Community Corner
PV Transit supports military-connected students
Routes 225 and 226 assists military families at Fort MacArthur access Palos Verdes schools.
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Military families move, on average, every two to three years, and their children often change schools six to nine times between kindergarten and high school graduation. For parents serving in the armed forces—often far from extended family—coordinating school transportation can add significant stress to an already demanding lifestyle.
Fortunately, for families stationed at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, Palos Verdes Transit (PV Transit) helps ease that burden. For the past decade, PV Transit has provided free, reliable bus transportation for the dependents of active-duty and reserve military personnel attending schools in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD).
PV Transit’s Route 225 and Orange Route operate Monday through Friday, connecting Fort MacArthur directly with intermediate and high schools throughout the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The service ensures that students have safe, consistent access to education.
“It’s the least we can do to show our appreciation,” said Martin Gombart, PV Transit Manager. “These men and women choose to serve our country at great personal cost. Back in 2019, we proposed extending our routes and offering free transportation passes to military dependents. We could not have provided this service without the funding support provided by our member cities, Metro, and Supervisor Janice Hahn.
The passage of Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children and California’s Assembly Bill 306 provides military families a dispensation to enroll their children in the public school of their choice provided the receiving school district agrees. Many Fort MacArthur families that live within the Los Angeles Unified School District have chosen to send their children to schools in the Palos Verdes district.
The passage of AB 306 was a major win for military families in California and has become a model for other states seeking to reduce educational barriers for students of military parents.
According to PVPUSD enrollment data, 78 military-connected students currently attend schools in the Palos Verdes district, relying on PV Transit for daily transportation.
“Providing reliable bus transportation ensures that these students have consistent access to their education, regardless of where they live on or near the base,” said PVPUSD Superintendent Dr. Devin Serrano. “For families who experience frequent relocations and deployments, this service offers stability, peace of mind, and a stronger connection to their school community. It’s one small but meaningful way we can show gratitude for the sacrifices military families make every day.”
For families like that of Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Rodger Nelson, PV Transit has made a tremendous difference. Nelson and his wife, a colonel in the Air Force Reserve, relocated from Houston, Texas, to Pacific Heights near Fort MacArthur in 2019 with their three young children—then in first, third, and fifth grades.
“Most military families don’t have relatives nearby when they move. If one spouse is on active duty, the other ends up managing most of the childcare and logistics,” Nelson explained. Having reliable transportation means that spouse can maintain a career and some balance in life. Everyone knows how hard it can be getting kids from A to B every day.”
Nelson said his oldest daughter, now a senior in high school, used PV Transit for years before earning her driver’s license.
“Before she could drive, the bus was a huge help,” Nelson said. “What’s impressed me most is that PV Transit didn’t have to do this—they just wanted to help military kids.”
Ida Humphrey, School Liaison Program Manager at Fort MacArthur since 2011, played a key role in advocating for the expanded PV Transit routes and AB 306. She said the service has been vital in reducing stress and financial strain on military families—particularly during furloughs or times of uncertainty.
“This bus service eliminates a major financial burden for families,” Humphrey said. “There have been times when parents were furloughed and still had to get their children to school. PV Transit ensures kids don’t miss class because of transportation barriers. Especially in today’s turbulent times, military families need to know that people are supporting them as they support our country.”
PV Transit routes 225 and Orange Route more than add bus stops—it has strengthened the bridge between the Palos Verdes Peninsula and the military community at Fort MacArthur. The service provides more than transportation; it offers stability, connection, and gratitude to the families who serve our country every day.
For more information on PV Transit schedules and routes, visit palosverdes.com/pvtransit or call (310) 544-7108.
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