Istanbul authorities have outlined a series of transport and traffic measures ahead of the 2026-2027 academic year, including free public transportation on the first day of school and thousands of additional services to ease congestion.
The measures were presented at a meeting of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s (IBB) Transportation Coordination Center (UKOME), chaired by IBB Deputy Secretary-General Pelin Alpkökin at the Disaster Coordination Center (AKOM).
The new academic year is set to begin on Sept. 14, with authorities expecting around 18,000 school buses to take to the city’s roads and transport approximately 300,000 students.
Under the action plan, public transportation vehicles included in the integrated ticketing system are expected to operate free of charge from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 14.
IBB is also planning 3,665 additional services on IETT, Metrobus and Metro Istanbul to increase public transportation capacity.
The additional services are expected to encourage approximately 790,830 passengers to use public transportation and remove around 674,809 vehicles from the roads.
Various road and traffic arrangements will also be made around schools to improve safety.
Traffic signal maintenance, repair, washing and programming works launched in January are scheduled to be completed before schools reopen. Maintenance and repairs of pedestrian crossing signs around schools will also be completed before the new academic year.
Signs reading “I am a considerate driver” will be placed on traffic signal poles for one week.
Authorities will also increase inspections of school buses and their drivers.
Student address and contact information will be obtained from schools to determine bus routes, while drivers and accompanying personnel will be informed about relevant regulations.
Drivers’ Public Transport Vehicle Use Certificates will be checked through IBB’s system, while authorities will ensure that buses do not exceed their permitted passenger capacity and that students are dropped off only at designated points.
The Istanbul Police Department plans to deploy 1,496 teams and 3,151 personnel at 808 locations, along with 569 Child Branch teams, 47 Mobile School Teams and 331 additional teams.
A further 866 personnel will be assigned to 478 locations considered important for traffic safety, including 309 teams, 177 motorcycle officers and 39 foot patrol officers.
Thirty-three tow trucks are also planned to respond to property-damage accidents, while 10 teams will be stationed at key intersections around schools and 100 motorcycle police teams will operate around school entrances and nearby areas.
The Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command will conduct traffic, security and public order measures around schools in areas under its responsibility and inspect school buses and drivers.
IBB’s municipal police department will deploy 231 personnel from 111 teams at schools. Eight tow trucks will serve at congested intersections, while traffic inspections and guidance will be conducted during morning and evening rush hours.
Road maintenance and infrastructure works will be suspended during the week schools reopen, while ongoing projects are planned to be completed beforehand.
Materials and other objects that could affect traffic flow on major roads will be removed, and damaged infrastructure will receive immediate attention.
Essential works that cannot be postponed will continue between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., with emergency teams available around the clock.
IBB and education-related institutions are also expected to gather at the Transportation Management Center and AKOM from 7 a.m. for three days following the start of the academic year.
Traffic cameras will be used to monitor conditions across the city, allowing authorities to quickly intervene on roads experiencing congestion.
