The Ministry of Education has announced the purchase of 24 buses for transporting children studying in schools along the Duarte Highway, from Pedro Brand to Navarrete in Santiago province. The buses have been purchased to improve the safety of children who currently get to school by walking or hitching rides along the highway, mainly on motorcycles, pickups or trucks. A total of 11,356 public school students from Pedro Brand, Villa Altagracia, Piedra Blanca, Bonao, La Vega, Santiago, Villa Gonzalez and Navarrete will benefit from the free transport. The buses will make 86 stops on the south-north route and 88 stops on the return. A School Police agent will travel on board each bus, and surveillance cameras have been installed.
The Ministry of Education purchased the buses at a cost of RD$187.7 million.