DOT starts testing bus driving on highway shoulders next week

Durham, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Transportation will launch a pilot program next week aimed at improving traffic and saving the state millions of dollars.

The Bus on Shoulder System, or BOSS, will allow specially trained bus drivers with Triangle Transit to drive on the shoulder of Interstate 40 in parts of Durham County to bypass traffic when it slows below 35 mph.

If successful, the program could eventually be expanded to other parts of the Triangle. It is already in use in other cities across the United States, according to Bryan Gunter, with the Department of Transportation.

Allowing buses to bypass traffic is cheaper than adding lanes, Gunter said.

"We already have wide enough shoulders that buses can travel on," he said.

Triangle Transit drivers have been practicing using the shoulders safely. Buses will be able to travel at a maximum speed of 35 mph.

They won't be able to use the shoulders when there's a disabled vehicle or debris, and emergency vehicles always have precedent over buses.

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If most commuter attitudes are like those exhibited here, the system will surely fail. Regardless, the standard Interstate shoulder in Urban areas by NCDOT policy is 12' wide (17' at guardrail locations). Also, bicycles and mopeds are illegal on Interstates. The roadway works best when people stop tailgating, do not quickly tap their brakes, and drive in the correct lane (allowing faster drivers to pass)...but since licenses are handed out like candy; there will always be bad drivers on the road. If I was a commuter on this stretch of road, I would help the bus drivers out...I mean they are other Americans who get out of bed every morning to go do their job and contribute taxes to our enormous debt!

babyblue1981
July 13, 2012 7:59 p.m.

Bad idea. Multiple accidents waiting to happen.

timexliving
July 13, 2012 6:37 p.m.

AtALost those buses have no more right to use the roads paid for with our tax dollars than we do, and have no more priority. "Use the shoulder or support a tax increase" is a silly question.

No buses on the shoulder, no HOV lanes. If we are going to add more lanes than add more lanes for ALL the traffic, and ALL the traffic will flow better... saving gas and reducing pollution.

jeffdewitt
July 13, 2012 4:17 p.m.

"Driving on the edge of the road like this will not give the bus driver anywhere to go if he has a problem...say he sneezes and goes right off the right side of the road and down the enbankment..." Wendellcatlover

Anyone who can't continue to drive straight because of a sneeze, shouldn't be driving. " AtALost

The point I was trying to make is that actual lanes on the highway have a little wiggle room if needed...from what I saw on the news last night, the side of the road doesn't give that same amount of space for emergencies. How many of us have veered a little into the far right or left of the lane when driving? There is NOT enough extra space on the side of the road for a bus driver should they need it.

Wendellcatlover
July 13, 2012 3:25 p.m.

The same "traffic engineers" that applied the logic of painting another lane on Six Forks Rd are behind this no doubt.

bluegrass
July 13, 2012 3:10 p.m.

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DOT starts testing bus driving on highway shoulders next week

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