Description
Bus on shoulder allows transit buses to use designated shoulders of highways or arterials during periods of congestion, enabling them to bypass traffic and maintain schedule reliability. This cost-effective strategy improves transit speed and performance without requiring major roadway expansions.
Implementation Details
- Collaborate with SunLine and Caltrans to conduct a feasibility study for bus on shoulder implementation.
- Evaluate potential corridors that would be best served by bus on shoulder.
Mitigation Potential
Improving transit service reliability and speed will subsequently improve the convenience of transit and encourage people to rely less on private vehicles. The impact on VMT will vary on the methods of improvement. While there is no direct quantification method for this strategy as it is relatively new, linked transit strategies may be used if this strategy is paired with new transit service. Quantification for increasing transit service frequency may be used if this strategy allows for reduced headways and therefore increased service.
Linked Strategies
Equity Considerations
Transit improvements should prioritize areas with high concentrations of transit-dependent populations, including low-income residents, seniors, and essential workers. Late-night and weekend service is critical for shift workers. Equity goals should include minimizing headways in underserved areas and ensuring accessible transit for riders with disabilities through ADA-compliant infrastructure and real-time info tools.
Funding Sources
Requires a fair amount of funding for service expansion and repaving the shoulder in some cases. Funding sources include the Solutions for Congested Corridors Program (California Transportation Commission), the Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Grants; Low or No Emissions Bus Grants (Federal Transit Administration), the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (Caltrans), the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (Caltrans), and Measure A (Riverside County Transportation Commission) which is half-cent sales tax funding for transportation improvements across Riverside County.
Examples/Case Studies
This project evaluated the potential of utilizing highway shoulders and the branch line for bus operations to improve public transit efficiency in the region. This study is part of the broader initiative included in the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments’ Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) and its Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS).
San Diego MTS Bus on Shoulder (BOS) Pilot Project
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) has launched the Transit Only Lane Demonstration Project, a three-year pilot initiative featuring Bus on Shoulder (BOS) operations to alleviate traffic congestion along Interstate 805 (I-805) and State Route 94 (SR 94) between Downtown San Diego and National City. This project, aimed at enhancing transit efficiency, allows South Bay Rapid buses (Route 225) to use freeway shoulders during periods of heavy traffic, thereby reducing travel times and improving service reliability.