THE FUTURE OF
BUSING IS HERE
Manchester is growing. Our children deserve safe, reliable, and free transportation. Join the movement to bring LSTA to our community.
THE MISSION
LSTA was born from the vision of Lakewood rabbonim and askonim to solve one simple problem: Every child deserves a seat on the bus.
Currently, thousands of children are left without free busing, forcing parents to supplement costs for private transportation. LSTA steps in by pooling the state-mandated $1,177 per student, leveraging massive buying power to negotiate efficient, cost-effective routes for the entire community.
COMMUNITY POWER
By pooling our resources, LSTA leverages massive buying power to negotiate efficient routes that private vans simply can't match.
RELIABILITY
LSTA manages 55,000 students across 155 schools. This scale ensures that more routes are picked up and more children get to school on time.
ZERO BURDEN
The Board of Education writes one check. Parents receive organized service. No more individual AIL checks or logistical nightmares.
THE SAVINGS
WHAT YOU SAVE PER CHILD
Compare your current private transportation costs with what you could be saving with LSTA support.
| SCHOOL | PRIVATE COST | AIL BENEFIT | YOUR SAVINGS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bnos Yaakov | $2,850 | $1,177 | $1,673 |
| Nesivos Hatorah | $2,760 | $1,177 | $1,583 |
| Talmud Torah | $2,720 | $1,177 | $1,543 |
| Bais Faiga | $2,290 | $1,177 | $1,113 |
| Cheder/Ohr Shraga | $1,980 | $1,177 | $803 |
*Based on current Manchester rates.
SAVINGS CALCULATOR
ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS
HOW IT WORKS
VOTE YES
Manchester residents vote to join LSTA. A majority vote means the Board of Education partners with LSTA to manage nonpublic busing.
REGISTER YOUR CHILD
Parents register each child through LSTA's online portal. Registration is simple, takes minutes, and ensures your child is counted.
ROUTES ARE BID OUT
LSTA aggregates all registrations by school and neighborhood, then puts routes out to competitive bid to bus companies.
FREE BUSING BEGINS
If a route is picked up, your child rides free. If not, you receive the full $1,177 AIL payment—paid upfront at the start of the year.
THE FUNDING
New Jersey law mandates that every nonpublic school student living more than 2 miles from school receives a specific annual allocation for transportation.
$1,177 PER YEARLSTA MODEL
Funds go directly to LSTA, which leverages massive community buying power to negotiate bulk routes. Parents pay nothing if a bus is secured.
AID IN LIEU (AIL)
Parents receive the $1,177 check directly, but must arrange and pay for private transportation—often costing between $2,000–$3,000.
KEY BENEFITS
SAVE THOUSANDS
Families save an average of $1,200-$1,700 per child per year by eliminating out-of-pocket transportation costs.
UPFRONT AIL PAYMENT
If no bus is available, you receive the full $1,177 at the beginning of the school year—not monthly or delayed.
PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT
LSTA handles registration, routing, bus company contracts, and parent communication—no hassle for you.
COMMUNITY STRENGTH
Manchester joins a network of 155+ schools across NJ. More students = more routes = better coverage.
SIMPLE REGISTRATION
Online portal takes 5 minutes. One registration per child. LSTA handles the rest.
BACKED BY LEADERSHIP
LSTA was created with guidance from Lakewood's rabbonim and askonim to serve the community's needs.
ADDRESSING YOUR CONCERNS
If LSTA cannot secure a route for your school, you will receive the full $1,177 AIL payment directly—paid upfront at the start of the school year. You lose nothing.
NJ law allows an $80-$90 fee for administration. LSTA collects this separately so the full $1,177 goes to bus companies, making routes more attractive to bid on.
LSTA works to optimize routes for safety and convenience. While state law allows flexibility, in practice LSTA groups schools in reasonable clusters to minimize walk distances.
If LSTA secures a bus for your route, that is the primary service. AIL is only available when a bus route is not picked up. This ensures enough riders to make routes viable.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Registration typically opens in spring and closes by late April for the following school year. Late registrations may still be accepted but are not guaranteed bus placement. Check LSTA's website for exact dates.
Any nonpublic school student in grades K-12 who lives more than 2 miles from their school is eligible for the $1,177 state transportation aid. Students must be registered through LSTA's portal and attend a participating school.
Manchester residents will vote in a referendum. If a majority votes YES, the Board of Education will partner with LSTA to manage nonpublic student transportation. Voting details and dates will be announced by the township.
LSTA aggregates all registered students by school and neighborhood, then creates efficient route clusters. These routes are put out to competitive bid among licensed bus companies. Routes with enough students are typically picked up.
LSTA currently manages transportation for over 55,000 students across 155+ nonpublic schools in New Jersey. If Manchester joins, local schools will be added to this network, increasing route viability.
Unlike traditional AIL distribution which may be delayed, LSTA distributes AIL payments at the beginning of the school year. If your child's route is not picked up by a bus company, you receive the full $1,177 upfront.
TIME TO CHOOSE.
THE VOTE IS HAPPENING NOW. MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD.