***Applications for 2026/27 Yellow Bus service must be submitted by end of day Wednesday, August 19th to ride the bus on the first day of school (Monday, August 31st).***
Whether your child is riding the Yellow Bus or taking RMWB City Transit, these webpages cover everything you need to know about eligibility, fees, and how to get your child registered for the upcoming school year.
Am I Eligible for Transportation?
Eligibility is based on the shortest driving distance from your home to your designated school:
Kindergarten to Grade 6: Must live 1.6 km or more from the school. (Note: If you live between 1.0 and 1.6 km, your child may be accommodated if space permits on an existing route, but this is not guaranteed).
Grades 7 to 12: Must live 2.0 km or more from the school.
*St. Martha School Exception: Because the entire attendance area for St. Martha falls within the 1.6 km boundary, yellow bus service is not available for this school.
Transportation Fees & Discounts
*There is a family discount for Yellow Bus riders living at the same address: the first child pays full price, the second pays 50%, and the third (and any additional children) ride for free.
How to Apply & Get Your Bus Pass
The first day of regular Yellow Bus service is Monday, August 31, 2026 (the first day of school). Outstanding fees from previous years must be paid in full before your child can be assigned a route.
Verify your information: Before applying, ensure your child is officially registered at their designated school and that your current home address is fully updated in our system.
Submit the Request Form: Deadline: Aug 19, 2026 @ 4:00 PM. Fill out the 2026/27 Yellow Bus Transportation Request Form. Applications received after this deadline will be delayed until the second week of school (Sept 8).
Watch for Confirmation: Within 12 hours, you will receive an automated email. (Check your spam folder!). Eligibility will be officially confirmed in mid-August when division offices reopen.
Set up your Payment Plan: During the week of August 24, 2026. We will contact you with payment instructions. You must pay at least 50% of the annual fee upfront as well as any outstanding fees from previous years to activate service. The remaining balance is due by October 31.
Program & School Specifics
Early Education & Kindergarten
Early Entry Program (EEP): Yellow bus service is not available.
Kindergarten: Service is one-way only. Morning students are brought to school; afternoon students are brought home. There is no mid-day service. An adult must be present at the drop-off stop.
High School Transportation
Most high school students utilize the RMWB City Transit system using the discounted $20/month pass. Yellow bus service is strictly limited:
Father Mercredi: Yellow bus available only for Grades 7–9 south of the Athabasca River, and Grades 7–12 in Saprae Creek.
Holy Trinity: Yellow bus available only for French Immersion students south of the Athabasca River. English-program students may request to ride French Immersion routes. They will only be added to existing stops if there is space available on the bus, which won't be confirmed until September 15th- English students will need to make their own transportation arrangements (transit or otherwise) until space is confirmed or if there is no room on the yellow bus.
Immaculate Heart (Outreach): Only standard-fare City Transit ($57.75/mo) is available.
French Immersion & Choice Schools
Ecole St. Paul and Holy Trinity are the designated schools for French Immersion. English-program students may request to ride French Immersion routes, but they will only be added to existing stops if there is room on the bus.
Parents may register their children to a Catholic school outside of their attendance area (Choice School). Yellow Bus service is not available to choice schools except for those that offer the French Immersion Program (Ecole St. Paul School and Holy Trinity Catholic High School). The attendance area for French Immersion schools cover all of Fort McMurray and buses are already transporting students from all areas.
Bus Stops & Safety Expectations
Master Stops: We use centralized "master stops" for efficiency. Elementary students may walk up to 0.7 km to reach their stop. Stops are not modified for convenience or line-of-sight from homes.
Alternate Locations (Childcare/Custody): You can request pickup/drop-off at an alternate location (like a daycare or co-parent's house) if it is within the school's boundary, on an existing route and required on a consistent basis. A schedule is required in advance indicating when the student will be riding to/from each location. We need 10 days' notice for schedule changes. **We do not accommodate temporary changes for playdates or activities.**
Be Ready: Students should be at the stop 3–5 minutes early.
Conduct: The bus is an extension of the classroom. Students must stay seated, be respectful, and carry their bus passes. Rule violations can result in suspension of bus privileges.