Stella Nelson logs nearly 120 miles a day as a bus driver for the Tucson Unified School District, traveling a route that takes her from the district's Midtown garage to the district's westernmost schools five days a week.
"I could show you the markings, the veins, on the back of my leg pushing the gas pedal," said Nelson, 50. "It takes its toll. By the time Saturday comes, it's tiring."
Nelson, a 26-year district veteran, and other bus drivers in TUSD's fleet possibly could get a break in two years, when officials hope to have a new home for nearly 100 buses in southwest Tucson to ease fuel consumption and cut costs.
The three possible locations are:
● West Valencia Road and South Cardinal Avenue (south of the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market).
● West Irvington Road and South Cardinal Avenue.
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● West Valencia Road and South Mark Road (near Casino del Sol).
The closest garage for the buses that transport students to and from the district's westernmost schools is at East Broadway and South Kino Parkway, said district planner Bryant Nodine. The other garage is at East Broadway and South Harrison Road.
"We've got the East Side and central (Tucson) covered," Nodine said. A new bus yard is needed to help accommodate growth on the west and southwest sides of the district, he said.
The yard opening is at least 18 months away, but TUSD's transportation department has been scouting locations for the planned eight-acre site and presented its findings to the Governing Board in a special meeting recently.
The new location would save the district almost $600,000 in fuel and wages, Nodine said. The savings could be used to increase security on more of the district's 319 buses, said transportation director Bill Ball.
"It would be a blessing for us," said Nelson, the driver.
One factor in choosing the location would be its proximity to the El Paso natural gas line, Nodine said, which would provide alternative fuel for the buses. It would be one step of many in the proposed energy-efficient building, which would also use less water and electricity than most in the area.
TUSD owns a plot of land on the planned Valencia and Cardinal site, where district officials once thought of building a school. Pat Palomarez, who owns the Little Mexico Steakhouse on the southeast corner of the intersection, said the employees at the planned bus yard are very likely to boost businesses in the area, which also include a Safeway and a Walgreens.
"It's more business for us," said Palomarez, who added that the Little Mexico Restaurant at 698 W. Irvington Road gets most of its clientele from employees of the Sunnyside Unified School District.
The district has held meetings for community members to discuss the plans and timeline for the building, Ball said. He added that noise buffers will lower noise pollution, and buses will travel on side roads as much as possible to reduce traffic congestion.
"We hope people will walk by and not even know it's a transportation building," he said. "We want to be as good neighbors as we possibly can."
Parent Dulce Necoechea said she doesn't foresee any logistical problems with the bus yard. She hopes the closer home base means kids won't have to wait as long for their rides.
When her 2-year-old daughter starts school, Necoechea says, "I'd rather know there's a bus close by and she wouldn't have to wait forever."
