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Bus On Shoulder Task Force - Description

At the July 18, 2012 meeting of the Transportation Planning Board (TPB), it was requested that a task force be established to identify promising locations in the region to operate buses on the shoulders of highways. On September 19, the TPB approved the proposed membership for the task force and a work plan and schedule for coordinating an assessment of the experience and potential for Bus On Shoulder (BOS) operations on the region’s freeways and major arterials. As requested by the TPB, this task force brings together the stakeholder agencies, including transit operators, departments of transportation, and local jurisdictions, to review local and national experience with BOS and discuss the potential for near-term applicability in the Washington Metropolitan region.

Goverance and Membership

The task force co-Chairs are Ms. Carol Krimm, of the City of Frederick Board of Aldermen, and Mr. Chris Zimmerman, of the Arlington County Council.

Other stakeholders include the following:

Departments of Transportation

• District of Columbia (DDOT)
• Maryland (MDOT)
• Virginia (VDOT)

Transit Operators

• WMATA
• PRTC
• MTA Commuter Bus
• Loudoun County Transit

Jurisdictions

• Fairfax County
• Frederick County
• Montgomery County
• Prince George’s County
• and others...

TPB Staff Contact: Eric Randall.

Work Plan

The task force will oversee a scoping of potential locations for BOS, including a high-level benefit-cost analysis of implementing BOS along select corridors and bus routes.

Task 1 – Summary of Local and Other Experience with BOS

Evaluate BOS experience in the region and elsewhere, including safety, roadway engineering, and bus service operations aspects as well as federal regulations and state legislation.

Task 2 – Assessment of the Feasibility of BOS at Specific Locations

Stakeholder agencies will identify potential corridors for BOS operation on the region’s highway network, based on 1) existing highway congestion locations, 2) current bus service, and 3) highway shoulder conditions.

Task 3 – Analysis of Select Corridors/Routes in the Region

Identify issues and challenges with safe implementation. Conduct a benefit-cost analysis for implementation of BOS service on selected corridors/routes.