PHILADELPHIA, PA — Student transportation provider Zum is establishing a long-term operating base in Philadelphia by leasing and redeveloping a school bus facility as it prepares to begin home-to-school transportation services for the School District of Philadelphia in the 2026-27 academic year.
The company announced it has leased two adjacent properties at 3740 E. Thompson St. and 2715 E. Butler St. in Northeast Philadelphia, where it plans to develop an operations and maintenance center to support its local workforce and fleet.
The facility will serve as Zum’s Philadelphia headquarters and is intended to support daily operations, fleet maintenance and future expansion. The company indicated the location was selected to reduce commute times for drivers while providing space for operations as it launches service for the school district.
The redevelopment will include upgraded employee facilities, expanded maintenance capabilities and driver amenities, according to the company.
The investment also coincides with Zum’s hiring efforts in Philadelphia. The company is recruiting school bus drivers and attendants following several hiring events, seeking both experienced drivers and individuals entering the profession.
Chief Operating Officer Vivek Garg characterized the investment as a long-term commitment to the city.
“Philadelphia is more than a new market for Zum—it is a long-term partnership and a community where we plan to invest for decades to come,” Garg stated. “We are creating local jobs, investing in modern infrastructure, and building an operation designed to serve students and families with the reliability, transparency, and accountability they deserve.”
General Manager Missy Lash indicated the company is focusing on developing a workplace designed to attract and retain transportation staff.
“There is no more important job than safely getting students to and from school every weekday,” Lash remarked. “We want our drivers to have a modern, welcoming facility where they feel comfortable, respected, and supported every day.”
Scott Arnoldy, chief executive officer of Triten Real Estate Partners, whose company is involved with the property, described the lease as a long-term investment in the Philadelphia market.
Zum indicated the Philadelphia expansion includes investments in facilities, workforce development, fleet operations and technology, while projecting the initiative will create hundreds of local jobs.
The company currently provides student transportation services to more than 6,500 schools across 18 states through its Connected Mobility Experience platform, which integrates routing, dispatch, communications, workforce management and real-time operations. According to Zum, school districts using the platform during the 2025-26 school year achieved an average on-time performance rate of 98%.
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