It is taking less time to get Barrington students from their bus stops to their schools this year.

According to local school officials, the run times are shorter this year — averaging about 40 minutes on the high end to about 22 minutes on the low end. 

That is a stark contrast to the nearly-hour-long bus runs of prior years, said Barrington Superintendent of Schools Michael Messore. 

Barrington budget leaves school start time change in limbo.

"I think we've improved our transportation runs," he said during an interview earlier this week. 

The reduced run-times were the result of some significant changes: The district added two more buses at the start of the current school year, and officials also consolidated some bus stops.

For years school officials have been working to improve student transportation. They questioned the early morning pick-up times on some of the bus routes and the duration of some of the runs. For example, there had been pickup times that were well before 7 a.m., and some runs that were about an hour long.

The district spent about $58,000 for each additional bus.

Officials had been discussing adding another three buses next year, but the superintendent said that will not be happening. There will be only one additional bus — it is for special education students. 

Mr. Messore said Barrington school officials met earlier this week with representatives from the contracted bus company — Ocean State Transit — to discuss what steps could be taken to make runs even more efficient.

The school transportation issue will also be discussed at a Barrington School Committee meeting in April.