All rights reserved.
slug: denver-public-schools-saved-500k-through-multimodal-transportation
id: 28prnBtdbNbjtt0OUO0VeR
contentType: article
---

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Denver Public Schools (DPS), Colorado’s largest school district, faced the dual challenge of a persistent bus driver shortage and fluctuating student enrollment, which was impacting transportation efficiency and budget. To address these issues, DPS embraced a multimodal transportation strategy, strategically integrating small vehicles alongside traditional buses. This approach resulted in significant cost savings and improved service delivery.

## The Challenge: Balancing Growth and Efficiency

With 90,000 students, 30,000 of which are transportation-eligible, DPS needed a flexible and cost-effective solution. The district anticipated a surge in students requiring specialized transportation, particularly those who qualify for transportation under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, whose needs often arise mid-school year. Budget constraints demanded a dynamic and efficient transportation system.

## The Solution: Multimodal Optimization with Small Vehicle Integration

DPS implemented a multimodal transportation system to provide students with the most suitable ride by pairing them with the optimal route. This integrated approach included using a mix of transportation options including buses driven by district drivers with CDLs, smaller vehicles driven by non-CDL drivers, and supplemental [transportation partners like HopSkipDrive](https://www.hopskipdrive.com/drive/denver-co/), and public transportation. The strategic onboarding and optimization of small vehicles was key to achieving substantial cost savings for the district.

## The Results: Multimodal Cost Savings 

HopSkipDrive’s [RouteWise AI™](https://www.hopskipdrive.com/routewise-ai/) played a pivotal role in optimizing DPS’s multimodal system. RouteWise AI developed a personalized routing model that incorporated all district constraints and allowed for seamless integration of existing bus and small-vehicle routes. This resulted in: 

- **Cost Reduction:** This enhanced efficiency directly translated to a significant cost saving of over $500,000 in the 2023–2024 school year.
- **Increased Small Vehicle Utilization:** By optimizing small vehicle routes, DPS achieved an 11% increase in student pooling for these vehicles.
- **Enhanced Safety:** The district also found a reduction in school zone congestion, improving safety and traffic flow.
- **Streamlined Student Integration:** RouteWise AI enabled DPS to integrate new students into existing small vehicle routes with a single click, dramatically reducing manual planning time. “For my routers to be able to evaluate and pool a new rider with the click of a button, it both saves our team time and also saves the district money,” said Earl Kent III, a Route Planning Manager at DPS.

## Impact and Future Outlook

DPS’s success highlights the power of multimodal optimization — particularly the strategic integration of small vehicles — in achieving significant cost savings and improving transportation efficiency. By embracing innovative solutions like HopSkipDrive, DPS is committed to providing equitable and sustainable transportation for all students.

## Key Takeaways

- Multimodal transportation systems, when optimized, can yield substantial cost savings.
- Small vehicle integration offers flexibility and efficiency in student transportation.
- AI-driven optimization tools are essential for maximizing the benefits of multimodal strategies.
- DPS saved over $500,000 with the support of RouteWise AI.
- An increase of 11% of student pooling for small vehicles was a significant driver for these results.

Interested in implementing a multimodal transportation strategy to save your school district money? [**Reach out**](https://www.hopskipdrive.com/quote/) to the HopSkipDrive team today. 



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