I-35 bus on shoulder service to begin in Johnson County

On Tuesday, Jan. 3, Johnson County Transit (JCT) or The JO, will start operating the JO Xpress which will utilize the I-35 shoulder to bypass congestion and create more consistent travel times for transit commuters traveling the I-35 corridor. The Bus on Shoulder (BOS) will operate between 95th Street and Lamar Avenue. A video has been developed to highlight how the service will work on I-35. Click here to view the video.

JCT and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) have been working together for the past 18 months to safely implement BOS operations as a way to move people more efficiently through traffic. Bus service currently runs along I-35, but the enhanced bus service will feature BOS operations during the morning and evening rush hours (5:45 a.m. – 9 a.m.) and in the evening (3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.). Initially, there will be about eight to 10 buses a day that may use the shoulder.

BOS operations mean that buses can travel on the shoulder when traffic on I-35 has slowed to less than 35 mph, thus bypassing congested areas. Buses can't travel more than 10 mph faster than the traffic on the highway and won't exceed 35 mph.

Additional BOS operational guidelines include:

• Buses must always yield to vehicles entering or exiting the highway.

• If there is an obstruction on the shoulder – debris, a stalled car, etc., then the bus must re-enter traffic and move around the obstruction.

• Buses aren't required to use the shoulders, the bus drivers will use their discretion based on weather and traffic conditions.

• There is signage to indicate where bus on shoulder operation is permitted.

Other transit enhancements include additional stop locations, bus shelters, real time signs, and new park and ride locations.

KDOT has made improvements to the shoulder of I-35 to allow for BOS operations in Johnson County. Adjustments were made to the existing guardrail as well as new signs and pavement markings were added to the 7.8-mile stretch of I-35 from 95th Street to the Johnson/Wyandotte County line.

For more information on the BOS operations or the I-35 JO Xpress, please contact Cris Lowe, Johnson County Transit, at (913) 715-8366, or for general traffic information in the Kansas City Metro Area, contact Kimberly Qualls, Northeast Kansas KDOT Public Affairs Manager, at (785) 640-9340.

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