1.)  What is deadhead time?
The time the vehicle is moving from its base in Colchester to a pick-up location and returned to its base after the charter. The highest-demand locations have the following deadhead times:
Burlington/Colchester Bay: 30 Minutes
Winooski/Colchester Village: 45 minutes
So. Burlington/Essex: 60 Minutes
Williston/Shelburne: 75 minutes
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2.)  What is wait time?
As the term suggests, it is the period of time that the vehicle is waiting at a destination for the return trip.
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3.)  Where is the The Red Bus based?
The Red Bus is based in Colchester on Heineberg Drive about a mile South of the intersection of route 127 and Porters Point Road.
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4.)  Why is the hourly rate higher for trips outside of Chittenden County?
The cost of fuel drives the higher price. Around town at lower speeds and longer wait time to operating time ratios, the vehicle uses relatively little fuel. Once it is on the highway at highway speed the fuel burn is approximately triple.
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5.)  What is an integrated charter?
An integrated ride is one where two or more charters are scheduled during the same block of time. This significantly reduces the wait time.
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6.)  What is the advantage of an integrated charter?
It is significantly cheaper. For a two and a half hour charter with pick up in Burlington transport and return assuming an hour and a half wait time the total charter time would be 2.5 hours hours for transporting and waiting plus .50 hours deadhead time or 3.00 hours times $43 = $129.   The same charter if integrated into a previously scheduled charter would cost within Burlington, a flat rate of $65. Within other Chittenden County communities it would cost a flat rate of $70.
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7.)  Why is it cheaper in Burlington, The Bay Area of Colchester, and Winooski?
Burlington, The Bay Area of Colchester, and Winooski are closer to the vehicle's base than other Chittenden County Communities. Closer means less time in transit and consequently less fuel.
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8.)  What is the disadvantage of an integrated ride?
You would need to be somewhat flexible with regard to pick -up and drop off times in order to fit your charter into an already scheduled charter.
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9.)  What if I scheduled a charter which is not integrated and later someone else integrates their charter with mine?
In that case your cost would be reduced by $22.  In the example in question 6, the trip cost would go from $129 to $107
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10.)  How would I know that someone else interated a ride and I am therefore eligeable for the lower rate?
The integrated ride would appear on the calendar between your drop off and pick up. Also the vehicle would be gone.
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11.)  Can I charter the vehicle in such a way that it waits at the destination location until the return trip?
Yes, in order to do that if you are scheduling your own trip, simply block out that time on the calendar. If you are scheduling by e-mail simply indicate that preference in the text.
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12.)  What kind of child restraint seats are incorporated in the vehicle?
Two Chrylser five point child restraint systems are incorporated into each of nine bench seats on the vehicle. A fold down pad is incorporated in the design which allows for the use of the child restraint seats or when the pad is pushed back into place becomes the back of the regular bench seat.
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13.)  Is the vehicle certified for use with Federal Child development programs?
Yes, while it is a generic school bus design, it is not a school bus but does comply with the requirements for an "alternate vehicle" under the federal statutes, and is a certified Multi-functional School Activity Bus (MFSAB) by the State of Vermont.
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14.)  Why is it necessary to have a commercial driver?
Since the vehicle can accomodate up to 27 passengers, (therefore more than fifteen) it must be operated by a commercial driver with a passenger endorsement and current medical certification.
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15.)  The logo on the vehicle indicates it is owned by the King Street Youth Center, do they operate it?
No, King Street while owning the vehicle, does not operate it. A professional driver/educational consultant operates the vehicle by providing scheduling, insurance, maintenance and an operator.
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