Lake County, OH – On Wednesday, September 2, 2015, Laketran and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) began testing a Bus on Shoulder program as a way to circumvent travel delays due to auto congestion.

Buses may drive on the I-90/SR-2 westbound and eastbound shoulders between the Euclid Spur and downtown Cleveland when traffic is traveling less than 30 miles per hour. The speed limit for Laketran bus travel on the shoulder is 35 miles per hour. For safety, entrance and exit ramps along the highway are treated like a yield sign. Areas where Bus on Shoulder is in effect are marked with signs reading, “Authorized Buses Only.”

The first phase of testing included four very experienced Laketran Park-n-Ride drivers. As of Friday, September 18, 2015, the buses in the pilot program reported using the shoulder on average two times per week, resulting in substantial time savings. On Monday, September 20, 2015 the pilot program was expanded to include an additional 10 drivers.

“With the revitalization of downtown Cleveland, and increased rush hour traffic, we decided to take advantage of ODOT’s Bus on Shoulder program and give our customers a faster ride to and from work when motorists are stuck in traffic. So far our passengers have been very pleased with the results,” commented Ben Capelle, Operations Manager at Laketran.

ODOT has successfully implemented Bus on Shoulder programs in both Columbus and Cincinnati, resulting in reduced traffic congestion, maximizing highway capacity, and a faster commute.