About
In collaboration with
South Metro Area Regional Transit (SMART) we are working on a project to support more reliable travel by using the highway shoulder for transit vehicles. This innovative concept is referred to as Bus on Shoulder.
The project extends approximately five miles in both directions of I-205 between Stafford Road and OR43 (Willamette Drive) and southbound for approximately one mile between the OR 212 interchange and 82nd Drive. Authorized buses may use the shoulder in clearly marked areas when traffic drops below 35 miles per hour.
No other vehicles are authorized to use road shoulders to bypass traffic. Emergencies always take priority to use the shoulder.
Who
SMART is the only authorized transit provider to use the shoulder for this project. Their experienced and highly trained bus operators will undertake additional training to support safe and efficient travel in the corridor.
Pictured above: SMART buses will travel in the I-205 Bus on Shoulder corridor between Tualatin and Clackamas.
When
This new transit service will begin operating in Winter 2025 when construction is complete.
Why
Bus on Shoulder is a low-cost multi-modal transportation solution used throughout the country with proven results including safe and cost-efficient means of addressing congestion.
ODOT’s goals for this project are to create a more reliable transit commute and promote improved transit accessibility. With less time on the road, vehicles will emit fewer emissions, helping support cleaner air in the community.
With small, but clear adjustments to road striping and other signage, Bus on Shoulder supports more efficient travel on Oregon’s freeways without large infrastructure improvements that can take years to be realized. This Bus on Shoulder project maximizes use of existing transportation infrastructure, reducing the needed resources for implementation.
How
In the designated six-mile stretch of highway, SMART buses may merge onto the shoulder if and when the traffic drops below 35 mph. Buses may drive up to 15 miles per hour faster than the flow of traffic in the main lanes, up to a maximum speed of 35 mph.
Cars, trucks and other non-emergency vehicles must remain in the designated highway lanes, and are not permitted to use the shoulder unless it’s an emergency, to avoid large highway debris, or to make room for a passing emergency vehicle.
Emergencies take priority over buses. Transit operators are required to yield to all emergency vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians and merge back into the main traffic lanes. Bus operators encountering anything in the shoulder will report to dispatch so that other transit operators on those routes are aware of the obstructions ahead of time.
Location
I-205
|
Both directions of I-205 between Stafford Road and OR 43 (Willamette Drive) and southbound I-205 between the OR 212 interchange and 82nd Drive.
Cost and Funding
$2.2 million
Contractor
Brown Contracting, Inc.
Benefits
Bus on Shoulder is safe, effective, and cost-efficient. It eases congestion during high-traffic times on the road. It helps lower greenhouse gas emissions to support carbon reduction strategies and improved air quality. It gets transit commuters to their destinations more quickly and reliably by bypassing congestion. Lanes are exclusively used by authorized transit vehicles. Cars and other motor vehicles must remain in designated highway lanes, except for emergencies.
What Problem Will This Improve?
I-205 between the I-5 interchange and Clackamas Town Center has been a congestion bottleneck for years. According to the 2020 Traffic Performance Report, multiple recurring bottlenecks exist in the project area.
ODOT is collaborating with local transit agencies to support more reliable travel during peak hours by using the highway shoulder for transit vehicles if and when traffic slows below 35 mph. This innovative concept is referred to as Bus on Shoulder.
Additional Information
For ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) or Civil Rights Title VI accommodations, translation/interpretation services, or more information call 503-731-4128, TTY 800-735-2900 or Oregon Relay Service 7-1-1.
Podemos proveer la información en esta publicación en español. Para recibir la información en español, por favor llamé al (503) 731-4128.
Если вы хотите, чтобы информация об этом проекте была переведена на русский язык, пожалуйста, звоните по телефону 503-731-4128.
如果您想瞭解這個項目翻譯成 繁體中文 的相關資訊，請致電 503-731-4128.
이 프로젝트에 관한 한국어로 된 자료 신청방법 전화: 503-731-4128.
Nếu quý vị muốn thông tin về dự án này được dịch sang tiếng Việt, xin gọi 503-731-4128.